Special Board Meeting Planned for July 8, 2025 to Review Implications
of New State Budget on Chardon Schools
Chardon Board of Education Records Commission Meeting and Regular Meeting - June 23, 2025
Meeting Details: The Records Commission meeting was held at 5:00 pm at the Chardon Board of Education building adjacent to the Chardon Middle School at 428 North Street, Chardon with the regular meeting following at 5:30 pm. Here is the link to the available Meeting Agendas and Minutes. Click on the meetings tab on the right to access the Agendas and Minutes. The combined meeting video beginning with the Records Commission meeting and the regular meeting immediately following can be found here.
RECORDS COMMISSION MEETING:
Roll Call and Welcome
Attendance: Board President Karen Blankenship
Absent: Vice President Andrea Clark, Todd Albright, James Midyette and C.J. Paterniti
Staff Attendance: Superintendent Dr. Michael Hanlon and Treasurer Deb Armbruster
Pledge of Allegiance led by Board President Karen Blankenship
1:04 Min Approval of the Minutes of the January 27, 2025 Records Commission Meeting found here. The Minutes were approved.
1:30 Min Approval of RC-3 Records Disposal Certificate found here.
Ms. Armbruster explained that this is an annual procedure in which the disposal of certain records is approved, then they are moved to the Historical Society for Approval, and then shared with the Auditor of State. The Historical Society confirms with the district at which point the records are disposed of.
The Records Disposal Certificate was approved.
2:12 Min Motion for adjournment approved, and the meeting was adjourned at 5:17pm.
REGULAR MEETING:
Meeting Details: The Regular meeting was held at 5:30 pm at the Chardon Board of Education building adjacent to the Chardon Middle School at 428 North Street, Chardon. Here is the link to the available Meeting Agendas and Minutes. Click on the meetings tab on the right to access the Agendas and Minutes. The combined meeting video beginning with the Records Commission meeting and the regular meeting immediately following can be found here.
2:37 Min Roll Call and Welcome - The meeting was called to order. It was stated that this meeting is being held in accordance with Section 3313.16 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Attendance: Board President Karen Blankenship, Vice President Andrea Clark, Todd Albright, and James Midyette. C.J. Paterniti arrived later in the meeting sometime at or around 5:45 when the camera was directed to video presentation.
Staff Attendance: Superintendent Dr. Michael Hanlon, Treasurer Deb Armbruster, and Athletic Director Doug Snyder
3:11 Min Adoption of the Agenda - Approved.
Pledge of Allegiance led by Ms. Blankenship.
Hearing of the Public - Agenda Items Only No public comment.
4:03 Min Consent Agenda These items and accompanying document links are available here for review by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 3.1-3.11 on the agenda. All Consent Agenda items were approved, including but not limited to:
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Minutes of the May 19, 2025 regular meeting (available here)
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Warrant List
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Personnel and Compensation items
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Agreements with Lake County Speech & Language Therapy, LLC for student services for the summer 2025
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Agreement with Crossroads Health for student services for the summer of 2025
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Student Accident Insurance Program with the Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company for the 2025-26 school year
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Proposed coverage revision with Ohio School Plan and Travelers Insurance
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Student Handbooks for 2025-2026. See 3.8 on Agenda for (4) handbook hyperlinks for preschool, elementary, middle and high school
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Interagency Agreement with The Lake/Geauga CORE team, with representation from the LEAs (local education agencies), Head Start, Early Head Start, the Lake and Geauga County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Family and Children First Council and Starting Point for 2025-2028
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Service Agreement for St. Mary's and PSI Associates using passthrough Auxiliary funds
6:01 Min Superintendent’s Report and Recommendations These items and accompanying documents are available here for review by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 4.1-4.7 on the agenda. All Approved.
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Superintendent’s report, accompanied by visual presentation here.
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The report included details of the progress made and work yet to be completed on the Chardon Transportation Center, Park Elementary Masonry and Secure Entry, and Munson Elementary.
