Board Approves Fiscal Caution Plan,
Takes Steps toward Putting Income Tax Increase on November Ballot
Berkshire Board of Education – Regular Meeting, May 11, 2026
Meeting Details: The meeting was held in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon-Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 4402. 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, Linda Stone, Vice President, and members Dan
Berman and Brandon Townsend. Bryan Wadsworth was absent.
Staff Attendance: Superintendent John Stoddard, Treasurer Beth McCaffrey, High School Principal Jon Franks, and Vanessa Povozhaev, Director of Professional Learning & Community Outreach (incoming Director of Early Children Center).
Opening of Regular Meeting - The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mr. Manfredi who led the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll was called.
Approval of Agenda – Approved unanimously without discussion.
Approval of Minutes – Minutes for the Regular Meeting April 13, 2026, and Special Meeting May 4, 2026 were unanimously approved without discussion. Minutes are available through Board Docs here by clicking on the Meetings tab. The minutes are available in the detailed Agenda for the meeting following the meeting in question.
3:45 Min. Student/Staff Presentation – High School Presentation
High School Principal Jon Franks presented a new “Future Plans Career Assessment” initiative conducted in partnership with the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus (ATEC). All sophomores and juniors completed the assessment on May 4, followed by one-on-one coaching sessions with career counselors later that week. The comprehensive and research-based assessment evaluated students’ aptitudes, interests, work values, and personalities to match them with one of 900 careers or pathways, “providing a clearer picture of how their strengths and preferences align with real workforce opportunities.”
Mr. Franks explained that the program was funded through a $15,000 grant secured by Dr. Povozhaev, Director of Professional Learning & Community Outreach, which resulted in no cost to the district. He said the assessment that measured students’ aptitude gives teachers and administrators a stronger foundation for meaningful conversations with students about their goals, aspirations, and future career paths.
Dr. Povozhaev said the initiative began with the district’s involvement with GRIT (Growing Rural Independence Together), a regional workforce development program through the Ohio Governor’s Office of the Appalachian Community Grant Program. She noted the partnership could provide students with summer academy opportunities and future workforce development funding. She added that next year the district plans to assess freshmen and sophomores so all high school students will have career assessment data available to guide planning and instruction.
Two high school students, Ava and Bella, shared their experiences with the assessments and coaching sessions. Ava said her results closely aligned with her interests and encouraged her to further explore those career paths and the college planning process. Bella said her results introduced her to alternative careers that might fit her strengths, although they also reinforced her commitment to her original career goal. Administrators said the information can help guide students toward programs such as College Credit Plus, career center opportunities, and education-focused pathways.
Board members praised the students for their poise and presentation skills and thanked staff for implementing the program. Observer Note: See video for the full presentation.
14:30 Min. Executive Session – The Board adjourned into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment of a public employee in accordance with ORC 121.22. Observer Note: At the May 4 Special Meeting, the Board decided to go into Executive Session at the beginning of the present meeting in order to make personnel decisions that would be recommended in the Fiscal Caution Written Deficit Plan that was presented and voted on later in the meeting.
1:12:00 Min. Return from Executive Session – No action was announced.
1:12:00 Min. Treasurer’s Report
Financial Statements
The Treasurer 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, the purposes, and the balances remaining in each fund. The financial
statements for the period ending April 2026 were 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 unanimously approved donations that included After Prom gifts totaling $5,300 from 18 different local businesses and individuals, as well as Board scholarship contributions totaling $1,490. Observer Note: See Donations details in the meeting agenda available online.
Financial Amendments – The Board unanimously approved the following financial amendments:
Appropriation FY2026 - Totaling $29,808,027.61
Cash Transfers – to close Student Activity Funds
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Fund 200-9015 - Ledgemont Alumni Fund to Fund 029 - Foundation Alumni Fund $5,467.61
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Fund 200-9016 - Ledgemont Class of 2012 to Fund 029 - Foundation Alumni Fund $319.68
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Fund 200-9017 - Ledgemont Class of 2013 to Fund 029 - Foundation Alumni Fund $809.32
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Fund 200-9018 - Ledgemont Class of 2014 to Fund 029 - Foundation Alumni Fund $ 10.29
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Fund 200-9019 - Ledgemont Class of 2015 to Fund 029 - Foundation Alumni Fund $ 146.50
Mrs. McCaffrey explained that the Ledgemont accounts were “expired” student activity funds that would be moved into the Foundation Alumni Fund.
