News / Articles

               

Kenston Superintendent and Treasurer Express Gratitude for Passage of PI Levy

Kenston Board of Education Executive Session and Regular Meeting – November 18, 2024

Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) regular meeting took place on November 18, 2024, with executive session beginning at 5:30 pm followed by the regular meeting at 7pm.  The full video is posted on the Kenston Website page here and on Kenston’s YouTube page here.  View the agenda online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab, the meeting date, and the agenda.

Call to Order and Welcome by Mr. Manning at 5:39 p.m.

Board Attendance: Tom Manning, President; Jennifer Troutman, J.D., Vice President; Jim Henry, and Beth Krause, Ph.D.

Absent: Dennis Bergansky is absent for this portion of the meeting but present when the regular meeting began

Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Bruce R. Willingham Jr., Ed.D., and Treasurer Seth Cales.

Observer Note: There are two to three people in the audience chairs and a front table facing the board at this time.

Two separate Motions to adjourn for executive session for two purposes below:

1. Pursuant to R.C. 121.22(G)(8), the Board will adjourn to executive session for the purpose of consideration of confidential information related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets, or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance, or to negotiations between the School District and other political subdivisions respecting requests for economic development assistance. Motion Approved.

2. Pursuant to R.C. 121.22(G)(8), the Board determined that the executive session is necessary to protect the interests of the applicant or the possible investment or expenditure of public funds to be made in connection with the economic development project.  A unanimous vote is required for this vote. Motion Approved.

1.45.06  Min REGULAR  MEETING  WELCOME AND ROLL CALL: This meeting is being held in accordance with Section 3313.15 of the Ohio Revised Code. Board and Staff attendance remain the same as noted above.

Mr. Manning noted the addition of agenda item 10.6, “an amendment to amounts and rates resolution document,” which is not on the printed agenda, but should be on the online agenda. Mr. Cales explained that this was basically an amendment resolving to accept the passage of the Permanent Improvement levy and accept the monies into the budget.

1.47.40 Min Pledge of Allegiance with Braeden Geisweidt-Obert, KHS 8th Grade Student, and Mrs. Troutman.

1.48.29 Min Approval of the Minutes The Kenston Board of Education approved that the reading of these minutes be waived, and approved the minutes of the Special Meeting of October 21, 2024 as recorded or corrected.  The minutes of this meeting can be found here.

1.49.00 Min Kenston Organization Update

KHS Athletics Department Update 

• Reid Guarnieri, Athletic Director, highlighted the accomplishments of several  Kenston Bomber Fall sport athletes with a visual presentation of the students at 1.49.29 in the video, and an introduction (accompanied by applause) of the students present.

2.00.39 Min. Kenston Department Updates

Special Education Department 

• Melissa Miller, Director

  • Working on a MTSS (Multi-Tiered Support System) that is vertically aligned from one building to the next.

  • Efforts are made so that services/scheduling are occurring more in the classrooms than in a pull-out model.

  • Outside placement back to Kenston - building the capacity to have specialized program needs met in the district rather than being outsourced.

    • “Cross-District team meeting to build a MTSS Handbook to support this effort and provide guidance for the process across buildings and grades.

  • Aide coverage progression list

    • Maximize district resources and ensure that students’ needs are met through smooth transitions.

  • Accommodation logs are being used district-wide with the goal of helping students become strong and independent learners and IEP (Individual Education Plan) progress reports will soon be made available virtually to parents.

 2.09.00 Min  Legislative Update

• Dr. Willingham remarked that SB 104 has passed the legislature this past week, and SB 29 (with regards to technology and parental notification) is effective and yet still being worked on during the lame duck session. There is nothing definitive to report.

Observer Note: For more information on Ohio SB 29, which is now effective, but undergoing some tweaks as per Dr. Willingham, see here, and for more information on Ohio SB 104, which has passed the legislature and is currently with the governor, see here.

• Mrs. Troutman remarked that she attended the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference recently and the bulk of the conversation is currently centered around Artificial Intelligence technology and policy for schools. There is nothing definitive to report.

 2.16.21 Min Superintendent’s Report 

• Dr. Willingham expressed his gratitude for the community’s support of the district’s Permanent Improvement Levy.

