With Pirate Pride

As we wrap up our stretch into winter break, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the incredible start to the school year across Rocky River City Schools. Every day, I see the meaningful work happening in our classrooms, hallways, rehearsal spaces, and throughout our community. Our students, staff, families, and residents continue to make a positive impact across the 4.9 square miles that make up our school district. That impact reaches far beyond our schools. It truly makes a difference for all of Rocky River.

Looking ahead to the holiday season and a well-earned winter break, it feels especially important to pause and reflect on a few of the many people and groups who are making a difference.

West Shore Young Leaders: Leading With Purpose
Members of our West Shore Young Leaders have demonstrated what it means to lead with care and intention. This holiday season, these middle school students organized a food drive that directly supported families across the West Shore. They did the planning, marketing and promoting the food drive throughout the school community.  Their commitment to service, empathy, and community is inspiring. These young leaders are true difference-makers, and they represent the very best of Rocky River City Schools. I am deeply appreciative of their efforts and proud of how they live out our shared values.

Celebrating the Arts: Our Music Department and Students
Over the past several weeks, our Music Department has filled our schools and community with talent, joy, and Pirate pride. From our fifth- and sixth-grade band to our middle school and high school bands, and the choral groups, our students have shined. These moments do not happen by chance. They are made possible by the dedication of our music educators, who have spent countless evenings working with students to make each performance special. Their commitment creates memorable experiences for students, families, and residents alike. Heading into break , they lift up our entire district.

Rocky River Education Foundation: Investing in Opportunity
Another group making a tremendous impact is the Rocky River Education Foundation. Through their thoughtful review of grants, scholarships, and projects, the Foundation continues to enhance learning and opportunity across our schools. This most recent grant cycle supported 7 total grants including initiatives such as AI professional development and the Pergola Project at Goldwood. The time, resources, and care invested by the Foundation cannot be understated. Their work truly benefits all of our Pirates.

As we head into winter break, I hope we all take a moment to recognize the difference each of us gets to make every single day in Rocky River City Schools. Academic excellence, meaningful connections through activities, and a strong sense of community are at the foundation of who we are as Pirates.

I am proud and honored to work alongside our dedicated staff, remarkable students, supportive families, and engaged community. Thank you for all you do to make Rocky River City Schools such a special place.

Have a wonderful, safe, and happy winter break. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year. Happy Holidays!

With Pirate Pride,

Adham

There is a small coal-mining town southeast of Pittsburgh and north of Morgantown, West Virginia, called Uniontown, PA. Founded on July 4, 1776, the town grew alongside the rise of the coal and steel industries in western Pennsylvania. Route 40, the first national road, still runs through its center.

Uniontown is where Sead and Emmira Zubchevich eventually made their home after arriving in the United States. They first spent time in Central Ohio and Pittsburgh before settling in this small town. Emmira worked at the regional hospital and later opened her own private practice. Sead became a business investor. Their home included office space, something they had never had access to before coming to the United States, and it provided a sense of stability and possibility they deeply valued.

Both survivors and refugees of World War II, they came to this country with the hope of building a better life. Their three children, two sons and a daughter, grew up attending public schools and eventually went on to college. Over time, Uniontown became the center of their world, the place where their family gathered and grew.

Thanksgiving was Sead and Emmira’s favorite holiday. Their children and grandchildren would descend on their home for a long weekend filled with joyful chaos – TV on in the background, spirited debates, backyard football, naps, and shopping trips. The meal was a blend of classic American staples and the Mediterranean dishes they cherished: baklava, hummus, and tabouli. But the menu was secondary. What mattered most to the Zubchevich family was simply being together.

The United States brought two worlds together for Emmira and Sead. They carried with them the history, pride, and pain of their Eastern European heritage, shaped by war and political displacement. In Uniontown, those experiences blended with the hardworking ideals of a coal-mining Pennsylvania community. Their commitment to family and community made their assimilation not only possible but natural.

