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Board Considers Possible Substitute Levy for the November 2025 Ballot

West Geauga Board of Education Regular Meeting – July 7, 2025

Meeting Details: The West Geauga Board of Education met on July 7, 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 144 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; Mrs. Pam Claypool, Member; Mrs. Kathy Leavenworth, Member, and Mrs. Mary-Michelle Coleman Walsh, Member, were present.

Staff Attendance: Karen Pavlat, Treasurer; Dr. Nancy Benincasa, Assistant Superintendent; Scott Amstutz, Director of Instructional Technology; Dr. Amy Davis, Director of Pupil Personnel; Brandon Stewart, Athletic Director; Meagan Bellan, Middle School Principal, and Melody Coniglio, Director of Transportation were present.

Other Attendees:  Mr. Scot Vura, CFO/Executive Vice President of Osborn Engineering; approximately 3 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.  

0.45 min. Additions and/or Changes to the Agenda – Resolution 2025-07-293 was added to the agenda

1.25 min. Program Reports and Presentations

• 2025-2026 Transportation Update - Mrs. Coniglio, Director of Transportation, made a presentation reviewing the status of the district’s bus routes and performance.  In response to parental concern about the length of time students were spending on the bus, a one-hour maximum transportation time goal was established.  She reported that this goal has been met due to the efforts of the administration and the bus drivers.

  • Highlights of the report:

    • There was continuous input from stakeholders to increase the system efficiency for the current and future school years. 

    • Intensified recruitment efforts led to 54 new applications resulting in the hiring of 10 new drivers.

    • Implementation of computerized systems began with the installation of an application called "Here Comes The Bus” which provided more information and data about bus operations.  The application was used during the past school year.  Limitations in this system led to the exploration of other alternatives.  Implementation of a new tablet-based reporting system, which will provide continuous real-time data, will have a controlled roll-out beginning this school year.  Information from this system will be accessible by parents and staff.

  • Next Steps -  Proposed routes for the 2025-2026 will be made available to the board by August 1 for approval at the August 11th board meeting.  Mrs. Coniglio stated that the start-up of the school year may involve some initial extended route times, but these will be adjusted to meet the one-hour goal.

  • Dr. Benincasa commented about how hard Mrs. Coniglio and the driving staff have worked on this issue for the past year.

Public Remarks - There were none

25.00 min. Routine Items - Consent - All Approved

• 2025-06-265 Resolution to Approve Routine Matters of the West Geauga Local School Board of Education

• Resolution to Approve June 2025 Financial Statements

• Minutes – Approved the Minutes of the June 23, 2025 Regular Meeting

• Certified Substitute List for the 2025-2026 School Year

25.25 min. Financial Resolutions - All Approved

• 2025-06-266 Resolution to Approve Warrants for June 2025

• 2025-06-267 Resolution to Approve the First Amendment of Certificate of Resources and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 - Mrs. Pavlat explained that the newly passed State budget bill changes dates and formats for school district financial forecasts.  This resolution reflects these changes.  She also indicated that several federal funds that the district receives through the State have been frozen.  These delays in fund receipts will appear in the budget forecasts.

• 2025-06-268 Resolution to Approve Advances of Funds

28.45 min. Personnel Resolutions - All Approved

• 2025-07-269 Resolution to Approve Additional Per Diem for Administrative Staff

• 2025-07-270 Resolution to Approve Additional Per Diem for Certified Staff

• 2025-07-271 Resolution to Approve Change in the Certified Staff Appointment for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-272 Resolution to Approve Classified Staff Appointments for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-273 Resolution to Accept Classified Staff Resignation

• 2025-07-274 Resolution to Approve Supplemental Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-275 Resolution to Approve Service Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-276 Resolution to Authorize the Award of Service Contracts for the 2025-2026 School Year

Policy and Program Resolutions - There were none

31.45min. Business Resolutions - All Approved

• 2025-07-277 Resolution Declaring Transportation Impractical for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-278 Resolution to Approve the Agreement for Admission of Tuition between Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-279 Resolution to Approve the Proactive Behavior Services District Tuition Agreement(s) between West Geauga Local Schools and Proactive Behavior Services, LLC - Mrs. Claypool asked what the annual cost increases usually were.  Dr. Davis and Mrs. Pavlat responded that the increases generally averaged between 3% and 4%.

