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West Geauga Board of Education

LWV Geauga Observer Corps



Treasurer Reports on How State Budget Bill Might Impact West Geauga Schools


West Geauga Board of Education Regular Meeting – June 9, 2025


Meeting Details:
The West Geauga Board of Education met on June 9, 2025 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. As of the date of publication this video has been viewed 88 times. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section.


Board Attendance:
Mrs. Christina Sherwood, President; Dr. William Beers, Vice President; and Mrs. Pam Claypool, Member were present.  Members Mrs. Kathy Leavenworth and Mrs. 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; and Meagan Bellan, MS (Middle School) Principal were present.


Other Attendees:
  Approximately 8 other unidentified persons and this observer were present.


Opening of Regular Meeting -
The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:01 pm by Mrs. Sherwood. The roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  


Public Hearing 

Public Meeting on Reemployment of Richard Stopek as a Custodian II commencing July 16, 2025 following his retirement. There were no public comments. Reviewer Note:  Mr. Stopek was rehired at the June 23, 2025 meeting. See LWVGeauga report of this meeting when published.


1.35 min. Additions and/or Changes to the Agenda - Approved

  • 2025-04-194A Resolution to Approve the Shiffler Equipment Sales, Inc. Pre-K Playground Quote through the TIPS Purchasing Consortium was added to the agenda via a motion and passed.  

2.10 min. Program Reports and Presentations

Treasurer Karen Pavlat made presentations on pending legislative action on school funding.  She reported the following:

  • House Bill 96 (State Budget) Update - Key provisions and their impact on public schools:

    • School Funding Formula - 

      • Continues Years 5 and 6 of the Fair School Funding Plan

      • No increase in base cost inputs

      • Guarantees FY2021 funding levels

      • Performance-based funding tied to State Report Card

  • Direct Cash Balances

    • Threshold carryover raised from 30% to 50%

    • Boards may reserve cash for up to 3 years

    • Board submissions must include assumptions and 3-year projections

  • Property Tax Changes

    • Emergency/Substitute levies count toward 20-mill floor

    • Eliminates Replacement, fixed-sum emergency levies on 1/1/2026 

    • Restricts levies

      • No new levies if carryover is >100%

      • Mandatory that fund balances appear on levy ballots

      • No combined renewal/increase levies

      • Requires two-thirds board vote to place levy on ballot

  • Property Tax Relief 

    • Homestead exemption increased

      • Standard $28K to $34K (14%)

      • Income $40K to $42.5K (6%)

      • Disabled vets/survivors $56K to $69K (5.1%)

    • Statewide-screening for exemptions and credits

  • Retirement Contributions - Only to STRS (State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio) for Superintendents and only to PERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System) for Treasurers

  • Key Takeaways

    • More uncertainty

    • Use of FY2021 funding levels skips 5 years of inflationary costs or built-in personnel compensation increases included in contracts

    • Tighter controls over school district funding by County Budget Commissions

    • Local district tax flexibility significantly reduced

    • New performance-based funding may increase school district equity gap

Reviewer Note:  House Bill 96 has passed both houses of the General Assembly, and the State Budget is now with the Governor, who has line-item veto.  See Ohio House of Representatives website here for more information.  Please note that some of the provisions outlined by Ms. Pavlat have changed, and may still be vetoed by the Governor.

  • House Bill 335 Proposed Terms - Proposals in the bill are as follows:

    • Limits how schools can shift the purpose of inside millage and includes fixed-sum levies and income taxes in the 20-mill floor

    • Offers tax credits if property taxes rise faster than inflation for those at the 20 mill floor

    • Allows County Budget Commission to reduce current voted levies

    • Stops local governments (except townships) from levying current inside millage 

  • Other 

    • Senate to finalize its version of the budget bill by 6/13/2025

    • Encourage outreach to state senators

    • Monitor changes and impact on our district

    • Contact education associations for support 

Public Remarks - There were no public remarks.


21.30 min. Routine Items - Consent - All Approved

  • 2025-06-199 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education

  • Minutes from the May 19, 2025 Meeting

  • Certified Substitute List for the 2025-2026 School Year

  • Classified Substitute List for the 2024-2025 School Year

  • Classified Substitute List for the 2025-2026 School Year

21.50 min. Financial Resolutions - All Approved

  • 2025-06-200 Resolution to Accept Donations

Name                                       Amount Donated  Recipient

Rockwell Automation        $422.38                     Robotics Club

OhioRISE                              $150.00                     MS 6th Grade Camp (Student)

  • 2025-06-201 Resolution to Approve Fund to Fund Transfer for Fiscal Year 2025

  • 2025-06-202 Resolution to Authorize Correcting the Transfer Amount in Resolution 2025-05-155 Transfer to the First Capital Projects Fund (USAS 070) to $3,750,000 and Authorizing a Transfer Thereto - The amount originally approved by the May resolution was $4,750,000.

