Board Takes First Step in the Water Treatment/Maintenance Facility Project
West Geauga Board of Education Special Meeting – April 30, 2025
Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on April 30, 2025 at 5:00 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: President Christina Sherwood, Dr. William Beers, and Pam Claypool were present. Board members Kathy Leavenworth and Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh were absent.
Staff Attendance: Karen Pavlat, Treasurer; Dr. Richard Markwardt, Superintendent; Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Assistant Superintendent; Scott Amstutz, Director of Instructional Technology; Dr Amy Davis, Director of Pupil Personnel; Erica Casor, Middle School Principal (appointed at this meeting)
Other Attendees: Other staff, not identified.
Opening of Special Meeting - The Special Meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm by President Sherwood; the roll call was conducted and the Pledge of Allegiance recited. It was noted that since this was a Special meeting there would not be any public participation.
.40 Min. Program Reports and Presentations
Water Treatment/Maintenance Facility Project - Five-Year Capital Plan
Mr. Amstutz said they are looking at specifics and they need to go out for an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for a criterion engineer, which will give them greater information and then they will go out for another RFQ for the design build. There would be multiple sizes that will be evaluated. Mrs. Claypool confirmed that the project itself has gone up to over $3 Million.
Approved - RFQ for Criterion Engineer (see below)
10:30 Min. Financial Resolutions
2025-04-139 Resolution to Approve Transfer of Funds - Approved
FROM Fund/SCC TO Fund/SCC Amount
001 – General Fund 035 - Termination Benefits Fund $1,050,000
Personnel Resolutions - All Approved
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2025-04-140 Resolution to Approve Administrative Appointments for the 2025-2026 School Year
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2025-04-141 Certified Substitute List for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2025-04-142 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2024-2025 School Year
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2025-04-143 Resolution to Rescind Service Contract for the 2024-2025 School Year
Policy and Program Resolutions - Approved
2025-04-144 Resolution to Approve the First Reading of Revised Board Policies: po1616, po1662, po2260, po2260.02, po2266, po2623, po2623.02, po3122, po3140, po3216, po3362, po4122, po4124, po4140, po4216, po4362, po5111, po5310, po5517, po6680, po8600, po8600.04, po8640, po8650, and po8660
Business Resolutions - Approved
2025-04-145 Resolution to Authorize the Superintendent, Treasurer and/or the Director of Instructional Technology & Operations to Request for Qualifications to construct a new Water Well and Water Treatment/Maintenance Facility (as per discussion above)
16:22 Min. Board Resolutions - Approved
2025-04-146 Resolution to Adopt an Addendum to the 2024-2025 Employee Severance Plan.
Mrs. Pavlat discussed that they have had the first round of retirements, but STRS (State Teachers Retirement System) lowered the retirement criteria from 33 to 32 years of service. Mrs. Pavlat said that with the retirement age lowered, some other teachers can seek retirement earlier. As a result, she said, “we would like to open it back up for 7 days (until) May 7th, to allow them to seek the same opportunity.” She continued, “We anticipate 3-4 who have shown interest so far.”
2025-04-147 Resolution to Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the West Geauga Local School District and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (O.A.P.S.E.), AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) Local 4, and its Affiliate, O.A.P.S.E. Local #255. Dr. Markwardt said this is for the distribution of uniforms. Dr. Markwardt said that they are working on other options for bus driver attire.
23:36 Min. Executive Session
2025-04-148 Resolution to Adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of Personnel Discussions.
54:17 Min. Reconvene into Regular Session - No action taken
Adjournment
2025-04-149 Resolution to Adjourn
Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be on Monday, May 19 , 2025 beginning at 7:00 pm in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.
Observer: Bob Doxey
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Rooney Moy
Date Submitted: 05-14-25
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