West Geauga Board of Education Regular Board Meeting - 1/22/24
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on January 22, 2024 at 7:00 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.
Board Attendance (Note: Officers listed below were elected at the Organizational portion of the
meeting)
● Christina Sherwood, President
● Dr. William Beers, Vice President
● Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh
● Kathy Leavenworth
● Pam Claypool
Staff Attendance:
● Richard A. Markwardt, Ph.D., Superintendent
● Karen Pavlat, Treasurer
The meeting was called to order and roll call was conducted.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Additions and/or Changes to the Agenda - Resolution 32A - A Resolution regarding an unpaid leave was added and is reported with Personnel Resolutions.
2:50 Min. Program Reports and Presentations - Mrs Carrie Morgano, Gifted Program Coordinator, led the recognition ceremony for the Noetic Learning Math Contest. Students Colm Dougan (3rd grade), James Davis (5th grade), Aurora Graber (5th grade), and Caden Zahler (absent) were presented with
certificates of recognition, and their families were recognized for their support.
8:33 Min Public Comments - A former employee of the district, requested the
implementation of exit interviews for employees who are leaving their positions or retiring.
9:30 Min Routine Items - included a presentation of December 2023 Financial Highlights FY 2024 by
Treasurer, Ms. Pavlat. Information included transfer of funds, interest, YTD revenues and
expenditures, cash flow, food services, and Federal and State grants. Explanation of variances between
recent years was provided.
17:17 Min. Financial Resolution - Board approved Resolution to Approve Warrants Payments for December 2023
17:37 Min. Personnel Resolutions - included approving unpaid Leave of Absence, accepting a classified staff resignation and 2 classified staff appointments, rescinding and approving transportation route
assignments, approving a change in a classified staff contract, approving a service contract, and
approving and rescinding a student teaching placement. Superintendent Markwardt clarified that the
student teacher who was scheduled to come will not be completing their training in the West Geauga School System.
Policy and Program Resolutions - none
21:33 Min. Business Resolutions - included authorization to get bids for the 2024 Middle School Door Project and approving college credit partnerships with Lakeland Community College and Kent State University for the 2024-2025 School Year.
Board Resolutions - none
24:13 Min Discussion of New Business and Suggestions to be included on Future Agenda Superintendent Markwardt said he wanted to follow up on the last Board Meeting regarding parents formalizing a Theater Booster Club. After the last meeting, the parents emailed objectives to Dr. Markwardt, including structural and technical improvements to the theater. Dr. Markwardt expressed support for the theater program. He indicated that he would follow up with the parents, and that more conversation is needed to discern which responsibilities fall to the Board and which to the Boosters. He said this will be reported again at a future meeting.
29:50 Min. Follow up about the District Electronic Newsletter included explanation that it will be made available to the public and advertised as such in local newspapers. There is now a link for members of the public to sign up for the newsletter (which previously only went to parents).
31:30 Discussion of the Master Facilities Plan - included review of 2 proposals: new construction of a 9-12 building or construction of a 6-12 campus. President Sherwood indicated that time is of the essence to come to a decision on a plan because deadlines for funding are approaching, specifically special funding options from USDA. Treasurer Pavlat clarified that this USDA funding option is based on population. Pavlat said that this funding offers lower interest rates but that there are deadlines coming up quickly to apply for this funding.
The Board agreed that it was important to make a decision moving forward. It was stated that information is on the district website. Community involvement and feedback was solicited, and community members were encouraged to send any suggestions by email.
The Board agreed to have a special meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
43:00 Min. Announcement of Special Meeting to further discuss Master Facilities Plan was called for
1/31/24 at 6:00 pm in the usual meeting location - This meeting will be used to define the scope of the building project and which source of funding to pursue and to decide which option to choose.
47:47 Min. Reports - Dr. Markwardt reported that he was notified that the heat was malfunctioning at Lindsey Elementary, causing a day off on 1/22/24. Heat was restored by evening and classes will resume on 1/23/24. No other buildings were affected.
Dr. Markwardt also reported on plans to transfer some of the Newbury school artifacts to the Newbury Historical Society.
53:10 Min. Announcement of Next Regular Board Meeting: 2/26/24 @ 7:00 pm
Observer Note: As described above, there will be a Special Meeting on 1/31/24 at 6:00pm.
53:25 Resolution to Adjourn
Observer: Dina Dean
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 1/27/24
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