West Geauga School Board Discusses Cell Phone Policies
West Geauga Board of Education Regular Board Meeting - 8/05/2024
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on August 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township. Meetings are open to the public and media. The meeting agenda and minutes are available online. Look for the Meeting tab in the right hand corner. Pick the meeting you want to review and then click on “Agenda.” A video recording is available here. The report notes the minute mark where each topic is discussed.
Board Attendance:
Staff Attendance:
Other Attendees:
Call to Order - The meeting was called to order, roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Additions and/or changes to the Agenda - Treasurer Pavlat said that there were no additions to the agenda
Program Reports and Presentations - none
Public Remarks - none
:20 Min. Routine Items - All approved
2024-08-773 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education
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Minutes of the July 22, 2024 meeting. Observer Note: Minutes are posted once available on BoardDocs. Choose the meeting you are interested in viewing and then click to view Minutes
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Certified Substitute Lists for the 2024-2025 School Year
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Classified Substitute List for the 2024-2025 School Year
Financial Resolutions - none
1:08 Min. Personnel Resolutions - All Approved
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2024-08-252 Resolution to Approve Psychologist Raises and Contractual Days for the 2024-2025 School year
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2024-08-253 Resolution to Approve Administrative Appointments for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-254 Resolution to Approve Certified Stipends for Work Outside of the 2024-2025 Contractual Year
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2024-08-255 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-256 Resolution to Accepts Classified Staff Resignations
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2024-08-257 Resolution to Approve Change in Classified Staff Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-258 Resolution to Approve Unpaid Day(s)
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2024-08-259 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-260 Resolution to Approve Service Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-261 Resolution to Approve the Award of Service Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-262 Resolution to Approve Job Description for Paraprofessional
Ms Claypool asked if this is a new position. Dr. Markwardt responded that it is replacing an existing position that changes it to a paraprofessional status to better reflect the current duties and responsibilities of the position.
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2024-08-263 Resolution to Approve Job Description for Elementary Data & Systems Coordinator (Elementary Principal) Ms Claypool asked if this is a new position. Dr. Markwardt responded that it better describes the duties and responsibilities of an existing employee. It is meant to strengthen data analysis to better support teacher assessing and dealing with individual student requirements. Dr. Beers asked if it required additional data analysis skills. Dr. Markwardt confirmed that and said it will enable almost a “real-time” response for teachers.
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2024-08-264 Resolution to Approve Job Description for Assistant Principal/District Testing Coordinator
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2024-08-265 Resolution to Approve Job Description for District Positive Behavior Support & Systems Coordinator Dr. Markwardt indicated that this was a re-alignment of duties.
15:05 Policy and Program Resolutions
45:55 Min. Business Resolutions - All Approved
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2024-08-267 Resolution to Approve the Addendum to the Agreement Between West Geauga Local School District and Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve. Dr. Beers asked if these were “pass-through” costs. Dr. Markwardt confirmed this.
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2024-08-268 Resolution to Approve the Agreement Between McKeon Education Group, Inc. and West Geauga Local Schools to Provide Services at St. Anselm School during the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-269 Resolution to approve the Agreement Between McKeon Education Group, Inc. and West Geauga Local Schools to Provide Services at St. Helen School during the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-270 Resolution to Approve the School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding between the Chester Township Police Department and the West Geauga Local School District. Dr. Beers indicated that the use of acronyms within the memorandum are confusing. A Chester Township officer in attendance at the meeting addressed this issue. He indicated that the memorandum provided for two School Safety Officers (SSO) and one School Resource Officer (SRO). The SSOs are part-time regular police officers who serve as full-time SSOs at the Elementary and Middle schools. The SRO is a full-time police officer who is used for investigative purposes, as needed. All report directly to, and are supervised by, the police department.
Board Resolutions - None
Discussion of New Business and Suggestions on Future Agenda Items - see Superintendent Report, below
20:50 Min. Reports
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Superintendent Report Dr. Markwardt began a general discussion of cell phone policy. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has acknowledged that student cell phone usage may be problematic and has issued a decree that individual schools are responsible for restricting the use of student cell phones. The decree is broad in its scope and provides authority for individual schools creating policy for cell phone use. It does not prescribe specific policies. West Geauga has developed separate policies for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Elementary students' phones are to be kept in backpacks in their classroom and are not to be accessed during the school day. Middle school student phones are not allowed in the classroom and are to be kept in the students’ lockers. High school classrooms have cell phone racks in the classrooms. Individual teachers determine whether the students may have them on their person. These policies were developed with input from students, parents, teachers and administrative personnel. Office phones are available at every school for student use in emergency situations.
Ms. Claypool stated that many students participate in after-school activities that may require last-minute schedule changes. Dr. Markwardt acknowledged that concern and stated that cell phones will be available at the end of classes for the day. There was additional general discussion involving board members and staff.
44:25 Min. Executive Session
1:12:11 Reconvene into Regular Session - No action taken
1.12: Next Meeting - August 19, 2024 Observer Note: There is also a scheduled meeting for September 9, 2024.
1.12:20 Adjournment
Observer: Robert Doxey
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: August 28, 2024
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