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West Geauga Board of Education

LWV Geauga Observer Corps



Revisions to Parent/Student Handbooks Without Discussion & Approval of Union Contract


West Geauga Board of Education Regular Board Meeting - 6/24/2024 


Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on June 24, 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. The report notes the minute mark where each topic is discussed.


Board Attendance:

  • Christina Sherwood, President

  • Pam Claypool 

  • Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh

  • Kathy Leavenworth

  • Dr. William Beers

Staff Attendance:

  • Richard A. Markwardt, Ph.D., Superintendent

  • Karen Pavlat, Treasurer

  • Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Assistant Superintendent

  • Amy Davis, Director of Pupil Personnel

  • Bridget Daley - Paraprofessional and Ohio Association of Public Employees #255 Negotiation Representative

  • Gregory Skoberne, new Math teacher

Other Attendees:

  • Other unidentified members of the public or staff

  • Two LWV Observers

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order, roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.


.50 Min. Public Meeting on Reemployment of Richard Schultz as a Custodian I Commencing July 22, 2024, Following his Retirement


1:01 Min.  Public Remarks


1.29 Min. Additions and/or changes to the Agenda - Treasurer Pavlat said that there were two additions to the Agenda. One was a resignation (see below) and the other was a hiring (see below) - Approved.


Program Reports and Presentations - None


Public Remarks - None


2.29 Min. Routine Matters & Resolutions


The Board Approved:

  • 2024-06-194 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education

  • Resolution to Approve May 2024 Financial Statements

  • Minutes of the June 10, 2024 meeting.  Observer Note:  Minutes are posted once available on BoardDocs.  Choose the meeting you are interested in viewing and then click to view Minutes

2.43 Min. Financial Resolutions - All approved

  • 2024-06-195 Resolution to Approve Warrants for May 2024

  • 2024-06-196 Resolution to Accept Donations as follows: 

    • RMS Empower, Inc: $10,000 for West Geauga High School Science

      • Mrs. Leavenworth asked if this was the second donation from RMS Empower, Inc., and was told that it was and that the first donation was for Math.

    • Kiwanis Club of West Geauga: $1,000 for High School Principal Support Awards

    • Anonymous: $2,200 for the Class of 2027

  • 2024-06-197 Resolution to Approve Advances of Funds - These were funds for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds

  • 2024-06-198 Resolution to Approve Transfer of Funds:  

    • $4,250,000.00 from the General Fund to Capital Projects.  Dr. Beers asked about this transfer and Ms. Pavlat said they were for the Middle School projects “to progress along the path set out by the General Plan.”  

    • There was a second transfer of $12,000 for self insurance/ FSA (no further information provided) 

  • Approval of the Student Activity Statement of Purpose and Budget for the 2024-2025 School Year. (More information is available on the detailed agenda)

  • Approval of the Annual Appropriations for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, in the total amount of $46,069,684.35. 

  • Approval for Temporary Appropriations for fiscal year, ending June 30th, 2025, in the total amount of $49,190,944.50.

6.24 Min. Personnel Resolutions

  • 2024-06-201A Resolution to Accept Administrative Staff Resignation of Rose Wiley, School Psychologist

  • 2024-06-201B Resolution to Approve Administrative Staff Appointment for the 2024-2025 School Year of Mallory Bendezu as School Psychologist for the Middle School and Westwood

  • 2024-06-202 Resolution to Approve Certified Stipends for Work Outside of the 2023-2024 Contractual Year (10 staff members, approved for 2-5 years - see detailed agenda)

  • 2024-06-203 Resolution to Approve Certified Staff Appointments for the 2024-2025 School Year (3 individuals).  A new staff member, Gregory Skoberne, was introduced as a new math teacher.

  • 2024-06-204 Resolution to Approve one person for a classified Probationary Contract for the 2024-2025 School Year

  • 2024-06-205 Resolution to Approve one person for an Auxiliary Contract for the 2024-2025 School Year

  • 2024-06-206 Resolution to Approve up to an Additional Seven (7) Extended Workdays for one Classified Staff Member for Work Outside of the 2023-2024 Contractual Year

  • 2024-06-207 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contract for one person for the 2023-2024 School Year

  • 2024-06-208 Resolution to Approve 2-¼ Unpaid Day(s) for one person

  • 2024-06-209 Resolution to Rescind 2024 ESY Summer Programming Stipends for one person

  • 2024-06-210 Resolution to Approve Job Description for Director of Career Pathways/Connections (see Agenda for additional detail) - no person was named for this position and there was no discussion of when it would be filled.

