Board Schedules January 22, 2025 Work Session
to Discuss Future Funding Options
Berkshire Board of Education - Regular Board Meeting, December 9, 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 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 members Dan Berman, Linda Stone, and Bryan Wadsworth.
Staff Attendance: John Stoddard, Superintendent and Beth McCaffrey, Treasurer
Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance - agenda item moved to Elementary Presentation
Approval of Agenda - motion carried unanimously without discussion
Approval of Minutes - motion to approve the November, 2024 minutes carried unanimously without discussion
5:30 min Student/Staff Presentation
Elementary Presentation
Dr. Stoddard introduced Mrs. Heather Giel, Elementary School Principal, who told of her surprise and delight when she discovered that Mrs. Amy Kitzmiller’s 4th grade class had learned the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language with the help of ASL interpreter Lindsay Shaw and Rebecca Weema, an intervention specialist.
From the auditorium stage, Mrs. Kitzmiller’s students signed the Pledge of Allegiance once for the audience and then a second time, inviting the audience to sign along.
10:50 min Public Participation/Public Comment - no comments
11:40 min 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 and the balances remaining in each fund. The Treasurer stated that the financial statements for the period ending November 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.
Observer Note: See Financial Statement details in the meeting agenda available online.
12:20 min Donations
The Board unanimously approved donations from:
Anonymous: Educational Foundation, $25,000.00
Chris and Sara Cervenka: Elementary PBIS, $500.00
Board members expressed their gratitude for the generous community support for the school.
Observer Note: PBIS is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. It is a framework that schools use to improve student behavior and support their needs.
13:15 min Financial Amendments
The Board unanimously approved the following:
Appropriation Changes - FY25
Capital Projects Fund: + $285,366.94
Global Connections Academy – Fund 401: + $9,018.22
Mr. Manfredi asked if the Capital Projects Fund was for the new modular units. Mrs. McCaffrey said yes, the $285K was an addition to appropriations.
14:00 min Superintendent’s Report
Personnel – Unanimously approved
The Board unanimously approved the hiring of the certified and classified staff listed below:
Certified:
Ed Blasier Assistant Baseball Coach
Classified:
Nick Burzanko Resignation - Assistant Athletic Coordinator
Nick Burzanko Resignation - Baseball Coach
Kip Freeman Assistant Athletic Coordinator
Observer Note: There was no discussion about the resignations or hirings. According to the school website, Mr. Freeman has filled Mr. Burzanko’s position as Assistant Athletic Coordinator, and the position of Baseball Coach is still open.
14:40 min Old Business
Dr. Stoddard said they were still waiting for the deed and purchase agreement from Ohio Department of Transportation for the property at 13595 W. Center St., Burton, Ohio 44021. At the property, the school will partner with Preston Auto, who will run some auto repairs and body work out of the shop. The school’s diesel and other tech programs and transportation department will also run out of the location.
The Board congratulated Dan Berman on his nomination to a one-year term on the Auburn Career Board.
Dr. Stoddard said that cold weather has delayed the installation of the Early Childhood Center modular buildings. Low temperatures prevented the asphalt pour. They will try to pivot to a concrete pour. Otherwise, they will have to wait until spring. A concrete pour will require a change order and cost more but will allow the Center to open in January. The building is being seamed together now; finish work should be completed by the end of the week. By the end of the week of December 16, they expect the plumbing and electrical will be installed. On December 20, they hope to put in the ramp if the concrete is poured. They are projecting moving in around the second week of January instead of during the upcoming Winter Break as originally planned.
17:00 min New Business
The Board approved without discussion the decision to re-appoint Dawn Tolchinsky to the Burton Public Library Board for the term of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2031.
Dr. Stoddard said Vanessa Karwan, the new Director of Professional Learning and Community Outreach, has organized a meeting on Wednesday, December 11 with representatives from the Ohio Department of Transportation to discuss Safe Routes to Schools funding. The school’s goal is to receive a grant for sidewalk installation that will be between the school campus and Burton Village. The grant would be approximately $500,000.
Dr. Stoddard also noted that they will need to schedule a public work session in January to discuss future funding options for the school district. The Board discussed potential meeting dates and settled on January 22 at 6:00 pm.
Mr. Wadsworth asked how many snow days schools get annually. Dr. Stoddard said they are allowed the equivalent of 8 days. He noted they have flexibility with on-line instruction, so he stated that he doesn’t expect the school would need to add instructional days to the calendar if they were to go over the 8 days.
22:45 min Board Discussion
Next meeting will be January 13, 2025. It will be an organizational meeting. The Board also voted unanimously to hold a public work session on funding on January 22, 2025. The Board voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Manfredi president pro tem for the organizational meeting.
All meetings are at 6:00 PM at the Berkshire Board of Education Auditorium, 14155 Claridon Troy Road, Burton, Ohio 44021
No Executive Session
25:45 min Meeting was adjourned
Observer: Rooney Moy
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 1/8/2025
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