Garaway Board Elects Officers, Streamlines Purchasing, Approves College Credit MOU

The Garaway Board of Education opened 2026 by reorganizing leadership, clarifying administrative authorities, and approving agreements affecting students and staff. During the organizational session on Jan. 5, trustees elected Dr. James Miller as board president and Mike Warkall as vice president. New board members Mark Blauch and Angela Tango were sworn in to replace John Shrock and April Beachy, who did not seek re-election.

The board set its regular meeting schedule for the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and moved the February meeting from Feb. 16 to Feb. 9, 2026. The schedule and posted contact information aim to give residents predictable opportunities for public participation.

Administratively, trustees established a $2,500 board service fund and passed routine resolutions authorizing the superintendent and treasurer to approve purchases and contracts under $5,000 prior to formal board approval. That delegation is intended to streamline day-to-day operations and prevent delays on low-dollar transactions, while preserving formal board review for larger commitments. The change carries policy implications for oversight and transparency; residents seeking accountability will want to monitor reports of delegated purchases and contract approvals.

Personnel authorities and role assignments were clarified across key positions, including the superintendent, treasurer, school safety coordinator, and special education director. Those clarifications are procedural but significant, as they define who can make operational decisions related to safety, special education programming, and fiscal matters. The board also approved a contract addendum for the district school health professional and granted a short supplemental contract for a home instruction tutor, moves that maintain student services for health and alternate instruction needs.

On academics, trustees approved a memorandum of understanding with Kent State University that allows Garaway students to enroll in College Credit Plus courses for the 2026–27 school year. The MOU preserves access to dual-enrollment college coursework at the high school level, which can affect college readiness, tuition costs, and course planning for families and counselors.

The board provided full meeting and contact details for residents and reaffirmed its calendar for 2026. With leadership set and operational rules in place, the board transitions into a year that will test how delegations of authority and academic partnerships translate into outcomes for students and taxpayer stewardship.