Thanksgiving became the perfect symbol of that merge, a uniquely American holiday that celebrates gratitude, hard work, and the kind of time together that becomes part of a family’s story. My grandmother, Emmira, would always tell me, “Ado*, there is nothing more important than your family.”

As we approach this Thanksgiving, whether you are near or far, I hope you enjoy the holiday with the people you love. That is exactly what Emmira and Sead would have wanted for all of us. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

With Pirate Pride,

Adham

*Ado was my grandmother’s nickname for me. She passed away in 2010, just shy of her 90th birthday. She was still seeing patients and had treated three on the day she passed. She lived a life dedicated to service—both to others and to her family. And every now and then, I can still hear her voice reminding me not to be an idiot. 🙂

*I have posted this story over the years, but wanted to share it again with the River community. 

Rocky River City School District is the fifth district I have had the privilege to serve during my career. When I first began my journey as an educator, I never could have imagined this path, but I am incredibly fortunate to have learned, connected, and worked alongside so many wonderful colleagues, families, community members, and students along the way. While every district faces its share of challenges, the positives always outweigh them. It is a tremendously rewarding and fun journey.

Serving in different districts has provided me with valuable perspective, especially on what it means to be new and how important it is to calibrate your lens to the culture and context around you. That process begins with listening, observing, and being open to challenging your own perceptions. While there are more similarities than differences across the places I have served, each one has its own unique culture, expectations, and history that make it special.

Rocky River is truly a remarkable school community. The history, pride, and pursuit of excellence come through in every interaction I have had across the district. Since July, I have had the opportunity to meet with each of our school PTAs, many of our support organizations, several community groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, and a number of local leaders. Across schools, community coffees, and informal gatherings, I have asked two simple questions::

1. What gives you a sense of pride about the district?
   
2. If you had a magic wand, what would you change or fix?

From those discussions, some clear themes have emerged:

Community Members: Across all sessions, community members consistently expressed pride in Rocky River’s academic excellence and strong sense of community, especially within our lower schools. At the same time, they highlighted opportunities for growth in areas such as governance, transparency, safety resources, and operational logistics.

Staff: Our staff consistently voiced pride in the district’s academic rigor and professional culture, while also expressing a desire for more collaborative decision-making and a balanced approach to performance expectations for both staff and students.

One theme that especially stood out was a shared desire for regularity:a sense of predictability, consistency, and support within our schools. When our environments are steady and reliable, students, staff, families, and community members all feel more confident and comfortable, even during challenging times.

This focus on regularity has been a priority for me since day one. In my personal life, I strive to be boringly consistent, and I take that same approach professionally. In education, being consistent, predictable, and supportive may sound dull, but it is the foundation for excellence. It allows us to collaborate more effectively and deliver on our shared mission of serving students, supporting staff, engaging families, and celebrating all that makes Rocky River exceptional. My hope is that you have begun to feel that sense of steadiness and focus over the past several months.

Being new to a place brings tremendous opportunities to listen, to learn, and to grow. I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with our community and getting to know Rocky River. It is deeply humbling to have the opportunity to serve this district. With that privilege comes responsibility: first, to provide a consistent, predictable, and supportive environment, and second, to bring people together in pursuit of continued excellence.

Thank you for all that you do to support Rocky River.

Go Pirates!

With Pirate Pride,
Adham

I am a creature of habit. My mornings generally begin before 5:00 a.m. Around 5:30, I receive a batch of news updates, a mix of national and Ohio-based publications. Even when I lived in Central Ohio, one of my staples was the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s “The Wake-Up.”

Last week, a “Wake-Up” article focused on the pressures faced by senior citizens in Cuyahoga County. The challenges are many, such as  healthcare, mobility, and social isolation. But one of the most persistent concerns is housing affordability. That concern ties directly into one of the most complex, least understood issues in Ohio’s public policy: property taxes and how we fund our schools.

Over the past several months, property tax reform has moved to the forefront of legislative debate in Columbus. There is a pending ballot initiative that would eliminate all property taxes in the state of Ohio, along with multiple bills that could dramatically reshape how property taxes are assessed, levied, and distributed. As a superintendent of schools, I worry deeply: if we change the system without clearly defined replacement mechanisms, school districts could be left scrambling.