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The Ohio Legislature Biennial Budget Process is in its final stages per Dr. Hanlon, “with a vote of the legislature occurring later this week. State Education Organizations (including the FSFP (Fair School Funding Plan) Workgroup) have been sharing information with legislators in an effort to retain a workable funding formula in Ohio.”
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The Chardon BOE plans to meet on July 8, 2025 at 5 pm for a special meeting to review the implications of the new State budget on the Chardon School District.
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There are no departmental reports this week.
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9:20 Min Recognition of Doug Snyder - A commendation recognizing Doug Snyder for his longtime commitment to the success of Hilltopper student-athletes.
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A recommendation to the Board of Education to approve the Separation Agreement and Resignation of Teacher Jennifer Robertson upon her retirement.
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A recommendation to the Board of Education to approve Violet Aufderheide as a graduate who completed the Board-approved graduation requirements as certified by the Chardon High School Principal on 6/13/2025.
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A recommendation to the Board of Education to approve proposals with Tim Dagg's Asphalt and Sealcoating for the Tennis Court Roadway and an emergency patch.
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A recommendation to the Board of Education to approve the Agreement for shared fleet vehicle maintenance services between the Chardon Local School District and the Cardinal Local School District (available here). Dr. Hanlon advised that this is the same agreement as last year, which he said was a successful experience for both districts. Two additional services will be added with an addendum: dispatch services and support/mentoring of Cardinal’s Transportation Director, who is new this year.
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A recommendation to the Board of Education to approve the Sports Medicine and Sponsorship Agreement with University Hospitals.
21:15 Min Chief Financial Officer’s Report and Recommendations These items and accompanying documents are available here for review by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 5.1-5.8 on the agenda. All Approved.
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Link to Chardon Local School District on Ohio Checkbook here. (Checkbook.Ohio.gov offers visitors a way to see how state money is spent and where revenue is generated and allocated in the state budget.) Ms. Armbruster advised that every single district transaction is visible on Ohio checkbook for full transparency.
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May 2025 Financial Summary Presentation here
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May 31, 2025 cash balance: $29,174,126.54
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Revenue is trending $22,507 unfavorable to May 2025 forecast.
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Expenditure trend is $154,992 favorable to May 2025 forecast.
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Net potential trend is $132,485 favorable impact on cash balance.
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June 30, 2025 actual cash balance: $23,696,999
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May’s revenue ($660,544) is basically state funding. May expenditures were $5,220,317. This amount takes into account a three pay month, so a little bit more in salaries and a little bit less in purchasing. Payments on transportation compound are also included at this point.
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YTD revenue is $38,888,602 and YTD expenditures are $39,727,546.
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Food Service ending fund balance is $721,669. Some new ovens for the elementary school and other equipment are in the planning process.
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The Self Insurance fund balance is up at $2,559,113.
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May 2025 AI Podcast Financial Summary here.
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Donations List
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Equipment Disposal List
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Documents for two interfund transfers and advances here and here. Interfund transfers to athletics have occurred annually in June. Beginning next year, transportation costs for athletics will also be captured in the transfers to athletics in order to see the costs. Advances are the result of temporarily replacing funds due to the timing in which grants are used and received. Grant monies are often used before receipt of actual grant funds.
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Budget and Purpose Statements for Fiscal Year 2026 (Multiple documents available at 5.6 on the Agenda).
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June 2025 Permanent Appropriations Measure here and Certificate of Resources June 2025 here.
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Fiscal Year 2026 Permanent Appropriations Measure here and Certificate of Resources Tax Budget 2026 here. Ms. Armbruster advised that the permanent appropriations measure will match the 2026 tax budget as presented to the Commission back in February of 2025. Amendments will need to be made going forward.
39:02 Min Board Reports and Recommendations
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Chardon Foundation Board Report There is no link to a slide presentation in this month’s agenda, but slides begin at 39:53 min and accompany Andrea Clark’s discussion. Foundation grants funded new VOX Books for kindergartners. Foundation spring grant funds have been approved for flexible seating for an ELA (English Language Arts) classroom in the middle school and an ELA classroom at the high school, and for an environmental science class greenhouse at the high school.
