Classes Start at New Early Childhood Center;
Workforce Development Campus Work Progressing
Berkshire Board of Education – Regular Meeting, September 8, 2025
Meeting Details: The meeting was held in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021 at 6 pm. A video of the meeting is posted here. View the agenda online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab and then the meeting date. The notation of minutes refers to the time posted on the video for the discussion of the item listed.
Board Members Attendance: John Manfredi, President, Jody Miller, Vice President, and members Dan Berman, Linda Stone and Bryan Wadsworth were present.
Staff Attendance: Superintendent John Stoddard and Treasurer Beth McCaffrey were present. Mary McCauley, new first grade teacher, was also present.
Opening of Regular Meeting - The Regular Meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mr. Manfredi who led the Pledge of Allegiance and conducted the roll call. Observer Note: The meeting was called to order at the 8:42 minute of video
Approval of Agenda – unanimously approved without discussion
Approval of Minutes – Minutes for the August 11, 2025, meeting were unanimously approved without discussion.
10:03 Min Student/Staff Presentation – Workforce Development (replaced Student Services on Agenda)
Dr. Stoddard updated the Board on the Workforce Development Program. He spoke about the different tracks offered through their Advanced Manufacturing Pathway:
Dr. Stoddard showed a slide with an aerial view of the campus:
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Building A: Split between Preston Superstore commercial repair operations and Berkshire’s transportation department
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Building B: Currently houses diesel classroom and labs; next year will become Power Systems Pathway using the Ohio CAT curriculum (diesel, generator, and heavy machinery training)
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Building C: Body shop. Preston is currently using the space.
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Building D: Under construction for diesel and mechanical technology programs (completion goal: mid-October). The classrooms are designed with visibility into labs and conference areas.
Dr. Stoddard also outlined:
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Program Benefits:
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Hands-on training, state-recognized credentials, apprenticeships.
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Strong business partnerships (Preston, Great Lakes Cheese, others).
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Revenue generation and sustainability for the district.
In response to a question from the audience, Dr. Stoddard explained that the salt dome on site will be demolished with Preston committed to helping fund demolition. Reviewer Note: This exchange occurred outside the normal public comment portion of the Agenda. The person who asked the question was not identified.
Mr. Manfredi suggested a visit to the Workforce Development site after a future board meeting with the public invited. Dr. Stoddard thought November could be a good time, noting that “lots of people are interested” in seeing the campus. He said both the Burton Chamber of Commerce and Education Service Center of Northeast Ohio’s Business Advisory Council plan to have their November meetings in Building D or B.
Mrs. Miller said she thought the classes would “be full in no time,” and Dr. Stoddard agreed that it was a popular program.
19:30 Min Public Participation – No speaker requests.
19:55 Min Treasurer’s Report
Financial Statements – unanimously approved without discussion
The detailed Agenda states: The Treasurer has submitted a statement to the Board and the Superintendent showing the revenues and receipts from whatever sources derived, the various Appropriations made by the board, the expenditures and disbursements therefrom, the purposes thereof, and the balances remaining in each fund. The financial statements for the period ending August 2025 have been submitted subject to audit and include Financial Summary, Appropriations and Revenue Summary, Check Register Recap, and Bank Reconciliation per ORC 3313.29. Observer Note: See Financial Statement details in the meeting agenda available online.
Donations – The Board voted unanimously without discussion following donations:
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Great Lakes Cheese
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School Supplies
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Hexpol
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School Supplies
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Kyle Strong/Walmart Middlefield
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School Supplies
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McCaskey Landscaping
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Culvert Installation
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Arms Trucking
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Culvert Pipe
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Financial Amendments – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the following financial amendments:
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Agile Sports Technologies
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Athletics
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$ 6,301.00
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Ohio School Council Cooperative – The Board unanimously approved without discussion a motion to participate in the 2025/2026 Ohio Schools Council Cooperative School Bus Purchasing Program and authorized the Ohio Schools Council to advertise and receive bids on behalf of Berkshire Board of Education for the cooperative purchase of two (2) 72-passenger conventional school bus chassis bodies along with one (1) passenger van.
