West Geauga Board Hears Spring Sports Highlights
West Geauga Board of Education Regular Meeting – June 22, 2026
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on June 22, 2026 at 6:00 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 153 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section.
Board Attendance: Mrs. Pam Claypool, President; Dr. William Beers, Vice President; Mrs. Kathy Leavenworth, Member; Mrs. Ellen Naylor, Member; and Mr. Mark Vidmar, Member, were present.
Staff Attendance: Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Superintendent; Dr. Amy Davis, Assistant Superintendent; Mrs. Karen Pavlat, Treasurer; Mr. Brandon Stewart, Athletic Director; Mr. Scott Amstutz, Director of Instructional Technology; Mrs. Meagan Bellan, Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Mr. Mark Richardson, Facilities Manager; Ms. Kyra Zimmerman, new Special Education teacher; Ms. Maria Tirabassi, new Intervention Specialist and Mrs. Jennifer Norman, Director of Pupil Personnel.
Other Attendees: Students’ and faculty family members, unidentified members of the community, and this Observer were present.
Opening of the Regular Meeting - The Regular Meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mrs. Claypool. The roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
01.50 min. Program Reports and Presentations - Spring Sports Recognition - Dr. Benincasa introduced Mr. Stewart who reviewed some of the Spring sports results.
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Mr. Stewart opened his presentation by thanking Mrs. Coniglio, Director of Transportation for dealing with weather-caused schedule/destination changes for the teams and Mr. Richardson, Facilities Manager, for maintaining the fields and track during a time of heavy usage and challenging weather conditions.
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Mr. Stewart said the Girls Softball Team recognition will occur at the July Board meeting.
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Baseball - The team won 17 games during the season and had 3 players on the All-District Team. Tyler Fink had an outstanding season as a pitcher, catcher and batter.
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Track & Field - The Boys’ Team had 2 state qualifiers, the 4 x 800 meter relay and 1600 meter run. The relay team consisted of Ian Res, Mason Starr, Jacob Williams and Joey Lubanovich. Ian Res finished in second place in the 1600 meter run. Ian and Mason attended the meeting and received congratulations from the Board. For the Girls’ Team, Kara Deister qualified for 4 events at the state meet.
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The Wolverine Football Classic is scheduled for August 7th.
Public Remarks - None
10.20 min. Routine Items - Consent - Passed
12.10 min. Financial Resolutions - All Passed
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2026-06-193 Resolution to Approve Warrants for May 2026
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2026-06-194 Resolution to Approve Fund to Fund Transfer for Fiscal Year 2026 - Mrs. Pavlat explained to the Board that this series of motions is to end Fiscal Year 2026 and begin Fiscal Year 2026.
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2026-06-195 Resolution to Approve Advances of Funds for the 2025-2026 School Year - Mrs. Pavlat stated that these funds cover projected FY2026 expenses that will not be paid until FY2027. Once they are paid in FY2027, adjusting entries will be made to properly record the fund payment.
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2026-06-196 Resolution to Approve Increases/Decreases in Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026
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2026-06-197 Resolution to Approve the Final Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026
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2026-06-198 Resolution to Approve the Permanent Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027 - Mrs. Pavlat explained that in the last February budget forecast submitted by the board, tax receipts were estimated. For the upcoming August forecast, corrected tax figures will be used.
Name Amount Donated Recipient
West Geauga Kiwanis $500.00 High School Awards Breakfast
RMS Empower $10,000.00 High School STEAM
LEAF* $13,000.00 High School - Show Choir Risers
*LEAF is Lake-Geauga Education Foundation that supports area music department needs
22.50 min. Personnel Resolutions - All Passed
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2026-06-201 Resolution to Accept Certified Staff Resignation
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2026-06-202 Resolution to Accept Certified Staff Retirement
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2026-06-203 Resolution to Approve Certified Staff Appointments for the 2026-2027 School Year - Mrs. Bellan introduced Ms. Kyra Zimmerman, a new Social Studies teacher and Mrs. Norman introduced Ms. Maria Tirabassi, a new Intervention Specialist to the Board and spoke of their qualifications for the positions.
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2026-06-204 Resolution to Correct Certified Staff Appointments for the 2026-2027 School Year - This motion assigns a corrected contract designation to the appointments.
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2026-06-205 Resolution to Approve Student Internship/Student Teaching Placement for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-206 Resolution to Approve Certified Long-Term Substitute Assignment
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2026-06-207 Resolution to Approve Certified Stipends for Work Outside of the 2025-2026 Contractual Year
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2026-06-208 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Resignations
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2026-06-209 Resolution to Approve Change in Classified Staff Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year
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2026-06-210 Resolution to Approve Summer Routes for Extended School Year Services - Mr. Vidmar asked for clarification of this resolution. Dr. Benincasa said that these routes are based on student needs for specific services throughout the area and these routes are to provide transportation for these service providers.
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2025-06-211 Resolution to Approve Casual Laborers for Summer 2026
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2026-06-212 Resolution to Approve 2026 Summer Programming Stipends
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2026-06-213 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2026-2027 School Year - Dr. Benincasa explained that new teachers require mentors until they complete state licensure requirements. The schedule provides the compensation rate for mentors based on the number of mentees they have.
