Berkshire Board Approves Resolution To Put Permanent Improvement Levy on November Ballot
Berkshire Board of Education – Regular Meeting, July 22, 2024
Meeting Details: The meeting was held in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools Complex, 14155 Claridon Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021 at 6:00 pm. The meeting was in person only with no virtual attendance option. 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: The following members attended: John Manfredi, President, Jody Miller, Vice President, and Board members Dan Berman, Linda Stone, and Bryan Wadsworth.
Staff Attendance: John Stoddard, Superintendent, and Beth McCaffrey, Treasurer.
Observer Note: The audio for the first 8 minutes of the meeting video was unavailable due to a technical problem. Treasurer McCaffrey provided this Observer with the information on the public participation. Other financial information was available on the meeting agenda.
Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Agenda - Approved unanimously without discussion
Approval of Minutes for June 10, 2024 - Approved unanimously without discussion
Public Participation/Public Comment
Paulette, with Project 22, a youth ministry in Geauga County, encouraged Board members to attend an event Project 22 will host on August 2 from 6pm to 11pm at the Junior Fair Building at the Geauga Fairgrounds. The Board thanked her for the invitation. Reviewer Note: This group, Project 22 and You, is a nondenominational youth group that is organized by the Abundant Life Church. More information is available here.
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 therefrom, the purposes thereof, and the balances remaining in each fund. The financial statements for the period ending June 2024 have been submitted subject to audit and include: Financial Summary, Appropriations and Revenue Summary, Check Register Recap, and Bank Reconciliation per ORC 3313.29.
Donations
The Board unanimously approved a donation from the following source:
|
Dean Family
|
Dean Family Scholarship
|
$4,000.00
|
Financial Amendments
The Board unanimously approved without discussion the following Financial Amendments:
Cash Transfers FY24
From General Transfer to Self Insurance Fund $26,000.00
From General Advance to Daycare $121,629.77
From General To Athletics General $200,989.92
Cash Transfers FY25
From General To Termination Benefits $100,000.00
From General To Healthcare $350,000.00
From General To Athletics General $30,000.00
From General To Athletics Supplements $489,989.92
From General To Ohio Facilities Construction Commission Set-Aside (OFCC) $169,854.00
Then & Now Invoices
Education Service Center (ESC) of the Western Reserve $ 3,272.25
Final Appropriation - FY24
|
General Fund
|
001
|
$21,883,381.68
|
|
Principal's Fund
|
018
|
$4,568.69
|
|
Misc Grants
|
019
|
$11,531.04
|
|
Daycare Buddies
|
020
|
$181,115.42
|
|
Educational Foundation
|
029
|
$239,324.90
|
|
Classroom Facilities
|
034
|
$31,475.00
|
|
Termination Benefits
|
035
|
$9,937.20
|
|
Athletic Department
|
300
|
$619,531.17
|
|
Global Connections Auxiliary Funds
|
401
|
$18,634.40
|
|
Data Communications
|
451
|
$5,992.59
|
|
Misc State Grants
|
499
|
$64,729.83
|
|
Title VI B
|
516
|
$345,508.77
|
|
Title I
|
572
|
$233,194.91
|
|
Title IV
|
584
|
$32,909.64
|
|
Title IIA Improv. Qual.
|
590
|
$52,911.69
|
|
Safety Grant
|
599
|
$303,032.19
|
|
Bond Retirement
|
002
|
$1,222,531.96
|
|
Permanent Improvement
|
003
|
$278,353.54
|
|
Building Fund
|
004
|
$2,672,641.61
|
|
Capital Projects
|
070
|
$181,302.00
|
|
Food Service
|
006
|
$439,755.79
|
|
Uniform School Supplies
|
009
|
$7,071.00
|
|
Rotary Fund
|
014
|
$7,431.53
|
|
Device Insurance
|
023
|
$32,553.98
|
|
Dental/Prescription Funds
|
024
|
$458,293.90
|
|
Elementary Agency Funds
|
022
|
$13,963.50
|
|
Student Activities
|
200
|
$50,747.92
|
|
Scholarship
|
007
|
$11,250.00
|
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
$29,413,675.85
|
Permanent Appropriations - FY25
|
General Fund
|
001
|
$23,021,357.42
|
|
Principal's Fund
|
018
|
$36,455.99
|
|
Misc Grants
|
019
|
$24,160.21
|
|
Preschool
|
020
|
$38,374.04
|
|
Educational Foundation
|
029
|
$100,000.00
|
|
Classroom Facilities
|
034
|
$50,000.00
|
|
Termination Benefits
|
035
|
$125,000.00
|
|
Athletic Department
|
300
|
$615,289.92
|
|
Data Communications
|
451
|
$5,400.00
|
|
Skills Trainer Grant
|
499
|
$1,743.09
|
|
Title VI B
|
516
|
$315,858.71
|
|
Equity For Each Vocational Grant
|
524
|
$200,000.00
|
|
Title I
|
572
|
$217,179.26
|
|
Title IV
|
584
|
$14,850.35
|
|
IDEA Early Education
|
587
|
$7,945.47
|
|
Title IIA Improv. Qual.
