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Berkshire BOE Approves Placing 0.50% 

Earned Income Tax Increase on the November Ballot

Berkshire Board of Education – Regular Meeting, July 13, 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, Brandon Townsend and Bryan Wadsworth

 

Staff Attendance: Superintendent John Stoddard and Treasurer Beth McCaffrey

 

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 on June 8, 2026, and Special Meeting on June 25, 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.  

 

3:05 Min. Public Participation – No comments.

3:15 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 June 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 the following donations:

 

 

Board members thanked Board member, Mr. Townsend, for his contribution and his involvement with the school.

Financial Amendments – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the following financial amendments:

• Amended Certifications totaling $27,415,709.29

• Amended Appropriations totaling $28,768,295.98

• Transfers totaling $33.94

• Then and Now Invoices totaling $8,415.00

5:10 Min. Superintendent’s Report

Personnel - The Board unanimously approved all the personnel actions for Administrative, Certified and Classified staff as listed on the meeting agenda. Treasurer Beth McCaffrey’s retirement is included in this list. Observer Note: A complete list of Personnel actions is available in the meeting agenda online.  

 

Coach Supplemental – The Board approved 4-0, with Mr. Townsend voting no, the supplemental stipend for Dave Albert, Head Girls’ Basketball Coach.

Dr. Stoddard reminded the Board that Mr. Albert’s supplemental was tabled at the June 8, 2026 regular meeting to investigate parents’ concerns. He provided the Board with requested documentation from Brian Hiscox, the Athletic Director. Board members thanked Dr. Stoddard for the extra effort and good information, noting the decision is not being taken lightly. Mr. Townsend did not explain his dissenting vote.

 

Volunteers – The Board approved 4-0, with Mr. Wadsworth abstaining (Mr. Wadsworth’s relative is a volunteer softball coach), the volunteers listed below:

 

 

Summer Graduate – The Board unanimously accepted the graduation of Christian Buckles with the Class of 2026. The student had met his graduation requirement during summer school.

 

NEOLA (Northeast Ohio Learning Associates) Policies – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the first and final reading for revised/updated NEOLA Policies for Attendance, Released Time for Religious Instruction and Artificial Intelligence. Observer Note: See policy change details in the meeting agenda available online.

Contracts – The Board unanimously approved without discussion contracts for:

• Ravenwood Memorandum of Understanding - TBS (Therapeutic Behavioral Health Support) Worker

• Ravenwood Memorandum of Understanding - Social Worker

• School Affiliation Agreement with Preston Superstore; Work-Based Learning Program

• ESY (Extended School Year) Camp Contract - Chardon Local School District (5 students)

• Mechanical Tech Program Contract - Chardon Local School District 

• ESY Camp Contract - Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools (1 student)

• ESCNEO (Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio) Personnel Agreement (COTA) 2026-2027 SY

• ESCWR (Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve) Service Agreement 2026-2027 SY

• ESCNEO Audiology and/or Hearing Impairment Teacher (Preschool and School Age)

• Re-Education - Student Service and Occupational Therapy Agreements 2026-2027 SY (1 student)

• Securly Software Subscription

• Shared Services - Nutrition Services Manager - Chardon Local Schools

Observer Note: See Contract details in the meeting agenda available online.

Fees – The Board unanimously approved the following revised fees:

• Before/After Care Program - $8.25/hr.

• Elementary School Fees (Grades K-4) - $100

• Middle School Fees (Grades 5-8) - $150 ($100 school fee + $50 tech fee)

• High School Fees (based on course selections)

It was noted that school fees had not been raised since 2009 and that the increases are part of the fiscal caution plan presented to the State. See here for more information about Berkshire’s fiscal caution plan.

Handbooks – The Board unanimously approved handbooks for the following:

• Berkshire Local Literacy Plan

• Student Athlete Handbook

• Coaches Handbook

• BLSD Student-Parent Handbook 2026-2027 School Year

Excessive Calamity Days – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the district plan for excessive calamity days as outlined:

 

Remote learning shall be defined as a situation in which the teacher and student are not able to meet in the traditional classroom, inside the school building, for a time period that exceeds 5 consecutive days.

1. The Board of Education and the Association understand that there may be a need for virtual/remote learning to continue in future school years.  Should the Board, in its sole discretion, determine there to be a need for virtual/remote learning, the Association will be provided the opportunity to make recommendations to the superintendent with regard to such virtual/remote learning and every effort will be made to incorporate all reasonable recommendations from the Association into the virtual learning plan, however the Board shall retain the authority to determine the method and manner in which virtual/remote learning will be implemented.

2. Implementation of virtual/remote learning at any time shall not constitute a calamity day(s).

Annual Report to the Board on Nutrition Standards in the District – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the motion that for the 2026-2027 school year, the district is in compliance and enforcing all nutrition standards as outlined in the state law and USDA regulations (whichever is stricter).  These standards are detailed in Board Policies:

• 8500 - Food Services

• 8510 - Wellness

• 8531 - Free and Reduced-Price Meals

• 8540 - Vending Machines

• 8550 - Competitive Food Sales

18:20 Min. Old Business – no Old Business.

18:21 Min. New Business – The Board unanimously approved a resolution to proceed with an additional 0.5% earned income tax levy for the November 3, 2026 ballot. Reviewer Note: Berkshire already has a 1.0% earned income tax levy in place.

 

Mrs. McCaffrey explained that she had received certifications from the State for increases of 0.50%, 0.625%, and 0.75%. She said the State doesn’t allow quarter percentages like 0.625% on the ballot and 0.75% is more than they needed. She stated “so 0.50 is kind of the sweet spot right now.”

Mr. Manfredi noted that the increase would be permanent.

 

There was discussion about the impact of the increase on the taxpayer. Mrs. McCaffrey stated that the earned income tax rate would increase from 1% to 1.5%. Seniors would not be affected, as retirement and investment income would not be taxed. She said they had heard that self-employed people favor the earned income tax because it rises with income in good years and decreases in bad years, unlike real estate taxes. 

Mrs. McCaffrey emphasized that the State Legislature is really forcing the issue by not allowing schools to show a negative balance in future forecasts and no longer giving schools an advance on anticipated tax revenue. She said if a school doesn’t do the necessary cuts, the State “will come in and do it for you.” Observer Note: In the past, the State would allow districts in fiscal emergency to draw from the State Solvency Assistance Fund. According to Mrs. McCaffrey, this now happens rarely.   

 

The State report card was briefly discussed. Dr. Stoddard said the ratings come out in September and that “preliminarily the data looks promising for us… we’re making improvements again like we have every year.”

 

17:43 Min. Board Discussion 

 

Next Regular Meeting Dates – August 10, 2026, and September 14, 2026, at 6 pm in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon-Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021.

 

17:55 Min. Executive Session – No Executive Session 

 

18:15 Min. Meeting Adjourned

Observer: Rooney Moy

Editor: Carol Benton

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Date Submitted: July 15, 2026

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