• Planning for Permanent Improvement (PI) with the levy monies.

  • The five-year plan for facilities is currently being updated.

  • Department meetings throughout district to set up the flow of improvements with transparency as expected by community

    • Every September department leads meet to review and outline the wish list of priorities on the five year plan. In October, the Superintendent and Treasurer will make decisions and seek bids for approved PI projects. Projects are then recommended to BOE for approval. 

• Dr. Willingham provided an update on the progress of the group, Student Voices for Positive Change (SVPC)

  • SVPC will be meeting again the week of November 18, 2024. Dr. Willingham advised that these meetings are going well and the kids are feeling empowered.

  • Dr. Willingham and Dr. Poe met with Kenston Families United in the prior week to give them an update and accept feedback from them.

  • December 2, 2024 is the first Professional Development day related to cultural humility and the acceptance of differences. Two staff days are planned as well as a number of student days.

• Dr. Poe hosted a technology meeting attended by some board members and staff members. The goal is to enhance the use of technology for the students.

• There are PI funds that will be dedicated to Safety for the district. The district has not yet received a report from Homeland Security after the walkthrough. ZeroEyes is moving forward.

2.25.28 Min. Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items - None

2.25.26 Min

Financial Items - All Approved. These are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 10.1-10.7 on the agenda. 

• 2.26.02 Min Five year Forecast presentation by Seth Cales with visual beginning at 2.26.19

  • The five year forecast “evaluates current and future fiscal conditions” and “represents the General Fund of the District.” A number of events can influence this forecast including inflation, state funding formulas, tax collections, state budgets, interest rates, etc. This forecast is updated twice a year. Mr. Cales emphasized that this is just an estimate at a moment in time.

  • A number of assumptions have been incorporated into the five-year forecast, including tax reevaluations, the district’s Rightsizing plan and district contract renegotiations.

  • Declining enrollment, which is a statewide phenomenon, can also drive funding increases or decreases and needs to be monitored.

  • Local taxes continue to provide about 76% of district’s funding revenues with state funding contributing about 19%. The district is supported largely by the levies that the community passes.

  • Real Estate taxes as a percentage of total revenue continue to increase over time.

  • Personnel costs are expected to be 81% of overall costs by Fiscal Year 2025.

  • Mr. Cales provided a breakdown of expenditures and forecasted cash balances.

  • By FY 2027, 2028 and 2029, the district will be deficit spending.  The last operating levy was in 2015, and Mr. Cales highlighted the fact that by 2030, it will be 15 years since the last operating levy.

  • It is estimated to cost about $18,006 per year of General Fund dollars to educate each student in FY 2025, an average cost of $100 a day for a 180 day school year.

  • Challenges that need to be monitored and tracked include deficit spending, a shrinking cash budget, declining student enrollment, and planning staffing levels year to year.

  • For conclusions drawn by Mr. Cales, see visual slide at 2.46.44 in video.

  • Mr. Cales stated that the public will see the PI levy as money well spent.

Observer Note: Mr. Cales advised the board that his five year forecast presentation, which has been updated with the passage of the PI Levy, would be available to the public on the school’s website, but it is not available as a link on the meeting agenda or the school’s website as of November 25, 2024.

2.50.20 Min 

Certified Personnel Items - These items are available here for review by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 11.1-11.4 on the agenda. All Approved

Classified Personnel Items - These items are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 12.1-12.2  on the agenda. All Approved

Supplemental Personnel Items - These items are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 13.1-13.3 on the agenda. All Approved

Exempt Personnel Items - None

Business Operations- None

Teaching and Learning - These items are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 16.1  on the agenda. All Approved

Special Education Items - None

Old Business Items-None

New Business Items - These items can be found here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 19.1-19.4 on the agenda. All Approved

2.55 Min Hearing of The Public on Non-Agenda items - None  

2.55.10 Min Treasurer’s Report - No further presentation

2.58.30 Min  Motion to adjourn was approved at  8:17 pm and the video ended at 2.58.44

Next regular meeting: December 16, 2024 at 7 pm.  

More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools

Observer: Jacqueline Berger

Editor: Anne Ondrey

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Date Submitted: 11/25/24

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.