Board Takes Formal Action to Place Bond Issues on Ballot
West Geauga Board of Education Board Regular Meeting - 12/16/24
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on December 16, 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.
Board Attendance: President Christina Sherwood, Kathy Leavenworth, Dr. William Beers, Pam Claypool, and Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh were present.
Staff Attendance: Karen Pavlat, Treasurer; Dr. Richard Markwardt, Superintendent; Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Assistant Superintendent, and Scott Amstutz, Director of Instructional Technology.
Other Attendees: There were 8 - 10 other unidentified attendees and this Observer.
Opening of the Regular Meeting: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm and the roll call was conducted. Ms. Sherwood asked to observe a moment of silence to recognize the victims of a Wisconsin school shooting. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Additions and/or Changes to the Agenda - Ms. Pavlat said that Resolution 2024-12-400A was added to the agenda.
Program Reports and Presentations - There were none
Public Remarks - There were none
1.50 min. Routine Items - Consent - All were approved
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2024-12-391 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education
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Resolution to Approve November 2024 Financial Statements
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Minutes (November 18 and December 11 Special meeting)
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Certified Substitute List for the 2024-2025 School Year
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Classified Substitute List for 2024-2025 School Year
2.35 min. Financial Resolutions - All were approved
1. Geauga Retired Teachers Association: $192.00 for the West Geauga High School Chorus
2. Geauga Dog Contest -Walder: $250.00 for Lindsay - Sandy Kulp’s classroom
3. West Geauga Educational Association: $2000.00 for Dyslexia - An Auditory Approach
Mrs. Pavlat expressed her thanks to all the donors for these donations.
4.00 min. Personnel Resolutions - All were approved
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2024-12-395 Resolution to Approve Certified Long-Term Substitute Assignment
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2024-12-396 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Retirement
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2024-12-397 Resolution to Approve Unpaid Days
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2024-12-398 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-12-399 Resolution to Approve Service Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-12-400 Resolution to Authorize Payment of Science of Reading Stipends Set Forth by House Bill 33 - Dr. Beers asked if this cost was reimbursed by the state. Reimbursement was confirmed.
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2024-12-400A Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Resignation
8.10 min. Policy and Program Resolutions - All were approved
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2024-12-401 Resolution to Approve the Second Reading and Approval of Revised Board Policies 1220, 3120.06,, 6220, and 6450; Replaced Board Policies 3120.01, 3120.07, 4120.04, and 6440; and Delete Board Policy 8450.01 - During the discussion of this resolution, Mrs. Claypool asked for further discussion of Policy 3120.07. She was concerned about the last paragraph of this policy. Upon further discussion of this policy, it was moved, seconded and approved to amend the policy by deleting the last paragraph. After this action the original resolution, as amended, was approved.
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2024-12-402 Resolution to Approve 2025-2026 Open Enrollment Guidelines and Caps - Dr. Markwardt explained that due to changes in the state’s treatment of open enrollment, a new open enrollment policy was needed. This new proposed policy restricts open enrollment and puts new reduced enrollment caps in place to reflect the new policy. Students currently openly enrolled will be able to complete their education in the district, if they choose to do so. Employees having open enrollment options in their contracts will continue to have the ability to exercise this option.
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2024-12-403 Resolution to Approve the West Geauga Handbook for Administrators and Supervisors
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2024-12-404 Resolution to Approve the West Geauga Handbook for Confidential Administrative Assistants and Coordinators
24.40 min. Business Resolutions - All were approved
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2024-12 -406 Resolution to Authorize Purchase of School Bus Chassis and Bodies from Bids Received Through Ohio Schools Council - This resolution authorizes the purchase of two new school buses.
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2024-12 -407 Resolution to Approve the Revised Services Agreement between McKeon Education Group, Inc./MEG, Inc. and West Geauga Local Schools
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2024-12 -408 Resolution to Approve the School Transportation Contract between Buckeye Logistics & Transit and West Geauga Local Schools
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2024-12 -409 Resolution to Approve the Great Minds Quote for Wit and Wisdom Resources - Dr. Benincasa stated that the staff and teachers wanted to evaluate the 6th grade Wit and Wisdom curriculum before recommending the material for 7th and 8th grade. All were impressed with the materials and content of the 6th grade curriculum and fully recommend adding the 7th and 8th grade curriculum. Training with a Coach will occur during professional development days.
27.30 min. Board Resolutions - All were approved
Prior to considering the following resolutions, Dr. Markwardt gave a brief summary of the process leading up to them. He stated the process began during 2018 with several meetings of school personnel, stakeholder groups, architects and planners. Two events interrupted the process - COVID and the annexation of the Newbury School District. COVID made meetings difficult to schedule and the annexation added new revenue streams and students to the district, which required altering building usage and design requirements. In early 2023 the process resumed with forums involving wider participation by stakeholders and the community. In September a survey was circulated which indicated that a central campus with the Middle and High Schools sharing a single building was favored. There was also support in the community for having the auditorium and fieldhouse available for community use. . The two groups would be separated by common areas, such as an auditorium and library. The decision was made to re-purpose the current Middle School to serve as a K-5 Elementary School. Lindsay and Westwood schools would be demolished. Determining a final cost for the project was complicated by rapidly changing construction and material costs due to inflation. A final project cost of $128,200,000 was established in October 2024. Dr. Markwardt said that the time has arrived for the Board to move forward to place a bond issue on the May 6, 2025 ballot. Dr. Beers added that a deliberate effort was made to include Newbury residents in establishing the project design criteria. Dr. Markwardt was asked about the trend in declining enrollment. He responded that the state originally asked the District to consider a single K-12 building to service all of the students. The District pushed back on this concept. He feels that the District will become more of a “destination district” in the future and enrollment will grow. Dr. Beers stated that the improvements to the current Middle School facility will reduce the amount of bond issue funds needed. Current estimates are that approximately $6,000,000 in improvements will be made prior to the bond issue being placed on the ballot.
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2024-12 -410 Resolution to Approve the State Consents and Special Needs School Facilities Bonds - This resolution formalizes the Board’s action to build new facilities for a cost of $128,200,000.
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2024-12 -411 Resolution to Approve the School Facilities Bond - This resolution is a Certificate of Estimated Life and Maximum Maturity by the Treasurer to the School Board that the life of the improvements exceeds five years and maturity of the improvements is 38 years.
43.25min. Treasurer’s Business - Resolution passed
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2024-12 -412 Resolution to Approve the Authorization Resolution for January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 - Ms. Pavlat stated that this action would normally be taken at the January 2025 meeting. By approving the resolution at this meeting, there is the possibility that funds will be released to the District prior to the January regular meeting.
44.40 min. Appointment of President “Pro Tempore” for the Organizational Meeting - Resolution passed
45.25 min. Discussion of New Business and Suggestions to be Included in Future Agenda
There were no items discussed.
45.40 min. Reports
47.55 min. Adjournment - Resolution passed
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on January 13, 2025 in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township. A Tax Budget Hearing/Organizational Meeting will be held at 6:30 pm with the regular board meeting following at 7:00 pm.
Observer: Bob Doxey
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 1/14/2025
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