This tension cuts to the heart of a dilemma many educational and civic leaders face: How do we alleviate the burden our residents feel from property taxes, especially seniors on fixed incomes, while preserving the ability to deliver quality local services, including excellent schools?

Before we dive into the legislative proposals, it’s helpful to review the historical context over the past half-century.

A Half Century of Shifting Burdens

Here’s what the historical data tells us:

• In 1975, Class I (Residential + Agricultural) property accounted for 46.0% of the state’s property tax base; by 1999 that had grown to about 61.1%; and by 2011, it was 74.3%.
  
• In 2023, residential and agricultural property made up 74.8% of Ohio’s property tax base (i.e., class I share).
  
• Correspondingly, the business (non-residential) share has declined: from 54.0% in 1975 to 25.2% in 2023 (or more precisely, business property’s share of what remains).

These shifts illustrate how over time, the tax burden (in terms of share) has tilted more heavily toward residential property.

Looking more narrowly at school district levies:

• In 1975, 46.1% of school property tax revenue was borne by Class I (residential/agricultural) properties; by 2023, that share had risen to 67.5%.
  
• Meanwhile, business (non-residential) properties paid 43.9% in 1975, falling to 32.5% in 2023 (for school district levies).

These figures largely align with a comprehensive OEPI analysis of Ohio’s property tax trends from 1975 to 2022.

One pivotal moment in this history is the DeRolph case. In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state’s overreliance on property taxes to fund public education violated the Ohio Constitution (DeRolph V. State – Wikipedia, n.d.). In part, it required that the state’s school funding system be revisited and reformed to reduce these disparities (Parr, 2024). 

After DeRolph, the state stepped into a larger role in funding education. At its peak, in fiscal year 2002, the state funded roughly 48.5% of the base cost of education (i.e. the formula-driven portion), though that share has gradually declined (Parr, 2024).  More recently, projections suggest by 2026–2027, the state’s share will fall to around 32%, marking one of the lowest state contributions since the pre-DeRolph era (Opinion: Ohio Needs to Support Public Schools With Adequate Funding, n.d.).

Put simply: over the decades, local property taxpayers have shouldered an increasing portion of the cost of education , precisely the dynamic the DeRolph ruling sought to curb.

On top of that, many Ohio counties have undergone reassessments in the past three to five years. Rapid appreciation in property values, without parallel reform in how taxes are apportioned, has exacerbated the pressure on homeowners, especially in jurisdictions where new levies pass or where rollback mechanisms are insufficient to cushion the increases.

The Current Reform Landscape: Bills & Ballot

The policy environment is unsettled. Here are major proposals and initiatives worth tracking:

The Ohio Property Tax Trilogy (Rep. Gary Click), also known as the Taxpayer Freedom Trilogy, this package includes:

• House Bill 420: would eliminate permanent tax levies, requiring that all levies specify an expiration date and be subject to renewal by voters.
  
• House Bill 421: would allow voters to initiate a ballot measure to reduce a county’s “inside millage” — the portion of property tax revenue collected without voter approval.
  
• House Bill 422: would raise the threshold for voter approval on new property tax levies. Larger or costlier levies would require a higher percentage of “yes” votes to pass.

House Bill 186

This bill proposes to limit increases in property tax for school districts that are on the 20-mill funding floor to keep pace with inflation. A more recent amendment would apply this retroactively, which could affect many Ohio districts (though not Rocky River). Roughly half of Ohio’s school districts fall into the category that could be impacted.

Other Initiatives

• Ballot Amendment (Committee to Eliminate Property Taxes): This constitutional amendment effort would ban all real property taxes in Ohio, eliminating them altogether.
  
• Governor’s Property Tax Work Group: An executive branch task force was finalizing recommendations for property tax reform and replacement revenue models.

