Board Approves 5-Year Financial Forecast
West Geauga Board of Education Regular Meeting – October 13, 2025
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on October 13, 2025 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. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 121 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section.
Board Attendance: Mrs. Christina Sherwood, President; Mrs. Pam Claypool, Member; Mrs. Kathy Leavenworth, Member, and Mrs. Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh, Member, were present. Dr. William Beers, Vice President was absent.
Staff Attendance: Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Superintendent; Karen Pavlat, Treasurer; Scott Amstutz, Director of Instructional Technology; Dr. Amy Davis, Assistant Superintendent; Meagan Bellan, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Jim Kish, Director of Career Pathways/Connections; were present.
Other Attendees: Ms. Charlotte Speyer and her parents, approximately 17 other unidentified attendees and this observer were present.
Opening of Regular Meeting - The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:00 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.
0.55 min. Program Reports and Presentations -
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Shining Star Presentation - Dr. Benincasa introduced Charlotte Speyer and her family who were in attendance at the meeting. In addition, a video of Charlotte’s performance at the Shining Star Competition at the Cleveland Playhouse Square was shown. After the video, Charlotte spoke to the board thanking them and the school for supporting her vocal performance opportunities at West Geauga and urged them to continue this support for future students.
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State Report Card Presentation - Dr. Davis, Mrs. Bellan, and Mr. Kish presented additional information to the board about the State Report Card.
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Dr. Davis explained the five categories that comprise the report card: Achievement, Progress, Early Literacy, Gap Closing and Graduation Rate. In addition to receiving 5 stars in each of these individual categories, the district received an overall rating of 5 stars.
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Mrs. Bellan - The district received an overall Proficiency Rating of 108.5. The gradations of the rating in ascending order are: Untested, Limited, Basic, Proficient, Accomplished, Advanced, and Advanced Plus. The district’s score placed it in the Advanced Plus rating which was achieved by the top 9% of the total districts measured. She noted that the district’s Proficiency Score has increased every year since 2021.
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Mr. Kish - There will be a sixth category added to the Report Card next year called College, Career, Workforce & Military Readiness. This category was introduced on a preliminary basis this year and data from the 2023-24 school year was used. The district scored three stars. The low score was due to a missed requirement which the district has corrected through the establishment of a pre-apprenticeship program for grades 11 and 12, and the expectation is for a 5 star rating for the 2024-25 school year. Mr. Kish noted that this category will always use the previous year’s data for evaluation.
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Dr. Davis concluded the presentation by stating that continued growth and improvement will be the goals for the future.
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Mrs. Sherwood commented that this report shows that the district is not teaching to the test but is teaching critical life skills for all of the students. She thanked the staff and teachers for this achievement.
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Five Year Forecast Presentation - Mrs. Pavlat presented the current 5-year forecast. Observer Note: This assumes passage of the renewal levy on the ballot this November. The state requirement for future forecasts will be four years but she will continue to furnish the board with a 5-year forecast in accordance with current board policy.
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Current bills under consideration by the legislature have provisions affecting school funding and existing vetoes by the governor are still subject to being overridden. HB96 has provisions for piggyback tax exemptions for homesteads and owners, which if both pass, will result in the loss of $835K in annual income for the district. She also reviewed pending legislation that would adversely affect the district.
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Highlights of a Revenue vs Expenditure analysis showed that:
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Cash balances remain positive through FY30
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Deficit spending will begin in FY28 and continue throughout the forecast
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A $3.7M Emergency Levy will expire in Tax Year 2027
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Currently, the State furnishes 24.49% of the district’s annual revenue
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HB96 has the district on the Funding Guarantee through FY27 Reviewer Note: See information here.
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The West Geauga effective property tax rate is still the second lowest in Geauga County
Observer Note: The approved forecast and extensive notes on it are available as attachments to the published meeting agenda under resolution 2025-10-383.
Reviewer Note: At the Budget Commission hearing on February 20, 2025, County Auditor Chuck Walder said that the West Geauga School District is third out of the five Geauga school districts in effective property tax rate. See the LWVGeauga report on the hearing here. However, the Budget Commission uses a different definition of “year” and that could explain the discrepancy.
Public Remarks - There were none.