• 2025-07-280 Resolution to Approve the Addendum to the Contract between AVI Foodsystems, Inc. and West Geauga Local Schools

• 2025-07-281 Resolution to Approve the Consultation Agreement between Passcode to Parenting, LLC. and West Geauga Local Schools

• 2025-07-282 Resolution to Approve the Service Agreement between McKeon Education Group and West Geauga Local Schools for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-283 Resolution to Approve the School Transportation Contract between Buckeye Logistics & Transit and West Geauga Local Schools

• 2025-07-284 Resolution to Approve the Professional Services Agreement between Osborn Engineering and West Geauga Local Schools - Dr. Benincasa introduced Mr. Vura from Osborn to discuss directly with the board any questions they had.  Dr. Beers asked him to help him understand the process surrounding the bidding and construction process that Osborn was providing the District.  Mr. Vura said that Osborn was responding specifically to the request for architectural services and planning for the water well and maintenance building project that was advertised by the District.  He stated that much of what Osborn will provide is based on previous work that has been done regarding this project.  Mr. Vura indicated that components of these services will include:

• Site selection for the well and building 

• Collect data and gain approval for the project from the Ohio EPA

• A design life of 100 years creating an optimal investment in infrastructure

• A proposed combined facility with a maintenance building that will provide storage and services

• Specifications for bidding purposes will allow a full-build proposal that will be scalable to meet budget needs

• Proposal will also include new water mains

• Osborn will generate bidding specifications so that contractors can furnish accurate bids

• Osborn will provide contractor support during the construction process

• 2025-07-285 Resolution to Approve the Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. Proposal to Repair the Roofs at West Geauga High School, Robert C. Lindsey Elementary School and Westwood Elementary School

• 2025-07-286 Resolution to Approve the Agreement for Provision of Special Education and Certain Related Services between Applewood Centers, Inc. and West Geauga Local Schools

• 2025-07-287 Resolution to Approve the Technology Services Agreement between EduTech Group, LLC and West Geauga Local Schools

• 2025-07-288 Resolution to Rescind Resolution 2025-05-186 to Approve the All Ways Construction, LLC Quote

54.10 min. Board Resolutions -  All Approved

• 2025-07-289 Resolution to Approve Credit Card Fees for the 2025-2026 School Year -

• 2025-07-290 Resolution to Approve the Annual West Geauga Preschool Peer Model Tuition

• 2025-07-291 Resolution to Approve the West Geauga High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Course Fees for the 2025-2026 School Year

• 2025-07-292 Resolution to Approve the Great Minds PBC quote for Wit and Wisdom 3-Year Digital Licenses and Professional Development for Teachers and Students

• 2025-07-293 Resolution to Affirm Reasonable Methods to Determine the Time, Place, and Purpose of all Special Meetings as set forth in Board Policy/Bylaw 0164

1.02.00 min. Discussion of Old Business and Suggestions to be Included on Future Agenda - Mrs. Pavlat updated the board on the status of the State budget process.  She said that the budget had passed and been sent to Governor Dewine for his review and signature, and House leadership has indicated that it will attempt to override any line-item vetoes the Governor makes.  The final version of the budget eliminated both Emergency and Replacement levies, but the Governor vetoed this part of the budget.  Currently, the district has two emergency levies: one generates $2.35 million annually and the other $3.7 million annually. Ms. Pavlat said that the emergency levies will be lost if the veto is overridden.  She said that the board has been considering combining these two emergency levies into a single substitute levy that would generate comparable income for the district for inclusion on the May, 2026 ballot.  

If the veto on emergency levies is overridden, the bill would go into effect starting in 2026.  If this occurs, the district would lose the opportunity for a substitute ballot combining its two emergency levies.  Ms. Pavlat said the board has the option to move the substitute levy from the May 2026 ballot to the November 2025 ballot.  If the board chooses to move the issue to the November 2025 election, it will require two special board meetings in July to meet the August 6th, 2025 Board of Elections filing deadline.  The board decided to pursue the November 2025 ballot option and scheduled the first special board meeting for July 16, 2025 at 4:45pm.

Mrs. Claypool said that if the Legislature overrides the Governor’s vetoes and the board does nothing in November, they would lose the opportunity to take action.  Mrs. Sherwood commented, “I also think that it’s going to cost our taxpayers more if we lose this and then if we don’t do the right thing, we could end up costing people more money and I don’t want that.”

116.35 min. Reports

• Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Benincasa:

  • Again thanked the Transportation Department for their efforts with a very complex problem and stated they were doing a great job.

  • Commended the office staff for not only getting ready for the new school year but supporting the transition to a new superintendent

  • Reported that facility projects are moving along, including Middle School lighting, football field turf (installed and in use), and new walkways

  • Noted that Wednesday, August 13th will be the Wolverine Kick-off Classic to welcome the new school year.  There will be several fun events including games designed by the Fall sports teams.

• Board Report - Mrs. Pavlat reported that the Records Committee met on June 30th.  No updates are scheduled.

124.00 min. Executive Session - passed, adjourned at 8:41pm

• 2025-07-294 Resolution to Adjourn to Executive Session to consider the compensation of public employees, as permitted under Ohio Revised Code Sections 121.22(G)(1). There will be no additional actions taken by the board after returning from Executive Session.

141.00 min. Re-convene Meeting - meeting reconvened at 8.57pm

Adjournment 

• Announcement of Next Board Meeting – There will be a Special Meeting on July 16, 2025 beginning at 4:45pm in the Board Office Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road in Chester Township.

• 2025-06-294 Resolution to Adjourn – the meeting was adjourned at 8:58pm. 

Observer: Bob Doxey

Editor: Rooney Moy

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Date Submitted: July 31, 2025

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