All of this introduces great uncertainty for school districts. As a district, we aim to support local residents , especially seniors under pressure,  but we also must protect our capacity to deliver high-quality services: education, safety, infrastructure, and more. Dramatic changes without a well-defined replacement system could destabilize many communities.

A Call for Balanced Reform

As legislators reconvene and resume debate, I will continue to advocate for reforms that provide relief for our senior residents who are feeling the pressures of affordable housing while also pursuing a path that builds sustainability for our school communities. Here are key priorities: 

1. Provide meaningful relief to seniors and lower-income property owners, without sacrificing our ability to deliver excellent schools and essential local services.
   
2. Insist on transition plans. If existing taxes are scaled back or eliminated, there must be a reliable replacement revenue stream,  whether via general fund transfers, state-level taxes, or new revenue-sharing mechanisms.
   
3. Favor targeted tools like homestead exemption expansion and circuit breakers rather than sweeping abolition, which risks destabilizing local governance.
   
4. Ensure transparency and outreach so that homeowners, renters, and taxpayers understand both their current burdens and proposed changes.

The Ohio Legislature returned to the Statehouse after their summer break. Property tax is a boilerplate topic. This isn’t just about balancing budgets. It’s about our community, our neighbors — the shared investments we’ve made together in public education, infrastructure, safety, and shared future in River.

With Pirate Pride,
Adham

PS – Please continue to read, learn, and dialogue around these topics. Here are a few articles from earlier in the month. 

Ohio leaders fiddle while property tax ‘time bomb’ threatens to cripple public services

Education Politics & Gov Ohio property tax reform group weighs school funding, how to make cuts 

References

DeRolph v. State – Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeRolph_v._State?

Opinion: Ohio needs to support public schools with adequate funding. (n.d.). Crain’s Cleveland Business. https://www.crainscleveland.com/crains-forum-urban-education/ohio-needs-fix-its-school-funding-formula-opinion?

Parr, M. (2024, August 12). Members Brief. Members Brief. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/assets/organizations/legislative-service-commission/files/derolph-v-state-school-funding-case-10020044.pdf?

Below is a letter sent earlier today regarding the State Report Card and 2025 Rocky River Quality Profile. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!!

“Dear Rocky River Families,

This morning, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce released this year’s State Report Card, and I am proud to share that Rocky River City Schools received a 5-Star Rating—the highest rating issued by the state. You can view our report card here:  State Report Card 

There are several specific highlights we should all be proud of, including:

• The highest Performance Index in district history at 111.1. This is the third highest in the state of Ohio
  
• Record scores in ELA 5, ELA 6, Math 6, and ELA 8
  
• A 99.3% graduation rate at Rocky River High School, earning a 5-Star Rating

These results are a reflection of the collective efforts of our students, teachers, principals, and support staff who work tirelessly to meet high expectations and demonstrate growth. Our families are vital partners in this work, setting high standards and supporting their children along the way. Together, we have built an environment that encourages continuous improvement, and I am incredibly proud of every student, teacher, and staff member in River.

At the same time, we recognize that the State Report Card represents only one measure of our success. For example, 80% of our high school students are involved in athletics or activities. Our students thrive in the arts, gain meaningful career experiences, serve as peer mentors, and pursue passions that extend well beyond the classroom. These experiences help ignite imagination, foster leadership, and teach lifelong lessons. Meanwhile, our teachers and staff remain deeply engaged in professional learning to ensure instruction is meaningful and connected to every student.

To share a more complete picture of our district, I am excited to release the 2025 Rocky River Quality Profile, which highlights the accomplishments and opportunities that matter most to our staff, students, families, and community. You can explore the report here: 2025 Quality Profile.

Congratulations to our students, staff, families, and community for achieving outstanding results and continuing to showcase what makes Rocky River such a special place. In the Rocky River City School District, we provide a CARING environment and EXCEPTIONAL opportunities, resulting in SUCCESSFUL students who are globally COMPETITIVE. This mission guides everything we do—and today’s results are a clear reflection of that commitment.

Well done, everyone. Go Pirates!

