Board Casts Final Vote to Approve Substitute Levy for November Election
West Geauga Board of Education Special Meeting – July 31, 2025
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on July 31, 2025 at 5:30 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. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 71 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section.
Board Attendance: Mrs. Christina Sherwood, President; Dr. William Beers, Vice President; Mrs. Kathy Leavenworth, Member; Mrs. Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh, Member; and Mrs. Pam Claypool, Member, were present.
Staff Attendance: Karen Pavlat, Treasurer; Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Assistant Superintendent; Scott Amstutz, Director of Instructional Technology; and Dr. Amy Davis, Director of Pupil Personnel, were present.
Other Attendees: The only other identifiable attendee was Mr. Eric Johnson, legal counsel to the Board.
Observer’s Note: This observer streamed the meeting and utilized an online version of the agenda in preparation of this report. The first 1.18 minutes of the video are without audio.
Opening of Special Meeting - The Special Meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Mrs. Sherwood. The roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Additions and/or Changes to the Agenda – There were none.
Financial Resolution - Approved
1.18 min. Board Resolution - Approved
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2025-07-304 Resolution to Proceed with the Election on the Question of the Substitution of Two Emergency Tax Levies - The motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Pavlat indicated she would file the necessary application to have the substitute levy placed on the ballot for the November, 2025 election. Dr. Beers commented that this action had been considered for a while and that the legislative budget action accelerated the process. Reviewer Note: See the July 7, 2025 West Geauga Board of Education Observer Report for additional background information.
4.10 min. Personnel Resolutions - All Approved
Reviewer Note: See the agenda for the names of the staff resignations
7.00 min. Executive Session - Approved
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2025-07-307 Resolution to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Pending Litigation - The Board adjourned to Executive Session with counsel to discuss matters of pending litigation or imminent court action. Dr. Benincasa, Mrs. Pavlat and Attorney Eric Johnson were invited to attend the Executive Session.
47.00 min. Reconvene From Executive Session -No action taken
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Announcement of Next Board Meeting – It was announced that there would be a Regular Meeting on August 11, 2025 and on September 15, in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township. Observer Note: Subsequent to the meeting, an additional Special Meeting was called for August 5, 2025.
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2025-06-308 Resolution to Adjourn – The meeting was adjourned at 6:18 pm.
Observer: Bob Doxey
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Rooney Moy
Date Submitted: August 20, 2025
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