  • 2025-06-203 Resolution to Approve Student Activity Statement of Purpose and Budget for the 2025-2026 School Year

23.50 min. Personnel Resolutions - All Approved

  • 2025-06-204 Resolution to Approve Certified Stipends for Work Outside of the 2024-2025 Contractual Year

  • 2025-06-205 Resolution to Approve 2025 Summer Programming Stipends

  • 2025-06-206 Resolution to Approve Change in Certified Contract - Certified Salary Movement for the 2025-2026 School Year

  • 2025-06-207 Resolution to Approve Certified Staff Appointments for the 2025-2026 School Year

  • 2025-06-208 Resolution to Approve Certified Stipends for Work Outside of the 2025-2026 Contractual Year

  • 2025-06-209 Resolution to Approve Appointment of Confidential Administrative Assistant

  • 2025-06-210 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Resignations

  • 2025-06-211 Resolution to Approve Summer Routes for Extended School Year Services

  • 2025-06-212 Resolution to Approve Unpaid Days 2024-2025 School Year

  • 2025-06-213 Resolution to Approve Casual Labourers for Summer 2025

  • 2025-06-214 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year

  • 2025–06-215 Resolution to Approve supplemental Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year

30.15 min. Business Resolutions - All Approved

  • 2025-06-216 Resolution to Approve the School Program Contract between West Geauga Local Schools and Two Foundation, Inc for the 2025-2026 School Year.

  • 2025-06-217 Resolution to Approve the Student Service Agreement(s) between West Geauga Local Schools and Re-Education Services, Inc. for the 2025-2026 School Year.

  • 2025-06-218 Resolution to Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Ravenwood Health and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2025-2026 School Year.

  • 2025-06-219 Resolution to Approve the Preventive Service and Maintenance Agreement between West Geauga Local Schools and Comfort Systems USA.

  • 2025-06-220 Resolution to Approve the Quote to Purchase Teachtown for the 2025-2026 School Year.

  • 2025-06-221 Resolution to Approve the Purchase of Buses in the 2025-2026 School Year

34.40 min. Board Resolutions - All Approved

  • 2025-06-222 Resolution to Approve Settlement Agreement and Release - authorizes term and $707.85 as settlement in lieu of litigation. As listed in the Resolution, this case was State of Ohio ex rel. Brian M. Ames v. West Geauga Local School District Board of Education (Case No. 25-M-000155), against the School Board seeking a declaratory judgment and injunction alleging that, among other things, the School Board failed to comply with Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code in regard to certain public meeting procedures (the “Litigation”).

  • 2025-06-223 Resolution to Approve the Certification of the 2025 West Geauga High School Graduates - creates official graduation list for 2025

  • 2025-06-224 Resolution to Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the West Geauga Local School District Board of Education and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, OAPSE Local #255

  • 2025-06-225 Resolution Approving the Rank of the Top Firm that Responded to the District's Request for Qualifications for Criteria Engineer/Architect Services for the Development, Design and Construction of a Water Treatment Facility/Maintenance Building and Authorizing the Treasurer to Enter into Contract Negotiations with this Firm; establishes Osborne Engineering as the best ranked engineer/architect and to proceed with development, design, and construction of a water treatment facility/maintenance building project and to retain them to begin work on the project.  

Mr. Amstutz estimated that preliminary design information will be ready in approximately 6 weeks.


37.50 min. Discussion of New Business and Suggestions to be Included on Future Agenda - No items were raised or discussed


38.30 min. Reports

  • Superintendent -

    • Dr. Markwardt thanked all those who contributed to the successful 2025 Graduation Ceremony 

    • There will be several major projects being implemented this summer, including: new turf for the football field, various Middle School capital improvement projects, and the new well.

    • The staffing for the new year is going well, and there are only 3 open positions remaining.  Dr. Markwardt remarked that there has been a significant increase in the quality level of new teaching personnel.  He said, “I think a lot of the credit for that is not just the reputation of the district and our students, but it's also the quality of the administrative team that will be in place next year, that means a lot. They are anxious to join that team so that's a good thing so credit to you as the board for making sure that that happened.“ 

  • Board - There were no board reports.

41.00 min. Executive Session - Approved

2025-06-226 Resolution to Adjourn to Executive Session - This Executive Session is to consider the compensation of public employees and to discuss specialized details of security arrangements and emergency response protocols, as permitted under Ohio Revised Code Sections 121.22(G)(1) and 121.22(G)(6). 


1.38.10 min. Reconvene into Regular Session


Announcement of Next Board Meeting - The next regular meeting will be on Monday, June 23, 2025 beginning at 7:00 pm in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.


1.38.40 Resolution to Adjourn - 

2025-06-227 Resolution to Adjourn - passed, meeting adjourned at 8:39 pm


Observer Note: Subsequent to the next regular board meeting, a special board meeting was held on June 16, 2025. 

 

Observer: Bob Doxey

Editor: Sarah McGlone

Reviewer: Gail Roussey


Date Submitted: June 27, 2025


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