Kenston Board of Education – Regular Session, May 13, 2024
Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) met in Regular Session on May 13, 2024, at Kenston High School, 9500 Bainbridge Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, in the High School Auburn Bainbridge room beginning at 7:00 pm. A retiree reception was held at 6:30 before the meeting. The video was live streamed here and remains posted on the YouTube page here. View the agenda online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab and then the meeting date.
Board Attendance: Jennifer Troutman, Jim Henry, Beth Krause, and Tom Manning.
Absent: Dennis Bergansky
Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Steven Sayers and Treasurer Seth Cales.
9.50 Min. Pledge of Allegiance with Timmons Elementary School student Henry Scharver and Beth Krause.
10.34 Min. Meeting called to order at 7:03 pm.
11.50 Min. Minutes: The Kenston Board of Education waived the reading of these minutes and approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 15, 2024, the Special Meetings of April 17, 2024, April 18, 2024, April 23, 2024, and April 26, 2024, and the Work Session of May 6, 2024 as recorded or corrected. The minutes are posted here as recorded or corrected by selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda and item 3.
12.15 Min. Commendations: Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Kenston Board of Education approved the following commendations:
Timmons Elementary School:
-
Betsy Hope, Kindergarten Teacher
-
Linda Nutter, 2nd Grade Teacher
-
Mary Lynn Raphael, 2nd Grade Teacher
Kenston Intermediate School:
-
Mary Beth Reeb, 4th Grade Teacher
-
Mary Lou Rose, Special Education Teacher
-
Roseann Sekerak, Educational Aide
Kenston High School:
-
Pam Garrett, Math Teacher
-
Linda Hanzak, Guidance Administrative Assistant
-
Rob Tripi, Business Teacher
Reno Contipelli of the Ohio School Boards Association introduced and commended:
Kenston Middle School Principal Adam Fender introduced and commended:
Kenston High School Principal Tom Gabram introduced and commended:
At 33.45 Min Principal Fender introduced a video that highlighted Kenston’s art program and teachers. This is listed as 5.1 under Informational Items on the agenda.
45.28 Min. Informational Items
-
President of the Alumni Association Drew Tewksbury thanked the Board for their new home location in the Gardiner Center. They are seeking memorabilia donations. Mr. Tewksbury asks that if members encounter alums, they remind them that Kenston does have an alumni association. This spring, a grant of approximately $3600 from the Kari Friedman Scholarship Fund was given out to a Kenston high school student to afford them the opportunity of traveling for a Kenston field experience. There is a Hall of Fame class coming up this fall with preference given to those who missed out due to Covid. This will be announced near the end of June. There are 38 legacy students graduating this year. The All Class Reunion is being held on Friday, May 24, 2024, at Holbrook Hollows from 7:00 -10:00 pm.
50.45 Min Administrative Committee Updates
-
Mr. Cales to present a five-year forecast. See Finance below.
-
The Safety Committee is scheduled to meet on June 5, 2024.
-
Dr. Poe held a Technology Committee meeting on May 2, 2024.
-
Impact of right-sizing move on technology.
-
AI (Artificial Intelligence) implications for the district.
-
Completed a building technology survey in preparation for the right-sizing move.
52.38 Min Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items
-
Michael Eisner spoke regarding public participation during special meetings that can be called in which action needs to be taken. According to Mr. Eisner, the community is currently given the opportunity to speak to these events before any action is taken. He further stated that a new policy being proposed for a first reading today changes wording to “the board may allow” the public to speak at these special meetings. See new policy with changes noted here. Mr. Eisner feels that in a community such as Kenston’s in which people want to be involved, that the decision should not be left solely to the board to allow or disallow public comment and he requested that the Board reconsider this policy.
-
Mr. Eisner also spoke about the changes proposed to the Property Inventory noted here. He spoke about “...aligning an inventory valuation of $5,000 or more to the contract from Asset Control Solutions.” He advised that there is a clause in the contract where you can do a “carve-out” so that “...instead of pushing inventory responsibility, if we’re going to spend the money for the company, I think our technology equipment, or any technology asset at $1000 or above, I think should be carved out into that so that you can do the depreciations and the obsoletes and planning in a clear and more transparent manner, so that it isn’t pushed onto the responsibility of the superintendent, which is how it’s written in the update.”
-
Mr. Eisner complimented the board on their handling of the recent superintendent search and the teacher contract, along with the rightsizing move.
57.15 Min. The Board of Education approved Financial Items 7.1-7.7 which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 7.
-
Treasurer Cales presented the five-year forecast utilizing a slide presentation with discussion beginning at 57.18 Min. The slide presentation is available to view here. Mr. Cales’ presentation again stressed the need for the Permanent Improvement (PI) Levy to balance the spending needs of the district. Reviewer Note: At a Special Meeting on May 20, the Kenston Board of Education began the process of placing a PI Levy on the November ballot. More information is available here.
1 Hr. 25.30 Min. The Board of Education approved Certified Personnel Items 8.1- 8.3, (8.5 and 8.6 each approved separately) as well as Classified Personnel Items 9.1- 9.4, ( 9.6, 9.7, and 9.8, each approved separately) which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 8 or 9.
1 Hr. 30 Min. The Board approved the following:
-
The Board of Education approved Supplemental Contracts Item 10.1-10.3 which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 10.
-
The Board of Education approved Exempt Personnel Item 11.1-11.2 which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 11.
-
The Board of Education approved Business Item 12.1 which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 12.
-
The Board of Education approved Teaching and learning Item 13.1 which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 13.
-
The Board of Education approved New Business Items 16.1-16.5 and (16.7, 16.8, and 16.9 approved separately) which can be found here then selecting the appropriate meeting date, agenda, and line item 16. Items to note:
-
District calendar for 2025-2026 here.
-
District Wellness Plan here.
-
The Kenston Board of Education approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a deed of gift pertaining to the construction of improvements at the stadium consisting of a weight room and the equipping of the weight room. The Kenston Board of Education also approved a resolution determining to proceed with the construction of improvements at the stadium consisting of the construction and equipping of a weight room and authorizing the execution of a construction license in connection therewith. See all documents under 16.7 and 16.8 on the agenda.
1.35 Min. Hearing of the Public on Non-Agenda Items
-
Dan Tutolo of Tall Tree Trails expressed his concern about vaping in the school community, especially now that middle school grades will be combined with elementary school grades. He believes that the general consensus among parents is that vaping is “...rampant and nothing is being done” about the issue. Mr. Tutolo requested that the school take action on this issue in a manner that is transparent to the public. He also wished to volunteer his time and efforts to the solution.
Min. Treasurer's Report
No additional presentation. See Mr. Cales’ presentation under finance.
1.40 Min. Superintendent’s Report
1.41 Min. A motion was approved to adjourn at 8:35 and the video ended.
Observer Note: This observer attended the meeting virtually.
Next regular meeting: Monday, June 24, 2024
More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools
Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 5/20/2024
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.