West Geauga School Board Grapples with Bus Route Problems,
Reminds District of Superintendent's Retirement Next Summer
West Geauga Board of Education Regular Board Meeting - 8/19/2024
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on August 19, 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
● Dr. William Beers
● Pam Claypool
● Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh
● Kathy Leavenworth
Staff Attendance:
● Karen Pavlat, Treasurer
● Dr. Richard Markwardt, Superintendent
● Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Assistant Superintendent
Other Attendees:
● Christine Jackson, Grade 4 teacher
● Katie Davis, West Geauga parent
● Kristen Morelli, West Geauga parent
● Scott Amstutz, Director of Operations & Technology
● Three candidates for the West Geauga Joint Recreation District
● Other unidentified members of the public or staff
● This LWV Observer (virtual attendance)
Call to Order - The meeting was called to order, roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance
was recited.
Additions and/or changes to the Agenda - Treasurer Pavlat said that there were no additions to the
agenda.
1:01 Program Reports and Presentations - Dr. Benincasa presented an update and proposal called “The Science of Reading at West Geauga Schools.” She explained that the State is adopting a new approach to teaching reading according to the latest research, necessitating a shift in how reading is instructed Statewide. She assured the Board that the West Geauga School District is well poised to adopt a new program because the administration and faculty have been following the research since 2017. Out of 4 programs, Dr. Benincasa recommended Wit & Wisdom because it fits with the District’s previously implemented efforts. She explained that the teaching and training materials would cost the District around $200,000, with a $90,000 reimbursement from the State. A decision will be made in the next School Board meeting. Reviewer Note: It appears that the cost to the District will be $110,000, but this should be verified at the next meeting.
15:34 - Mrs. Sherwood and Dr. Benincasa reviewed how the texts and materials will be vetted.
17:06 - Mrs. Claypool asked which grades will be affected. Dr. Benincasa responded with K-6.
19:16 - Mrs. Leavenworth and Dr. Benincasa discussed the bigger picture of the District’s
approach to the teaching of reading and how it fits into the State’s requirements. Dr. Benincasa praised the staff for their willingness to change their strategies for the good of the students.
23:17 - Dr. Markwardt reiterated the praise for the staff’s flexibility.
24:20 Min. Public Remarks
24:48 - Katie Davis, a West Geauga parent, voiced complaints and detailed issues with
transportation. Her issues included bus trip lengths, order of pickup/dropoff, GPS monitoring of buses, placement of bus stops, and the need for more buses.
29:24 - Kristen Morelli, a West Geauga parent, reiterated concerns about transportation. Her
complaint centered on the length of bus rides, which have been upwards of 90 minutes.
31:56 Min. Routine Items - All approved
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2024-08-773 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education
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Resolution to Approve July 2024 Financial Statements
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Minutes of the August 5, 2024 meeting available on Board Docs when posted. Certified Substitute Lists for the 2024-2025 School Year
32:21 Min. Financial Resolutions - All approved
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2024-08-274 Resolution to Approve Warrants for July 2024
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2024-08-275 Resolution to Approve Additional Per Diem for Certified Staff
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2024-08-276 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-277 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Resignation
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2024-08-278 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-279 Resolution to Approve Service Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year
34:48 Min. Personnel Resolutions - All Approved
35:18 Mrs. Claypool asked clarifying questions about finances of field trips
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2024-08-282 Resolution to Declare Emergency Circumstances and Update Board Policy(s) Relative to Holidays and Employment of Substitutes on the First and Final Reading
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2024-08-283 Resolution to Approve the First and Final Reading of Board Policy 4439 and 3120.04
37:50 Mrs. Claypool asked clarifying questions about substitute teaching requirements and licensure. Dr. Markwardt and Dr. Benincasa responded for several minutes, with Mrs. Sherwood and Dr. Beers eventually weighing in.
45:55 Min. Business Resolutions - All Approved, With One Amendment
49:57 Ms. Coleman Walsh voiced her own complaints and the ongoing nature of the issues that the District has had with the bus routes. “We can’t get this right ever!”
(51:15) She issued a plea to change the bus routes “very very quickly.”
51:50 Mrs. Claypool added that the solutions will have to “get creative” and that the problem lies with management.
53:22 Dr. Markwardt explained that he and the principals have not been notified of the extent of the problem and promised that he would work to resolve it. Delays in figuring out the issues were discussed.
57:06 Mrs. Sherwood asked about GPS tracking for buses to assist parents in planning their day. Mr. Amstutz responded that the District is working on it.
58:38 Mrs. Claypool expressed concerns about group stops, focusing on safety issues.
59:50 The conversation wrapped up with details of staffing issues. Mrs. Claypool again voiced her hesitation about passing the resolution as is.
1:02:58 Dr. Beers requested a motion to amend the original motion to provide time for revision of the bus routes and subject it to approval on September 9, 2024, during the next Board Meeting. The motion to amend was passed.
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2024-08-285 Resolution to Approve the Full Day District Tuition Agreement between Proactive Behavior Services, LLC and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-286 Resolution to Approve the Addendum to the Contract between West Geauga Local Schools and AVI Foodsystems, Inc.
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2024-08-287 Resolution to Approve the Agreement for Admission of Tuition between the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2024-08-288 Resolution to Approve the Agreement for Admission of Tuition students between the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio (Passport School Program) and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year
1:08:25 Min. Board Resolutions - All Approved
1:12:35 Min. Discussion of New Business and Suggestions on Future Agenda Items - All Approved
An ongoing discussion of bus routes, clarification on enrollment, pay for bus drivers, and an
update on the Master Plan will be added to the next agenda.
1:14:50 Min. Board Reports
Superintendent Report - Dr. Markwardt called attention to 2 community events: West G Unity
Day, taking place on August 25, 2024, and Rock the Block, taking place on September 7, 2024.
1:16:55 Min. Executive Session
Reasons provided for Executive Session were listed by Mrs. Sherwood as “...personnel matters:
appointments and/or employment, compensation, and investigation of charges and/or
complaints.” Dr. Markwardt and Ms. Pavlat were invited into the Session for the first portion,
after which it was announced that the three candidates for the West Geauga Joint Recreation District would enter. Mrs. Sherwood announced that a candidate would be announced after the Executive Session.
2:47:15 Min. Reconvene into Regular Session - The meeting was reconvened. The Board did not take any action after the Executive Session. No Candidate was announced for the West Geauga Joint Recreation District. There was a motion to adjourn.
Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be September 9th, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the Board Office
Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.
Adjournment: 9:48 pm
Observer: Dina Dean
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: September 3, 2024
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