West Geauga Board Moves Forward on Newbury Property Use
West Geauga Board of Education Special Meeting – June 10, 2026
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on June 10, 2026 at 5:00 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 of this report, this video has been viewed 128 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section.
Board Attendance: Mrs. Pam Claypool, President; Mrs. Kathy Leavenworth, Member; and Mrs. Ellen Naylor, Member, were present. Mr. Mark Vidmar, Member, participated on-line (non-voting). Dr. Beers was absent.
Staff Attendees: Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Superintendent; Mrs. Karen Pavlat, Treasurer/CFO; Dr. Amy Davis, Assistant Superintendent; Mr. Scott Amstutz, Director of Operations & Technology; Ms. Katherine Detwiler, Intervention Specialist; and Ms. Suzette Firehammer, 3rd grade teacher.
Other Attendees: Mr. Greg Tropf, Newbury Trustees Chairperson, and 3-5 unidentified attendees.
Observer Note: This report was prepared by this Observer utilizing a video recording of the meeting and other printed material from the West Geauga School District.
Opening of the Regular Meeting - The Special Meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm by Mrs. Claypool. The roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Mrs. Claypool requested the Board Discussion be moved to the end of the meeting to accommodate those staff being hired tonight. The other members concurred.
1.05 min. Personnel Resolutions - All passed
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2026-06-176 Resolution to Approve Administrative Staff Appointment for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-177 Resolution to Approve Certified Staff Appointments for the 2025-2026 School Year
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2026-06-178 Resolution to Approve Certified Staff Appointments for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-179 Resolution to Approve Certified Staff Appointments for the 2026-2027 School Year - Dr. Davis introduced Suzette Firehammer, a 3rd grade teacher, to the Board. Katherine Detwiler, an Intervention Specialist, was unable to attend the meeting.
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2026-06-180 Resolution to Accept Certified Staff Resignation
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2026-04-181 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2025-2026 School Year
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2026-06-182 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-183 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Retirement
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2026-06-184 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year
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2026-06-185 Resolution to Approve Service Contract for the 2025-2026 School Year
9.15 min. Policy and Program Resolutions - All Passed
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2026-06-186 Resolution to Approve the First Reading of Revised Board Policy(s) 5223, 5517, and 8330 - Dr. Benincasa said that these policies have had their language modernized and properly identifies information that the District may provide regarding student records. She stated that the second reading of these policies would be scheduled for the June Regular Meeting.
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2026-06-187 Resolution to Approve the revised 2026-2027 West Geauga Local School Year Calendar
12.25 min. Business Resolutions - All passed
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2026-06-188 Resolution to Approve the Purchase of a Passenger Transportation Van with Wheelchair Accessibility in the 2026-2027 School Year - A motion to revise the resolution from the 2026-2027 school year to the 2025-2026 school year was made, seconded and passed. The revised motion was passed. Dr. Benincasa explained that it was necessary to purchase the van immediately rather than the next school year because it was needed for use for the summer session.
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2026-06-189 Resolution to Approve the Renewal of District Commercial Insurance Package for the 2026-2027 School Year - Mrs. Pavlat that this was an annual renewal of property and liability insurance package for the District and reflected some coverage and deductible changes.
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2026-06-190 Resolution to Approve the Vasco Sports Contractors Change Order #1 - Mr. Amstutz explained that the resolution reflected some additional drainage work needed for the track replacement project. He indicated that the project remains on schedule.
Dr. Benincasa thanked the Board for their patience in dealing with last minute agenda items that occur during the summer. Many of these reflect the hiring of personnel to fill new or existing positions and for items needed to conduct the summer session. She said that there are three staff positions remaining to be filled for the upcoming school year that may require Special Meetings, but that there will be none before the June Regular Meeting.
19.50 min. Board Discussion - Mrs. Claypool explained that the purpose of the Special Meeting was to explain the current lease situation and to start generating ideas for creative use of the former Newbury Schools property with Newbury Township. She expressed her goal of continuing to work collaboratively with the Newbury Trustees on this matter to create a plan that benefits the entire community.
She provided some background and history for the Board. The current lease expires December 31, 2027. It contains a clause that if it is to be renewed, that decision needs to be made by December 31, 2026. Previously, Dr. Beers and she have met with the Chairperson of the Newbury Trustees, Mr. Tropf, to discuss the background of the property and the current lease.
Mrs. Claypool asked the Board to consider dates for joint meetings with the Newbury Trustees for the late summer or early fall. Dr. Benincasa indicated she would coordinate the establishment of the meeting dates.
There was input from all Board members on the process, with a consensus that meetings were needed and they should be open and available to the public. There was also consensus that public input should be solicited by each of the parties and the process should be transparent.
37.30 min. Next Meeting/Adjournment
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There will be a Regular Meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6:00 pm, in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.
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2026-02-191 Resolution to Adjourn - Passed - The meeting was adjourned at 5.38 pm.
Observer: Bob Doxey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: July 9, 2026
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