|
590
|
$40,093.08
|
|
OFCC Safety Grant
|
599
|
$8.19
|
|
Bond Retirement
|
002
|
$1,219,207.00
|
|
Permanent Improvement
|
003
|
$245,499.00
|
|
Building Fund
|
004
|
$786,474.56
|
|
Retainage
|
010
|
$32,914.25
|
|
Capital Projects
|
070
|
$20,000.00
|
|
Food Service
|
006
|
$465,000.00
|
|
Uniform School Supplies
|
009
|
$5,000.00
|
|
Rotary Fund
|
014
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Device Insurance
|
023
|
$32,527.07
|
|
Dental/Prescription Funds
|
024
|
$360,865.69
|
|
Elementary Agency Funds
|
022
|
$29,165.11
|
|
Student Activities
|
200
|
$108,348.30
|
|
Scholarship
|
007
|
$26,000.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Observer Note: Video audio started to work at this point in the meeting.
8:00 min (approx) Superintendent’s Report
Personnel
The Board unanimously approved hiring, resignations, contract extensions and other personnel items for many Certified and Classified staff. A full list is available on the July 22 meeting agenda.
Before the vote, Dr. Stoddard introduced seven new staff members, including Mike Ard who will teach in the new Agricultural Education program.
Volunteers
All Board members, except Mr. Wadsworth, approved without discussion the volunteers listed below. Mr. Wadsworth abstained.
Bryan Wadsworth Head Cross Country Coach
Riley Hornak Girls Soccer Coach
Kip Freeman Girls Basketball Coach
Jack Arnold Football Coach
Amanda Rickelman Cheer Coach
Observer Note: Mr. Wadsworth abstained due to a conflict of interest.
Contract Approvals
The Board unanimously approved the contracts listed below:
Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio (ESCNEO) - Visual Impairments Agreement
Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio (ESCNEO) - Audiology/Hearing Impairment Agreement
Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio (ESCNEO) – COTA (Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant)
Capturing Kids' Hearts Service Agreement
Parent Agreement - Student Specific
Mrs. Stone said that she is very interested in and hopeful about the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program. Dr. Stoddard explained that it is for training to help teachers build empathy and better relationships with each other and their students.
8:03 min Old Business
Dr. Stoddard reported that the school was granted a stay in the eviction hearing and that a court-ordered mediation is scheduled for August 21 at the Appeals Court in Trumbull County. He expects Mr. Manfredi and Mrs. Miller, as Board president and Vice President, to be invited to the hearing.
Observer Note: In November, 2023, the Geauga County Agricultural Society notified Berkshire Schools Board of Education to vacate its former office at 14259 Claridon-Troy Road by January 1, 2024. See April 15, 2024 Berkshire School Board Observer report for more details on this issue.
8:50 min New Business
Mr. Manfredi presented the “resolution to proceed with the election on the question of a renewal tax in excess of the 10-Mill limitation.” This tax is a permanent improvement levy and will be on the November, 2024 ballot. The text of the entire resolution can be found in the July 22 Board meeting agenda.
The resolution passed unanimously without discussion.
9:10 min Board Discussion
Mr. Manfredi noted that Mrs. Miller will serve as treasurer pro tem for the August meeting as Mrs. McCaffrey will be absent.
10:07 min Executive Session
The Board moved to go into Executive session “to consider the purchase of property for public purposes or for the sale of property at competitive bidding.”
Mr. Manfredi expected no action to follow the executive session.
1:14 min Meeting was adjourned
Next Meeting: Following this meeting, the next Board meeting dates are August 12, 2024, September 9, 2024 and October 14, 2024. All meetings are at 6:00 PM at the Berkshire Board of Education Auditorium, 14155 Claridon Troy Road, Burton, Ohio 44021.
Name of Observer: Rooney Moy
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Submitted 7/29/2024
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