47.25 min. Routine Items - Consent - Approved
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2025-10-379 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education
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Resolution to Approve September, 2025 Financial Statements
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Minutes - Minutes from the September 15, 2025 meeting
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Certified Substitute List for the 2025-2026 School Year
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Classified Substitute List for the 2025-2026 School Year
48.00 min. Financial Resolutions - All Approved
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2025-10-380 Resolution to Approve Warrants for September 2025 - detai;led check register for September, 2025
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2025-10-381 Resolution to Accept Increase (Decrease) in FY 2026 Appropriations
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2025-10-382 Resolution to Accept Donations -
Name Amount Donated Recipient
Chesterland Dairy Queen $70.14 HS Chorus
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2025-10-383 Resolution to Approve Then and Now Certificate
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2025-10-384 Resolution to Approve Student Activity Statements of Purpose and Budgets for the 2025-2026 School Year
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2025-10-385 Resolution to Approve the October Financial Forecast - financial forecast required by the State of Ohio
50.50 min. Personnel Resolutions - All Approved
2025-10-386 Resolution to Approve Correction of Per Diem Rate for Certified Stipends for Work Outside of the 2024-2025 School Year
2025-10-387 Resolution to Approve Certified Long-Term Substitute Assignment
2025-10-388 Resolution to Accept Certified Staff Retirement
2025-10-389 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2025-2026 School Year
2025-10-390 Resolution to Approve Change in Classified Staff Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year
2025-10-391 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Retirement
2025-10-391 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Retirement
2025-10-393 Resolution to Terminate the Probationary Employment of a Classified Employee
2025-10-394 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year
2025-10-395 Resolution to Approve Service Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year
2025-10-396 Resolution to Authorize the Award of Service Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year
55.23 min. Policy and Program Resolutions - All Approved
2025-10-397 Resolution to Approve the First Reading of New Policy 1422.01, Revised Policy(s) 0131.1, 1613, 2271, 2340, 2460, 3213, 4213, 5113, 5120, 5131, 5330, 5350, 5460, 5610, 5751, 6151, 7440.01, 8142, 8452, and Rescinded Policy 0171
2025-10-398 Resolution to Approve the Second and Final Reading of New Policy(s) 0165, 0166, 7540.09, Revised Policy(s) 0100, 0142.1, 0151, 0152, 0155, 0163, 0164, 0167.2, 1100.01, 1520, 4120.08, 4121, 7530.01, 7530.02, 7530.03, 7540.03, 7540.04, 8310, 8315, 9160, and Rescinded Policy(s) 0165.1, 0165.2, 0173
2025-10-399 Resolution to Accept the 2025-2026 Annual Report to the Board of Education on Nutrition Standards in the District - This report states that for the 2025-2026 School Year, the District is in compliance and enforcing all nutrition standards as outlined in state law and USDA regulations (whichever is stricter) and adheres to current board policies. Dr. Benincasa offered to provide a presentation to the board in the future if they would like more information.
2025-10-400 Resolution to Approve Proposed Middle School Field Trips for the 2025-2026 School Year
1:00.45 min. Business Resolutions - All Approved
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2025-10-401 Resolution to Approve the Facilities Use Agreement Between Beachwood City School District and West Geauga High School for use of Beachwood’s natatorium.
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2025-10-402 Resolution to Approve Reserve School of Applewood Centers, Inc. Agreement for Educational Services with West Geauga Local Schools for the 2025-2026 School for special education students.
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2025-10-403 Resolution Declaring Transportation Impractical for the 2025-2026 School Year
Reviewer Note: Upon review of the resolution that was passed, the West Geauga school district determined under 3327.02 of the Revised Code that the transport of 134 students in the West Geauga school district to 13 different private schools was ‘impractical’ and the parent, guardian, or other person in charge of the pupil may accept the offer of payment from the school district in lieu of providing transportation. The Ohio Department of Education issued a statement laying out the payment amounts for the 2025/2026 school year, with a minimum of $607.15/student and a maximum of $1,214.29/student. Although no total figure was provided in the West Geauga resolution, if the average of the 2 figures ($910.50/student) is assumed, the total amount paid by West Geauga School District to the parents, guardians, or other persons in charge of the pupils attending private schools would be $122,007 for the 2025/2026 school year.
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2025-10-404 Resolution to Authorize Request For Design Build RFP for the Water Treatment / Maintenance Building - Mr. Amstutz explained to the board that this resolution will allow a master bid to be released to potential vendors. The master bid is composed of information assembled over a several year period and compiled into a bid for both a Water Treatment Plant and a Maintenance Building. The master bid will contain components that may be subtracted from the total cost to meet budgetary constraints. The bid will be released in mid-October with responses due in December. The schedule will allow the board an opportunity to review bid results at the January regular meeting.
105:20.00 min. Board Resolutions - All Approved
1:06.30 min. Discussion of New Business and Suggestions to be Included on Future Agenda - The board discussed starting winter board meetings earlier, and, by consensus, agreed to move the starting time of meetings to 6:00 pm beginning with the November 10, 2025 meeting.
1:07.40 min. Reports
1:09.50 min. Adjournment - Approved
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Announcement of Next Board Meeting – There will be a Regular Meeting on November 10, 2025 (note revised date) beginning at 6:00 pm (note revised time) in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.
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2025-10-407 Resolution to Adjourn
Observer: Bob Doxey
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: October 28, 2025
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