Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met On January 23, 2023 at 7 p.m. in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township. Meetings are open to the public and media. Agenda and minutes are available online. The agenda for January 23, 2023 is available. A recording of the meeting is available via YouTube.
Board Attendance:
Staff Attendance:
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Richard A. Markwardt, Ph.D., Superintendent
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Karen Pavlat, Treasurer/CFO
Minutes: January 9, 2023 approved through the consent agenda
Agenda: No additions to agenda. Agenda was approved unanimously.
Public comment on the Agenda items: - none
Program – report – Presentation by principals Ryan Patti (high school) and Meagan Bellan (middle school) concerning their respective courses of studies. They explained that they have focused on clearly communicating to families how courses are aligned for progression of courses students can take throughout their education. All information is on the website. See also Curriculum Night Presentation.
Unfinished business from previous meeting: Resolution to Take from the Table Resolution #2023-01-006 to Approve Board Appointments on Behalf of the Board – approved. New assignments were made and the motion was then approved.
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OSBA Legislative Liaison: Kathy Leavenworth and Christina Sherwood
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OSBA Student Achievement Liaison: Mary Michelle Coleman-Walsh
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OSBA Capital Conference Delegate/Alternate: Mary Michelle Coleman-Walsh/???
No names offered for the Joint Recreation District
Financial highlights – The District received a clean opinion of the audit – it is now released on the state website. December marks 6 months into the year and the District is on budget with only small fluctuations.
Resolutions Approved - (see online agenda for details)
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Routine - included Certified and Classified Substitute list for the school year.
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Financial - Treasurer Kavlat reported that the District received a clean opinion of the audit – it is now released on the state website. December marks 6 months into the year and the District is on budget with only small fluctuations. Also included Dec 2022 Warrants and changes to fiscal year 2023 appropriations.
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Personnel - included Certified Stipends, Contracts for Classified Staff, Supplemental Contracts, a staff resignation and a staff paid leave of absence.
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Policy and Program - included readings of various policies, changes to the organization chart and approval of middle school and high school program of studies for 2023/2024.
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Business - included College Credit Plus Agreement, Shared Transportation Agreement and change to Ohio Schools Council Government Policy.
Superintendent Report, Richard A. Markwardt, Ph.D. gave a presentation on the West Geauga Quality Profile. The District is achieving well academically. Additional areas that are tracked: enrollment (growing, unlike most other local districts), growth of individual students, athletics, music, arts, clubs, awards/recognitions, All areas are showing high quality and there are more details on the website.
Discussion
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There was discussion initiated by the Board about having a retreat to lay out their year’s work plan – date/time to be decided. The Board also discussed that this retreat would be open to the public. The Board Chair will gather preferences from Board members and a decision will be made at a future meeting.
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Currently the Board has two meetings in most months. These are both at 7 pm and are open to the public. Sometimes there are Committee meetings at 4 pm, but they are not considered open public meetings because only one or two Board members attend. As of now, the board will be continuing this schedule but there was discussion of designating one of the regular monthly meetings as a work session. Observer Note: A work session would still be an open public meeting, but sometimes School Boards hold work session meetings with the intention that there will not be a vote held at this type of meeting. See information on the Open Public Meetings Law in Ohio.
Executive Session - the board “adjourned” to executive session by roll call vote, then clarified that the purpose was for “personnel matters, appointment and/or employment.”
Re-entered regular session at 8:35pm. No action taken after Executive Session.
Resolution to Adjourn – approved
Next meeting will be Feb 13, 2023
Name of Observer: KC Henry
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Date Submitted: 1/30/23
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