With Pirate Pride,
Adham”

Jennifer Forshey, Ashley Morris, and Katherine Hamm are three outstanding teachers at our high school. They lead our AP Seminar course, which focuses on college-level research, writing and presentation skills. . Last week, they shared with me an early lesson from this school year that I think captures so much of what makes River special.

AP Seminar challenges students to explore real-world problems and issues from multiple perspectives. To begin the year, students read several different viewpoints on the purpose of school that had been published by The New York Times. Afterward, each student paired up with someone who held a different perspective, reflected on their own beliefs, and decided which value was most important to them. Together, they created posters and presented their ideas to the class.

What stood out to me is how closely our students’ priorities mirror our own. Many of them identified caring as their number one priority, right alongside hope and the development of good citizens. School provides endless opportunities, but it all begins with the environment students walk into each day. When that environment is caring and supportive, students are able to thrive. Deep learning grows out of deep relationships.

Back in August, I had the privilege of welcoming our staff at convocation. As the “new guy,” I wanted to share my values and develop a foundation for how we will work together. At the heart of our work are two simple but powerful expectations: Care about kids. We bookend this phrase in our expectations because it is the most important thing we do. Caring doesn’t mean lowering expectations or excusing poor choices—just the opposite. It means holding students accountable while walking alongside them, helping them grow into the best versions of themselves.

Every day, in every building across River, you can see this care in action. In partnership with families, we are committed to creating environments where young people feel supported, challenged, and inspired. When we put care at the center, both inside and outside the classroom, deep learning and strong outcomes follow.

This is the most important priority we have and our students say it should be.

With Pirate Pride,

Adham

This morning, I had the honor and privilege to speak to our staff to kick off the 2025-2026 school year. Convocation is one of the few times all year we can come together as a school district. Our theme for the year is “OuRr Impact”. I was humbled to share the stage with Megan Rose, Jamey Pfahl, and Allison Paetz. 

Here is the message I shared heading into the start of school: 

“As you’ll learn about me over time, I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to leadership and coaching. And one of my favorite practices? Themes for the school year. Themes give us alignment, focus, and an anchor to come back to all year long. And I’ll admit — I get way too excited about them.

Over the past several months, as I’ve been learning more about Rocky River — its history, its pride, its deep tradition — I kept trying to land on the right theme. I had a few ideas, but nothing quite stuck.

Then one detail changed everything. I was reading about our district and noticed a number that jumped off the page: 4.9 square miles. That’s it — the size of our entire district. To put it in perspective, my last district covered 133 square miles. Yet within our 4.9 square miles, we have almost 500 employees, 2,650 students, and more than 20,000 residents.

And I thought — what an incredible opportunity. Each of us may only “own” about 1/100th of a square mile, but together we get to make an exponential impact inside these boundaries. That impact is something we share, influence, and can focus on everyday we get to serve together. And that’s how our theme was born: OuRr Impact.

I would like to welcome to the stage Allison Paetz, Megan Rose, and Jamey Pfahl who will help me share our theme – “OuRr Impact”

When I think about impact, I think about my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Nealer. Now, before the school year started, I was terrified of her. The older kids had warned us — including Andy Katzenmoyer, who went on to play linebacker for Ohio State and the NFL. Andy told me her class was basically boot camp. When I saw my name on her class list, I thought my life was over. (Turns out, my mom — who worked in the district — had requested Mrs. Nealer. Thanks, Mom.)

Sure enough, Mrs. Nealer took the “no smiling before Christmas” rule very seriously. But something happened early on. She believed in me. She told me what I needed to hear, not just what I wanted to hear. She pushed me with high expectations and walked alongside me as I grew. She connected us with high school pen pals — her former students — so we could see what we were capable of becoming.

To this day, she still checks in on me. In fact, here’s a recent comment she left on my wife’s Facebook page — because, apparently, once you’re her student, you’re always her student.

Mrs. Nealer made an impact on me that I’ll carry for life. And I know each of you can name your own “Mrs. Nealer.” Someone who made a difference not by doing something flashy, but by believing in you and investing in you.

