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Berkshire Board Sounds the Alarm about the Negative Effects 

of Legislative Changes on School Funding

Berkshire Board of Education – Regular Meeting, October 13, 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. 

Staff Attendance: Superintendent John Stoddard and Treasurer Beth McCaffrey. 

 

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 26:00 minute of video

 

Moment of silence – Before the next order of business, Mr. Manfredi asked for a moment of silence in honor of recently deceased former Board member Richard “Dick” Dean who had served for almost 20 years and had “fought for” construction of the addition on the former high school. 

 

Approval of Agenda – unanimously approved without discussion.

 

Approval of Minutes – Minutes for the October 13, 2025, meeting were unanimously approved without discussion.

 

28:49 Min. Student/Staff Presentation – State of the Schools Address

Dr. Stoddard gave a lengthy presentation accompanied by slides about the current state of Berkshire Schools.

Highlights include:

• Total enrollment has been consistent, with small enrollment increases in all but one of the past 5 years. Open enrollment has increased slightly since 2023. 

• The district’s overall rating in academic achievement on the state report card improved to 4 stars out of 5. The high school rating jumped significantly from 3.5 to 4.5 stars.

• The strategic plan was reviewed, including the three goals set for this year: improving academic performance, establishing cross-grade level collaboration, and improving communication and relationships with alumni, families and community members.

• Early literacy for K-3 students scored 2 out of 5 stars on the state report card. Dr. Stoddard detailed the reasons for the low score and how the school is addressing improving elementary literacy going forward. 

• Graduation Rate and College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness were both 5 stars on the state report card.

• The Early Childhood Center is up and running with 38 preschool students enrolled; an after-school care program is also offered at that location.

• Dr. Stoddard reviewed Berkshire’s career and workforce programs, including medical assistant, advanced manufacturing, mechanical technology and agribusiness. He also talked about the Workforce Development campus construction. There are currently 26 students in that program, with room for up to 100. 

• The career and workforce development programs have 15 active partnerships with local businesses, including Great Lakes Cheese and University Hospitals. There are 20+ internship and job-shadowing placements annually.

• Berkshire’s operating budget is $18 million; the cash balance is healthy with a positive 5-year forecast.

Observer Note: The complete presentation is available starting at 28:50 of the meeting video.

 

1:15 Min. Public Participation – No speaker requests.

 

1:15:39 Min. Treasurer’s Report

 

Financial Statements – unanimously approved without discussion

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 September 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 to approve the following donations:

 

Observer Note: Solid Rock on Which We Stand is a Christian based, family-owned agency that provides support to individuals with developmental disabilities. The Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support Berkshire students, staff, and facilities, particularly for projects not covered by tax dollars. It is currently running a capital campaign called "PRIME+." PBIS refers to the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support Program that identifies and supports desired behaviors in the school setting.

Mr. Manfredi said, “we love that people support the work that we’re doing,” noting that the district is continuing to improve what they offer students and will go on doing so “because of the people who are willing to donate towards our school children.”

 

Financial Amendments – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the following financial amendment:

Appropriation Modification:

1:18:25 Min. Five-Year Forecast – The Board unanimously approved a motion to submit the five-year forecast for Berkshire Schools to the Ohio Department of Workforce and Development. The stated purpose of the forecast is to engage the Board and community in long range planning and discussion of financial issues facing the schools.

Before the vote, Mrs. McCaffrey gave a presentation with slides on the schedule of revenues, expenditures and changes in general fund balances for the Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (actual numbers) and forecasts for Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2026, through 2030 (projected numbers). Observer Note: The complete forecast presentation is available in the meeting agenda online.

Highlights included:

• Stable income tax growth is expected along with tuition revenue increases (career tech, special needs and early childhood programs are tuition sources).

• The real estate growth assumption was raised from 8% to 12% due to strong home sales.

• Since 2009, public schools have seen 4 different funding formulas, with each new formula subsequently reducing state contributions to public schools from 42% to the current level of 32%. Berkshire taxpayers’ current share of the budget is 68%.

• Berkshire is unique in that 13% of district property is tax-exempt, limiting the tax base. Notably, this includes 6,000 acres owned by the City of Akron that are tax-exempt.