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Ohio School Board Legislation Tracker here. Mr. Albright spoke briefly about SB 190 and he expressed his concern that voters will be losing authority to determine what and how taxes will be paid and that much will be “piled” on sales taxes. He further advised that he is struggling to understand what the legislature is trying to accomplish with this bill. He advised that a Chardon City Council member had advised him that HB 335 was “losing traction.”
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Auburn Career Center Report Mr. Albright advised that, due to family-related circumstances, Treasurer Sherry Williamson is stepping down and the search is underway for a new treasurer.
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Ohio School Boards Association Facts in a Flash here.
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Board resolution APPROVED for third amendment to the Treasurer/CFO’s employment contract here. Amendment can be found here. The agreement in the amendment states:
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“The Board shall pay the employer’s share of State Employee Retirement System (SERS) contributions to the extent required by law. In addition, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, the Board shall “pick-up” (pay directly on behalf of the Treasurer) the Treasurer’s employee share of retirement contribution to SERS on all salary compensation under this Agreement, plus all retirement contributions on this picked-up amount, not to exceed the rate of ten percent (10%). During the term of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by law, this pick-up shall be a condition of the Treasurer’s employment in the District and shall not be at the Treasurer’s option. Such pick-up shall be a fringe-benefit of the entire amount of the employee contribution that the Treasurer is required to contribute to SERS, based upon the salary reported to SERS as provided in this Agreement. The amount of the fringe-benefit pick-up in this Agreement shall be considered compensation of the Treasurer, and unless otherwise prohibited by state law or other provisions in this Agreement, the Board shall pay both the employer and employee’s contributions to SERS on the amount of the fringe benefit pick-up (“pick-up on the pick-up”), again, not to exceed the rate of ten percent (10%). If during the term of this Contract, Ohio law is modified to prohibit the Board from paying the Treasurer’s SERS member contributions as a fringe benefit pick-up in accordance with the above, the Board’s pick-up of the Treasurer’s SERS member contributions shall be treated as a salary reduction pick-up in accordance with division (h) of 2 Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the annual salary of the Treasurer shall be increased by an amount that will result in the federal taxable income of the Treasurer (after the salary reduction pick-up) being the same as if the fringe benefit pick-up was in effect. The Treasurer agrees that she has been notified of and accepts her duties and obligations under R.C. Chapter 3309 relating to SERS.”
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Board Resolution APPROVED for second amendment to the Superintendent’s employment contract here. Amendment can be found here. The agreement in the amendment states:
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“The Board shall pay only the employer’s share of STRS (State Teachers Retirement System) contributions to the extent required by law. In addition, for each contract year (2024-2029), the Board shall “pick-up” (pay directly) fourteen percent (14%) of the employee’s share of the Superintendent’s total retirement contribution to STRS on behalf of the Superintendent for all eligible salary compensation under the STRS regulations, plus all retirement contributions on this picked up amount. During the term of the Contract, this pick-up shall be a condition of the Superintendent’s employment in the District and shall not be at the Superintendent’s option. It is also the intention of the parties that this picked up amount, together with contributions on the pick-up, be made with respect to all compensation provided under this Contract, consistent with prevailing law and STRS regulations, unless otherwise specifically provided herein. If during the term of this Contract, Ohio law is modified to prohibit the Board from paying the Superintendent’s STRS member contributions as a fringe benefit pick-up in accordance with the above, the Board’s pick-up of the Superintendent’s STRS member contributions shall be treated as a salary reduction pick-up in accordance with division (h) of section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the annual salary of the Superintendent shall be increased by an amount that will result in the federal taxable income of 2 the Superintendent (after the salary reduction pick-up) being the same as if the fringe benefit pick-up was in effect.”
46:27 Min New Business No motion to introduce new business.
46:37 Min Hearing of the Public-Non Agenda Items No public comment.
46:58 Min Motion to adjourn approved at 6:14pm and video ended at 47:18 min.
Board agendas and minutes are available online.
The next meetings are the special meeting scheduled for July 8, 2025 at 5 pm, and the regular meeting on July 21, 2025 at 5:30 pm.
Video Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date submitted: 6/28/25
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