Motion to authorize Mihalic Associates & Auctioneer, LLC to sell 3 storage tanks that are not needed by the District – unanimously approved
Mrs. McCaffrey explained that the tanks are at the former ODOT site on the Workforce Development campus. She said she thinks Mihalic will get a better price than Berkshire for the tanks based on their contacts in the industry. Mr. Manfredi encouraged Mrs. McCaffrey to consider putting as much old equipment as possible with Mihalic.
24:10 Min Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Stoddard introduced to the board new first grade teacher Mary McCauley who spoke briefly about her good start to the new school year. She said she grew up in Chardon and that the first-grade team has been “just amazing” getting her acclimated.
Personnel – The Board unanimously approved the personnel actions for Certified and Classified staff. Observer Note: A complete list of personnel actions is available in the meeting agenda online.
Volunteers – The Board unanimously approved the following volunteers:
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Joseph Shumar
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Football Coach
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Chris Soltis
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Football Coach
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Payment in Lieu of Transportation – The Board unanimously approved a motion to approve payment per student in lieu of transportation for the 2025-2026 school year per ORC 3327.02 to 4 students to St. Mary Chardon and 6 students to Notre Dame Chardon at a cost of $607.15 per pupil.
Dr. Stoddard reminded the audience that the State requires school districts to either transport students to their private school or reimburse parents if transportation is not feasible for the district.
Contracts – The Board unanimously approved without discussion contracts for:
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Venice Solutions L.L.C. - Consulting Agreement
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Contract for Educational Student Services - Cardinal Local School District (1)
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CrossRoads Health (for therapeutic day treatment program)
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Safely Home (residential special needs program)
Observer Note: Details of all contracts are available in the meeting agenda online.
Athletic Workers Salary Schedule – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the athletic workers’ salaries for regular season games. Observer Note: The salary schedule is available in the meeting agenda online.
NEOLA (Northeast Ohio Learning Associates) Policies – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the first and final reading of the policies for Continuity of Organizational Operations Plan (COOP) and Information Security. The COOP’s primary objective is to restore the district’s critical operational/business functions and the learning environment as quickly as possible after a crisis/emergency/disaster or threat event occurs. The Information Security plan outlines how the school district protects data/information it collects. Observer Note: Full descriptions of the COOP and Information Security Plan are available on the meeting agenda online.
State Model Policies Procedures for Special Education – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the Department of Education and Workforce Special Education Model Policies and Procedures for the 2025-2026 school year. Observer Note: Details of the special education model policies are available in the meeting agenda online.
29:45 Min Old Business
Dr. Stoddard reported that classes have started at the Early Childhood Center (ECC). He said, “the building looks incredible, the staff loves it, and the students are having a good time.” He stated there was a slight issue with a sewer line that was fixed in a matter of hours and “everything is good to go now.”
30:15 Min New Business – As the Board liaison to Auburn Career Center (ACC), Mr. Berman provided an update on the school. He reported that the new superintendent is doing a great job and interactions between ACC and Berkshire are going well. He also said the 13-year class action lawsuit between ACC and the union was finally resolved last week and the litigation now closed. He stated the school is growing quickly and is looking for more opportunities for satellite classes like those with Berkshire’s Workforce Development campus.
Mr. Manfredi said he had been told that the superintendent is great to work with and that he “is aggressively wanting satellite locations.” Mr. Manfredi said he’s been advocating to ACC for the same thing, noting that keeping their students on campus will be a big benefit, saving travel time and ultimately leading to more education. He encouraged Mr. Berman to continue to advocate as well.
32:05 Min Board Discussion
Next regular meeting dates - October 13, 2025 and November 17, 2025 (third Monday) in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021 at 6 pm.
No Executive Session
The Meeting Adjourned at 6:33 pm.
Observer: Rooney Moy
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: September 25, 2025
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