Superintendent Notes Many Permanent Improvements to Kenston Campus
Kenston Board of Education Regular Meeting – September 14, 2026
Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) Regular Meeting took place on September 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm in the KHS Auburn Bainbridge Room. The meeting is live-streamed and the video is posted on the Kenston Website page here and on Kenston’s YouTube page here. Notations in the report refer to the minute notation on the video for a particular section. View agendas and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab, the meeting date, and the agenda.
0:06 Min Video Opening and Welcome
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Manning and TES 3rd Grade students Nora and Sophia Rouvio.
1:23 Min Roll Call This meeting is being held in accordance with Section 3313.15 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Board Attendance: President Tom Manning, Vice President Beth Krause, and members Jim Henry, Girtha Smith, and Benjamin Timmons
Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Bruce Willingham, Treasurer Seth Cales, TES Principal Kristen Hasenorhl, 3rd grade teacher Michele Spicuzza, 3rd grade teacher Theresa Petrick
Others in Attendance: Kenston Athletic Boosters (KAB) Club President Eric Scmidt
2:27 Min Approval of Minutes The Kenston Board of Education approved that the reading of the minutes be waived and approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 10, 2026 available here, as recorded or corrected.
3:00 Min Commendations The Superintendent recommended that the board commend the following:
8:35 Min Informational Items
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Legislative Report - Dr. Krause and Dr. Willingham commented that there is little to report currently. Superintendent Dr. Willingham, Asst. Superintendent Tom Gabram and Director of Communications Amy Sparks traveled to Columbus last Thursday (September 10). Dr. Willingham said that their focus has been to tell their story about the shifting of public school funding from a 50/50 split between the state and the community in the 70s and 80s to today when community residents are paying 70% and businesses are paying 30%. He said that they will continue to advocate for appropriate public school funding from the state.
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13:42 Min Kenston Organization Updates
23:01 Min Two Minute Break to allow children and others to leave.
25:55 Min Superintendent’s Report with an accompanying slide presentation.
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Upcoming school and community events and important dates on slide 2.
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Kenston Conversations with Dr. Willingham on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 in the Kenston Gardner Center Conference Room at 9:30-10:30 am and 6:00-7:00 pm.
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Permanent Improvement Update: Projects for Fiscal Years ‘26 and ‘27 on slide 4. The process of creating a roster of projects begins in October of the prior Fiscal year.
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Images of Timmons Elementary (TES) lunch tables, the new roof on TES, new pavement throughout the campus, and many other completed PI projects
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Kenston High School Gymnasium has also received many physical and electronic updates.
Mr. Manning complimented the process for choosing Permanent Improvements beginning in October of the prior fiscal year. He noted that all projects are planned and evaluated over reasonable time periods allowing for no impulse purchases.
41:21 Min Treasurer’s Report - Mr. Cales, accompanied by a slide presentation.
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Mr. Cales spoke about the newness of the Permanent Improvement (PI) fund. He advised that prior to its existence, approximately $575,000 was transferred yearly from the general fund to a PI fund for purposes of capital improvement.
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Now for five years, the school receives $1.2 million annually as dedicated PI funds. Mr. Cales said that this extended out the need for a new operating levy by several years to 2028.
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Mr. Cales praised the transparency of the PI planning and funding and said that the community knows exactly what the money is being spent on.
Mr. Manning reminded the community that the word “permanent” in the term Permanent Improvement Levy does not indicate that the levy itself is permanent or continuing. Instead it refers to the funds necessary to maintain the district’s more “permanent” items such as infrastructure. The voters will have to re-approve this levy every five years and Mr. Manning added that he hopes that the voters see the value in the levy.
48:44 Min Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items - There were no speaker requests.
48:54 Min Agenda approval items 9-18 - As the Board President announces at the beginning of each meeting, these items are reviewed by Board members before the meeting, and most are passed quickly and without discussion.
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Financial Items - All items and accompanying documents can be found here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 9.1-9.8 on the agenda. All Approved. Items that may be of interest to the community include but are not limited to:
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Certified Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here for review by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 10.1-10.5 on the agenda. All Approved. Items that may be of interest to the community include but are not limited to:
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Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Kenston Board of Education approved the following retirement resignation:
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Item 10.2: Mr. Manning noted that this item was incorrect on the written agenda. The online agenda is correct.
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Classified Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 11.1-11.7 on the agenda. 11.7 was approved separately so that Mr. Timmons may abstain. All Approved.
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Supplemental Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 12.1-12.5 on the agenda. 12.5 was approved separately so that Mr. Timmons may abstain. All Approved.
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Exempt Personnel Items - No items.
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Business Operations - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 14.1 on the agenda. All Approved.
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Teaching and Learning Items - No items.
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Special Education Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 16.1-16.3 on the agenda. All Approved.
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Old Business- No items.
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New Business Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 18.1-18.8 on the agenda. All Approved. Items that may be of interest to the community include but are not limited to:
48:44 Min Hearing of The Public on Non-Agenda Items - No speaker requests.
56:06 Min Motion made and approved at 6:55 pm to enter into Executive Session pursuant to consider the purchase of property (both real and personal, tangible or intangible), or to consider the sale of property (either real or personal) by competitive bid if disclosure of the information would give a competitive advantage to the other side by division (G)(2) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
Executive Sessions are used for discussion only, no board action can be voted on in Executive Session. Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 defines the Sunshine Law and matters for Executive Session.
Mr. Manning advised that no action would be taken after the meeting except adjournment and the video ended at 56:12 Min.
Next regular meeting: Monday, October 12, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools
Virtual Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Marla Zwinggi
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: September 23, 2026
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