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2026-06-214 Resolution to Approve 3.5% Raises for Central Office Staff for the 2026-2027 School Year - Dr. Benincasa explained that these are based on negotiated contracts and that typically the contracts are three years in length.
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2026-06-215 Resolution to Approve 3.5% Raises for Central Office Staff Supervisors for the 2026-2027 School Year
38.25 min. Policy and Program Resolutions - Passed
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2026-06-216 Resolution to Approve the Second and Final Reading of Revised Board Policy(s) 5223, 5430, 5517, 6220, 6830, 7540.09, 8305, 8330, and 8500 - There was an extended discussion with Dr. Beers and Dr. Benincasa over the use of the term “business manager” in Policy 8500. Dr. Benincasa said she would check with NEOLA ( the Board’s policy consultant) and the Board’s attorney about Dr. Beer’s concern that the term might be interpreted as requiring a licensed person.
45.00 min. Business Resolutions - All Passed
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2026-06-217 Resolution Declaring Transportation Impractical for the 2026-2027 School Year - Dr. Benincasa explained that this is a preliminary approval based on information currently available from private schools and that a final list will be compiled in the fall for Board approval.
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2026-06-218 Resolution to Approve Reserve School of APPLEWOOD Centers, Inc. Agreement for Educational Services with West Geauga Local Schools for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-219 Resolution to Approve the Independent Contractor-District Agreement Between EMPIRE ACADEMY and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-220 Resolution to Approve West Geauga Local School District Service Agreement with ESC of the Western Reserve for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 School Year
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2026-06-221 Resolution to Approve Addendum to ESC of the Western Reserve Aligned School District Service Agreement with West Geauga Local School District for the 2025-2026 School Years for Paraprofessional Services
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2026-06-222 Resolution to Approve Addendum to ESC of the Western Reserve Aligned School District Service Agreement with West Geauga Local School District for the 2024-2026 School Years for Summer 2026 Physical Therapy
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2026-06-222 Resolution to Approve Addendum to ESC of the Western Reserve Aligned School District Service Agreement with West Geauga Local School District for the 2024-2026 School Years for Summer 2026 Physical Therapy
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2026-06-223 Resolution to Approve the Agreement for Provision of Special Education and Certain Related Services Between MONARCH School (Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau) and West Geauga Local Schools
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2026-06-224 Resolution to Approve the Consultation Agreement between PASSCODE to Parenting, LLC. and West Geauga Local Schools
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2026-06-225 Resolution to Approve the Independent Contractor-District Agreement Between PROACTIVE Behavior Services and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2026-2027 School Year
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2026-06-226 Resolution to Approve the Revised Memorandum of Understanding between RAVENWOOD Health and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2026-2027 School Year.
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2026-06-227 Resolution to Approve the Student Service Agreement(s) between West Geauga Local Schools and RE-EDUCATION Services, Inc. for the 2026-2027 School Year.
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2026-06-228 Resolution to Approve the School Program Contracts between West Geauga Local Schools and TWO FOUNDATION, Inc for the 2026-2027 School Year.
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2026-06-229 Resolution to Approve Erate Category 2 Switch Upgrade & Cabling - Dr. Benincasa explained that this was part of the switch program that had been approved by the Board and that the cost is in line with Board expectations.
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2026-06-230 Resolution to Approve Copier Lease Agreement between Toshiba Financial Services and West Geauga School District - Dr. Benincasa explained that this is a new lease with a decrease in present costs and will provide faster machine speeds.
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2026-06-231 Resolution to Approve the All Ways Construction, LLC Proposal for the Westwood Elementary Sidewalks Project
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2026-06-232 Resolution to Approve the Westwood Pre-K Renovation - Dr. Benincasa stated that this was the final phase of the pre-K renovation program and is for the re-configuration of bathrooms. She indicated that when the project is completed, the program will be consolidated into a single location and result in an operational cost savings for the District.
Discussion of New Business and Suggestions to be included on Future Agenda - None
1:02.35 min. Reports
1:20.50 min. Executive Session -
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2026-06-233 Resolution to Adjourn to Executive Session - The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7:13 pm to consider the employment and compensation of a public employee or official and to conference with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action, as permitted by Ohio Revised Code. The Board stated that no actions would be taken during the Executive Session. Mrs. Pavlat and Dr. Benincasa were invited to attend a portion of the session and the Board attorney was also invited to attend a separate portion of the Executive Session. The Board also stated that they would reconvene after the Executive Session to a Regular Meeting and conduct additional Board business.
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Reconvene into Regular Session - The Board reconvened back to the Regular Session at 8:42 pm.
2:38.35 min. Board Resolution -
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2026-06-234 Resolution to Approve Board Action to Renew the Employment Agreement of the Treasurer
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2026-06-235 Resolution to Approve the School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding between the Chester Township Police Department and the West Geauga Local School District Board of Education - Mrs. Claypool asked for a motion to table this resolution. The motion was made, seconded and passed to table the resolution.
2:38.35 Announcement of Next Board Meeting
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There will be a Regular Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm, in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chesterland, OH 44026.
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There will be a Special Meeting - Board Retreat on Monday, July 27,2026 at 9:00 am in the Board Office PD Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chesterland, OH 44026
Adjournment
2025-06-236 Resolution to Adjourn - The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 pm.
Observer: Bob Doxey
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Rooney Moy
Date Submitted: July 10, 2026
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