That’s our challenge and our privilege this year. Every bus ride. Every hallway conversation. Every lesson. Every smile. Inside 4.9 square miles, OuRr Impact is powerful — and it’s why we choose to serve in River.” 

It will be a great year in River. Let’s make an Impact together!

With Pirate Pride,

Adham

Last night, I had the privilege of attending the kindergarten photo at the Senior Rock (one of Rocky River’s many meaningful traditions). If you’re not familiar, incoming kindergarten families gather at the Rock to mark the very beginning of their child’s journey through Rocky River Schools. It’s such a powerful way to celebrate a new chapter.

This year, one of the participants was Sam, my cousin’s son. One of the reasons my family was so excited to move to River was to be closer to my cousin’s family. We always imagined how great it would be to live just around the corner from one another, and now that’s exactly the case. Sam and our kids have really hit it off this summer, especially with our oldest daughter, Aizza.

Sam is at the very start of his Pirate adventure. For the next thirteen years, he’ll walk our hallways, grow in our classrooms, and form lifelong friendships. My hope for Sam, and for every one of our newest kindergarten students, is that they discover passions that inspire them and prepare them for whatever comes next once they leave our schools.

Speaking of next steps, Aizza leaves for the University of Cincinnati on Tuesday. While she didn’t attend Rocky River Schools, her experiences in our previous district opened doors and helped her find her passion. As both a dad and a school leader, that’s one of the things I’m most proud of: seeing how a caring, opportunity-filled school environment can shape a young person’s future.

As parents, isn’t that what we all want? A place where our kids are known, cared for, challenged, and inspired. A place where they can discover what lights them up. And if there’s one thing I’m learning, it’s that the time goes by quickly. My cousin and I are standing on opposite ends of the parenting spectrum right now. He’s just beginning the journey with Sam in kindergarten, while I’m helping Aizza pack for college. Yet the feelings are the same: excitement, possibility, and pride.

To all my fellow River parents, embrace the journey. Whether you’re dropping your child off at kindergarten or helping them move into a college dorm, savor every moment because it truly flies.

We’re excited to welcome everyone back to campus in the coming days. It’s going to be an incredible year in River. Go Pirates!

• Adham

Welcome to “With Pirate Pride”!

I’m excited to share the very first post on our new blog, With Pirate Pride. This will be a space for sharing information, stories, and highlights from across Rocky River City Schools. To kick things off, I’d like to tell you why August is one of my favorite months. Many people might not agree, but hear me out.

First, I love school. School is awesome. It’s where traditions are made, friendships begin, challenges are met, and accomplishments are celebrated. From Friday night football to robotics competitions and countless other activities, public schools bring communities together in a way that’s truly unique. And, of course, at the heart of it all is the learning and growth we witness in our students every single day. I can’t wait to experience the traditions here in Rocky River and discover all the qualities that make this community so special.

Second, our students are back. This goes hand in hand with my first point, but it deserves its own spotlight. Since early June, our schools have been relatively quiet. While some students have been here for athletics and our incredible custodial and maintenance teams have been hard at work preparing our buildings, the energy just isn’t the same. That all changes in August. In the coming days, about 80% of our high school students will return for fall activities—band camp, tryouts, scrimmages, and more. That buzz of excitement is contagious. It’s the renewal of hope for everything we will accomplish together in the months ahead.

Third, a new year means new opportunities. The start of school gives us a fresh chance to do meaningful work together. At Rocky River, our focus is, and always will be, student learning inside and outside of the classroom. That mission drives every decision we make. Along with welcoming back our students, families, and staff, we’re also excited to greet many new team members this year. Each brings a strong commitment to serving our district with the highest standards.

As we begin this school year, I am filled with optimism. I know it’s going to be a great year in Rocky River, and I look forward to seeing you around our schools and at our events in the weeks to come.

Welcome to August—and Go Pirates!

With Pirate Pride,

Adham Schirg

Rocky River City Schools

Superintendent