Observer Note: See Financial Amendments details in the meeting agenda available online.
1:14:00 Min. Superintendent’s Report
Fiscal Caution Written Deficit Plan – Observer Note: See the LWVG Observer Report on the May 4 Special Meeting for background information. Dr. Stoddard presented the district’s written plan for deficit reduction, with accompanying slides, noting that it must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by May 18. The plan addresses the projected deficit in fiscal year 2028 identified in the district’s five-year forecast. The projected deficit automatically put the district in fiscal caution.
Highlights include but are not limited to:
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The district has experienced cyclical deficit spending since reaching the state’s 20-mill funding floor.
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Several factors outside the district’s control contributed to the deficit, including:
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elimination of open enrollment funding;
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failure of the permanent improvement levy renewal;
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loss of Orwell-Trumbull Pipeline funding;
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reduced payments from the Illuminating Company; and
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restrictions under House Bill 186.
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Revenue revisions include:
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higher projections for residential construction growth;
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lower commercial construction growth projections;
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stronger-than-expected income tax growth; and
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approximately $45,000 in additional career-tech revenue from students outside the district.
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Cost-cutting measures were designed to minimize impacts on classroom instruction and student opportunities.
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Expenditure reductions include:
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eliminating two administrative positions;
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leaving two teaching resignations unfilled through staff reassignment;
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replacing two teachers with entry-level teachers at lower salaries;
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eliminating three permanent substitute positions; and
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reducing operational, technology, curriculum, purchase service, and supply budgets by about 21%.
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The district no longer receives meaningful investment income because the fund balance has fallen to zero.
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The Board finance committee will oversee implementation of the plan, including expenditures, revenues, and deficit-reduction progress.
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Additional long-term stabilization efforts will likely be needed beyond fiscal year 2028.
Observer Note: Later in the meeting, the Superintendent announced that Dr. Povozhaev will take over as Director of Berkshire’s Early Childhood Center next year and her current position will remain unfilled.
The Superintendent concluded the presentation with a recommendation for the district to pursue a 0.5% school district income tax levy in November 2026 to support long-term financial stability.
The Board unanimously approved the fiscal caution written deficit plan for submission to the state.
Personnel - The Board approved 4-0, with Mr. Townsend abstaining, 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 Amy Kitzmiller as a Cedar Point volunteer.
Contracts – The Board unanimously approved contracts for:
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Gardner Service Contract (for HVAC Maintenance)
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Patacca Services LLC (K12 Professional Development Tracker Agreement)
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Salad Bars to Schools (This is a grant for lunchtime salad bars)
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ESY (Extended School Year) Camp Agreement - Orange City Schools (3 students)
Observer Note: See Contract details in the meeting agenda available online.
1:26:00 Min. Old Business – Mr. Manfredi asked Mrs. McCaffrey to prepare calculations for both a 0.5% and 0.75% school district income tax increase in time for the next Board meeting. He explained, “we need to see what those calculations are going to be, because as we know, we could get more cuts from the state, and we have to be prepared if that half percent is not enough….” Mrs. McCaffrey recommended the Board approve a resolution to formally request the certifications from the Department of Taxation for estimated school district income tax rates through ORC 5748.02. She said when they get the certification, there will be a formal request which will allow the Board to act on a tax change at the next meeting. The Board then unanimously approved a resolution requesting certification of estimated tax rates for a school district income tax through ORC 5748.02 to the Department of Taxation.
1:28:00 Min. New Business – The Early Childhood Center was recognized for having received a gold medal from Step Up to Quality, an Ohio rating system for early care and education programs. Dr. Stoddard announced that Dr. Povozhaev would be the Center’s new director next year. Dr. Povozhaev spoke about training and program requirements for maintaining their gold medal status and expressed excitement and appreciation for her new role.
Mrs. Stone congratulated the school for the success of the recent Day of Giving, noting it was “a great concept for our kids to experience, doing stuff for others.”
1:30:00 Min. Public Participation – No comments.
1:31:00 Min. Board Discussion
Next Regular Meeting Dates – June 8, 2026, and July 13, 2026, at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon-Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021.
1:31:00 Min. Meeting Adjourned
Observer: Rooney Moy
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: May 18, 2026
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