• Expenditures increased due primarily to new salaries from a new administrative position, 6 new aides and higher, negotiated teacher salaries. It was noted that the district benefited from the retirement of 6 teachers who were replaced by 6 new teachers at lower salaries. 

• Cash reserves have been falling since 2023 and are projected to be near deficit by FY28. 

• There are many bills before the State legislature that threaten the forecast, particularly HB 186, which restricts replacement and renewal levies and caps 20-mill floor growth to inflation and may be applied retroactively. 

Board discussion following the presentation centered on potential solutions to the funding dilemma, which included:

• Treating public schools as a true “choice,” equally funded like private/parochial schools.

• Eliminating unfunded mandates, like requirements to provide special services and transportation to voucher school students. 

• Restoring equitable state funding for public schools (such as 50/50 state-local balance).

Dr. Stoddard stated they will continue to develop revenue-generating programs, such as Workforce Development pathways and the Early Childhood Center. He pointed out that the $8,500 voucher that students receive is more than what families pay in taxes. He said the last resort funding options include levies, staff cuts and/or school consolidation.

 

Mr. Manfredi asked when the next property appraisals would be. Mrs. McCaffrey said full reappraisals are every 6 years, with updates every 3 years. He also asked when schools receive Ohio Lottery money. Mrs. McCaffrey said the lottery money is no longer kept separately but commingled with general funds. Casino revenue is distributed from a separate fund; this year Berkshire will get $90,000, or about $66 per student.

Mr. Manfredi inquired as to how many district children are receiving vouchers. Mrs. McCaffrey said that there were 4 children in 2023, 69 children (11 considered low income) in 2024, and 103 (20 are low income) in 2025. Dr. Stoddard clarified that the district didn’t “lose” these students (meaning enrollment is holding steady) because the vast majority of voucher recipients have never attended Berkshire Schools. Reviewer Note:  Income guidelines have changed, allowing more families to qualify for vouchers. In many cases these families have already been enrolled in private schools.  See more information here from the Dayton Daily News.

Mr. Berman said that HB 186 is “dangerous” for many rural schools and that the Legislature is, “... turning rural school districts into political war zones.” He said Berkshire could lose “... about 14% of our funding. There are schools out there that are going to lose 24% of their funding over the three years of the same period.” Referring to school district consolidation, he stated that “this is by design to push to make some things happen in public schools that a lot of us don’t want.” He said if HB 186 passes, “we’re in big trouble.” 

Board members and Dr. Stoddard encouraged the audience to contact their state legislators to voice their opposition to the school funding changes.

 

1:51:20 Min. Superintendent’s Report

 

Personnel – The Board unanimously approved the personnel actions for Certified and Classified staff as listed on the meeting agenda. Observer Note: A complete list of personnel actions is available in the meeting agenda online.

 

Volunteers – The Board unanimously approved the following volunteers:

 

Overnight Trips – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the following overnight trips:

• Girls Soccer Match - Grove City, PA; Friday, September 19 to Saturday, September 20, 2025

• Middle School Cross Country State Meet - Columbus, OH - Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, October 19, 2025

• Wrestling Tournament - Defiance Trip; Defiance, OH; Monday, December 29 to Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Contracts – The Board unanimously approved contracts for:

• Student Services Contract - Chardon Local School District (1 student) 

• Student Services Contract - Cardinal Local School District (3 students)

• ESCWR  (Education Service Center for the Western Reserve)- Crossroads Program

• Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools Partnership Agreement

• McCaskey Landscaping - 3-year Snowplowing

Mr. Manfredi asked Dr. Stoddard to talk about the Special Olympics Partnership Agreement. Dr. Stoddard said the group has asked to use Berkshire facilities for some outdoor Special Olympics activities.

Observer Note: Details of all contracts are available in the meeting agenda online. 

1:54 Min. Old Business – None

 

1:54:08 Min. New Business – None 

1:54:11 Min. Board Discussion

Next regular meeting dates - November 17, 2025 (third Monday) and December 8, 2025 in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021 at 6 pm.

No Executive Session

1:55:16 Min. Meeting Adjourned.

 

Observer: Rooney Moy

Editor: Gail Roussey

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Date Submitted: October 23, 2025

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