13.12 Min. Policy and Program Resolutions

  • 2024-06-211 Resolution to Approve the First Reading of Revised Board Policy 1520 and Board Policy 1100.01 to Amend Organizational Chart - Observer Note - This was not discussed, but the new position of Director of Career Pathways/Connections approved above was the last administrator position on the list.  

  • 2024-06-212 Resolution to Approve the West Geauga High School Parent/Student Handbook for the 2024-2025 School Year. Observer Note - A red-lined version of the Handbook is available on the detailed agenda which shows exactly what changes were made.

  • 2024-06-213 Resolution to Approve the West Geauga Middle School Parent/Student Handbook for the 2024-2025 School Year. Observer Note - A red-lined version is available.  There are revised sections on Family Vacations, Cell phones and other areas.

  • 2024-06-214 Resolution to Approve the Westwood and Lindsey Elementary School Parent/Student Handbook for the 2024-2025 School Year.

14.46 Min. Business Resolutions

  • 2024-06-215 Resolution to Approve the Independent Contractor-District Agreement Between Proactive Behavior Services and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year.

Dr. Beers asked about this contract, and Dr. Markwardt said it concerned assistance to teachers when there were students with behavioral issues.

  • 2024-06-216 Resolution to Approve the Full-Day District Tuition Agreement(s) Between Proactive Behavior Services and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year.

  • 2024-06-217 Resolution to Approve the School Program Contract Between Two Foundation, Inc., and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year.  Mrs. Leavenworth asked about this program and whether it was the group that ran the Two Cafe in Chagrin Falls; Dr. Markwardt said that it was. The contract outlines their mission to provide job readiness according to a student’s IEP.

  • 2024-06-218 Resolution to Approve the Payment Agreement Between Crossroads Health and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year

  • 2024-06-219 Resolution to Approve the Renewal of District Commercial Insurance Package

  • 2024-06-220 Resolution to Approve the Ohio Association of Public School Employees #255 and West Geauga Local Schools Terms of Agreement from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027.  Dr. Markwardt extended his thanks to everyone involved in the negotiations as he said he greatly appreciated the spirit of the negotiations.  He personally thanked Union Rep. Bridget Daley who was present at the meeting, and she also said that the negotiations went well.  Dr. Markwardt noted that there was one position that will be added to the contract before the final signing.  Observer Note:  The contract can be viewed through the detailed agenda available here.

19.50 Min. Board Resolutions

2024-06-221 Resolution Declaring Transportation Impractical for the 2024-2025 School Year.  Observer Note: The details of this resolution are available on the detailed agenda.  Several schools and students are listed in the determination that transportation would be impractical. Affected schools include Cornerstone Christian Academy, Gesu Catholic School, Gilmour Academy, Hathaway Brown, Hawken, Julie Billiart, Laurel School, St. Joan of Arc, St. Paschal Baylon School and University School.  It was stated that this was required due to Ohio House Bill 33 and that this matter could come up again during the school year.


20.45  Min. Discussion of Old Business and Suggestions for Future Agenda Items

Mrs. Sherwood said that the prior concern about open enrollment had been addressed.  Observer Note: See May 20 Observer Report for more information here. She also said that they would be running an ad regarding the open position for the Joint Recreation District.

Dr. Markwardt noted that the prior issue about a fight on one of the buses has been addressed and resolved. Dr Makwardt said that due to privacy concerns, this could not be discussed at a public meeting.


Reports

22.23 Min. Superintendent Report

Dr. Markwardt reported that the rest of his report was really about staffing.  They are working towards the July 10 deadline.  Reviewer Note: This deadline was not explained, but presumably this is an internal deadline for the district to have all staffing in place before the start of the 2024-25 school year.  He said that West G is in an enviable position because more often than not, other districts are trying to “...get our people.”  He said that they are fully staffed now, with just a few positions in final stages of being confirmed.


Board Reports - No reports


23.30 Min. 2024-06-222 Resolution to Appoint Treasurer 'Pro-Tempore' for July 2024 Special Meeting - Ms. Pavlat said that this was required in case they need another special meeting after July 2.  She said she would be present for the July 2 special meeting but wouldn’t be available if another one was required between July 2 and 10.  Dr. Beers was elected to be the Treasurer  ‘Pro-Tempore’ if necessary.


26.05 Min. Next Meeting: There will be a Special Meeting at 7:45 am on July 2 to address two hiring decisions and a bid package. It was announced that there could be another Special Meeting if needed.   The next regular meeting will be July 22nd at 7:00 pm in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.


Adjournment:  7:27 pm


Observer: Gail Roussey

Editor: Anne Ondrey

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone


Date Submitted: 7/02/24


The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.



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