Kenston Board of Education –Work Session October 9, 2023
Meeting Details: Kenston Board of Education met in a Work Session on October 9, 2023 at Kenston High School, 9500 Bainbridge Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, in the High School Auburn Bainbridge room beginning at 6:00 pm. The meeting was live streamed and is available here and on Kenston’s YouTube page. View the agenda online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab and then the meeting date.
Board Attendance: President Jennifer Troutman, Vice President Neysa Gaskins, Dennis Bergansky, Beth Krause, and Tom Manning.
Staff Attendance: Superintendent Steven Sayers, Treasurer Seth Cales, Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Poe.
Public Comment - It was announced by Mrs. Troutman that pursuant to policy, if no items require board action, then public comment is not permitted.
The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Troutman at 6:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Troutman.
Discussion items
-
Review of State Report card for 2023 given by Dr. Kathleen Poe. Dr. Poe’s presentation and accompanying discussion begins at 4:56 minutes into the meeting, and continues for about 45 minutes and is accompanied by a Visual Presentation. Presentation includes overall star ratings, implications for future planning, and data resources available for teachers and administration. A copy of Kenston’s State Report card can be found here.
-
Future Plans presentation given by Superintendent Sayers at around 49 minutes into the video about the Bomber Rightsizing Plan. This presentation includes a visual presentation; presentation slides are available here.
-
There has been a decline of 659 students from Fiscal Year 2010 to Fiscal Year 2024. This is a 21% decline.
-
Three out of the four school buildings are operating at ⅔ capacity. Timmons Elementary is operating at or near capacity.
-
Expenses have exceeded revenue 4 out of 5 years between 2019-2023
-
The May 2023 five-year forecast reveals that Kenston will drop below the amount of cash reserves required according to board policy in 2026.
-
The current “Rightsizing” plan includes closing KIS (Kenston Intermediate School) with the 2024-25 school year, moving grades 4-5 to KMS (Kenston Middle School), which will become a 4-7 building, and 8th grade will be moved to the current KHS (Kenston High School) for an 8-12 school.
-
Transportation schedules would remain unchanged and time schedules would be largely unchanged as well, with only some minor modifications. (See visual presentation for greater detail)
-
Goal is to maintain and enhance the educational experience of the students. Superintendent Sayers advises that scheduling and collaborating should be easier in the new arrangement and estimates that the district will save approximately $1.2 million annually through “staffing and operational efficiencies.”
-
Superintendent Sayers emphasized that he is disallowed from advocating for or against a levy or bond issue on the ballot. He is permitted to provide factual information, which is what he advised he is doing.
-
Mr. Sayers advised that the school is transferring approximately $575,000 annually from the general fund to address permanent improvement needs and that those costs continue to rise. The PI levy on the November ballot for the public’s consideration is to address this issue. Mr. Sayers went on to detail specific types of needs addressed by permanent improvement funds at around 1:06 minutes.
-
As per the presentation: If the PI Levy is approved, Rightsizing will be implemented and $1.265 million would be generated by the levy to cover PI costs, thus the need to transfer funds from the general fund is eliminated.
-
As per the presentation: If the PI Levy fails, Rightsizing will be implemented and additional funds to cover PI improvements will continue to need to be transferred from general funds.
-
Current bond funds were used to construct the high school, and this bond expires in 2029, at which point the Board can consider putting a replacement bond issue on the ballot for the public’s consideration in order to build a new school building. Mr. Sayers says this new bond would be a replacement and not a new increase in taxes.
-
In the future, the Board could consider building a new building on the KIS site without displacing any students. Upon completion of this new building, which potentially could house grades 3-8 or 4-8, KMS could be demolished. The new building could facilitate 21st century learning and alleviate the financial burden of maintaining older buildings, an issue identified in the Strategic Planning Process.
-
The Survey recently completed by the community indicated satisfaction with the High School and Timmons Elementary, but expressed concern over the future of the middle school and intermediate buildings.
-
Mr. Sayers continued with general discussion about building a sustainable future for the students of the district and the complexities of Rightsizing.
-
Mr. Sayers mentioned that, as per the efficiency piece and with the understanding that staffing makes up 80% of costs, the administrative team has been collaborating with the Kenston Education Association on a severance incentive. A Memorandum of Understanding regarding this incentive will be on next week’s meeting agenda for Board approval.
-
Treasurer Seth Cales noted that the plan is proactive, fits in with the district’s Strategic Plan, and prepares the district for the future.
-
Beth Krause advised that the public be encouraged to ask questions regarding this plan on the “Glad You Asked” site for Kenston Schools so that the Board could address concerns at the next Board meeting.
-
There was discussion about how KIS would be used in the interim, and Mr. Sayers discussed some ideas regarding this.
-
Dennis Bergansky questioned how the bond fund, if replaced in 2029, would be used, and the Treasurer advised that it would fund the new building plan.
-
Mrs. Krause recommended that members of the public email Superintendent Steven Sayers or Treasurer Seth Cales.
-
Mrs. Krause also talked about the severance possibilities at 1:27 Min.
Reviewer Comment: No action on this proposal was taken at this work session.
The Board approved a motion to go into executive session at 7:28 pm to discuss the employment of public employees. Mrs. Troutman advised that no action would be taken afterwards. The video ended at this point.
Observer Note: Under Ohio Law, the Board may hold Executive Sessions to discuss personnel matters, litigations, purchase of property, negotiations, matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or state statutes, and details of security arrangements. 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.
Next regular meeting: Monday, October 16, 2023 in the Kenston High School Auburn Bainbridge Room.
More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools
Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 10/12/23
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.