Commendations Awarded for Students
Earning National Merit and Eagle Scout Awards
Kenston Board of Education Regular Meeting – November 10, 2025
Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) Regular Meeting took place on November 10, 2025, at 7:00 pm. The full video of the meeting is posted on the Kenston Website page here and on Kenston’s YouTube page here. View the agenda online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab, the meeting date, and the agenda.
13:57 Min Video Opening and Min Regular Meeting Welcome and Roll Call: This meeting is being held in accordance with Section 3313.15 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Observer Note: This observer attended virtually, and the meeting video contains distorted, garbled, and disappearing sound throughout, allowing only some capture on content and discussion.
Board Attendance: Vice President Beth Krause, Dennis Bergansky, Jim Henry, and Jennifer Troutman.
Absent: President Tom Manning
Other Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Bruce R. Willingham, Treasurer Seth Cales, and KHS Principal Tom Gabram
Pledge of Allegiance led by Cullen Fehring, KHS 12th Grade student, and Mrs. Troutman.
17:10 Min Approval of the Minutes: The Kenston Board of Education approved that the reading of the minutes be waived, and approved the minutes from the Regular Meeting of October 13, 2025, as recorded or corrected. Observer Note: No minutes were available to upload from the agenda.
17:53 Min Commendations
The Superintendent recommended that the board commend the following students, and KHS Principal Tom Gabram announced the awards.
22:35 Min Informational Items Observer Note: The video’s sound is still garbled and cutting in and out, so only what can be clearly discerned is reported below.
30:35Min Superintendent’s Report Observer Note: The video’s sound is still garbled and cutting in and out, so only what can be clearly discerned is reported below.
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Permanent Improvement: Recommendations for upcoming PI (Permanent Improvement) projects will be available for Board approval at the December Board meeting.
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House Bill 96: Dr. Willingham and Mr. Cales have been speaking with Commissioner Brakey and County Auditor Walder who are in hearings and making decisions about whether to do any expansions to the homestead and owner occupied credits. Dr. Willingham advised that Mr Cales will discuss what some of the cuts may look like for the district during the Treasurer’s report later in this meeting. While all agree that property taxes are out of control, Dr. Willingham stated that simply getting rid of them would not be good. He continued to speak about what the district stands to lose.
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Mr. Gabram has been working with his team and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Poe on the program of study at the high school so that it is updated and prepared for scheduling at the high school.
35:16 Min Treasurer’s Report - Observer Note: The video’s sound is still garbled and cutting in and out, so only what can be clearly discerned is reported below. There was no monthly report available on the agenda or at the Kenston Local Schools Finance page. Mr. Cales also used a presentation, but the videographer did not display it for the viewer.
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Mr. Cales advised that Ohio HB 96 does provide some relief for the taxpayers through the Homestead credit; however, it does come at a cost to the school districts, townships and municipalities. If the “piggyback” exemption was enacted, the school district would go through its cash reserves approximately two to two and one-half years sooner, causing it to have to put a levy on the ballot sooner. This exemption would impact other school districts, townships and municipalities in the same manner.
Reviewer Note: The Geauga County Commissioners declined to permit the “piggyback” exemption at their meeting on November 18, 2025. See LWVGeauga Observer Report when published here. Choose Board of County Commissioners and then November 18, 2025.
43:40 Min Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items- There were no speaker requests.
43:48 Min Agenda approval items 9-18: As the Board President announced at the beginning of the meeting, these items were reviewed by Board members before the meeting and most were passed quickly and without discussion.
Observer Note: Video times are not noted on the quickly occurring motions and approvals below unless significant changes are mentioned or significant discussions occur. The sound issue finally resolves around 44:43 minutes.
Financial Items: All items and accompanying documents can be found here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 9.1-9.8 on the agenda. All Approved. Items that may be of interest include but are not limited to:
Certified Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here for review by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 10.1-10.5 on the agenda. All Approved.
Classified Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 11.1- 11.4 on the agenda. All Approved.
Supplemental Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 12.1-12.6 on the agenda. All Approved.
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Mrs. Troutman asked what LPDC (12.1) stood for, and Dr. Willingham explained that it stands for Local Professional Development Committee. He went on to explain that all school districts have LPDCs and that certified personnel must have their hours (continuing education hours) approved through these Committees in order to renew their licenses.
Business Operations- These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 14.1-14.3 on the agenda. All Approved.
Special Education Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 16.1-16.3 on the agenda. All Approved.
New Business Items- These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 18.1-18.7 and a separate vote for 18.8 on the agenda. All Approved. Items that may be of interest include but are not limited to:
49:53 Min Hearing of The Public on Non-Agenda Items
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A Kenston parent living in South Spring Valley remains concerned that her child is being dropped off at what she believes to be an unsafe location on Haskins Road. She believes that the bus stop is in an unsafe location because it is on a blind hill with inadequate signage. She states that while a “bus stop ahead” sign has been installed, said sign is only 389 feet in advance of the stop rather than the 500 feet required by the state. She is concerned that this will be even less adequate notification during hazardous driving conditions.
Observer Note: The Ohio Administrative Code regarding school bus routes and stops that the parent refers to can be found here.
Dr. Willingham noted that a special meeting would be called regarding the retirement-rehire of a district employee which was mentioned one or two months ago as per protocol for a retire-rehire circumstance. This meeting will be scheduled on the 24th. Observer Note: There is a Special Meeting for November 24 at 4 pm to consider various personnel actions. See the Agenda here by picking the November 24th Special Meeting Date and then choosing the Agenda.
51:58 Min - A motion to adjourn was made and approved with no ending time noted. The active video ended at 52:08 min.
Next regular meeting: December 15, 2025 at 7:00 pm.
More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools
Video Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: November 25, 2025
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