Board Member Albright Expresses Concern
About Possible New School Financing System
Chardon Board of Education Regular Meeting – April 21, 2025
Meeting Details: The 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 board meeting video is also available here and through Chardon Geauga TV (GTV) and agenda items are listed according to the time that they were discussed on the video.
ROLL CALL AND WELCOME - 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, and Board Members Todd Albright, James Midyette
Absent: C.J. Paterniti arrived much later in the meeting
Staff Attendance: Superintendent Dr. Michael Hanlon, Treasurer Deb Armbruster
2:17 Min Adoption of the Agenda - Approved.
The Board Presiding Officer and student leader, 2nd grade Park Elementary student, Lydia Lesniak-Harper, led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mission Statement - Read by Dr. Hanlon.
4:21 Min Hearing of the Public- Agenda Items Only
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Brandi Giddings, CHS Guidance Department Secretary and parent of two Chardon alumni, recommended maintaining the position of Athletic Secretary in the athletics department. She expressed concern that the elimination of this position only places further responsibilities and duties on other staff members who are managing workloads of their own. She expressed her belief that while this position’s elimination may decrease costs, the resulting overextension of other staff members will also increase mistakes, depress morale, and compromise the quality of support and programs provided to students, families and staff.
6:59 Min Consent Agenda - The board considered six items on the consent agenda, including the Minutes from the regular meeting of March 17, 2025 and the Special Meeting on April 5, 2025 which are available here and here, respectively. All approved. All of these items, 3.1-3.6, and associated documents/contracts can be found here, then selecting the meeting tab, date, agenda and number 3 on the agenda. Highlights from the consent agenda include but are not limited to:
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Two 412 certificates of revenue under 3.1 in the agenda
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Update to student fees here.
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Update to student accident insurance with Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company
8:26 Min Presentation of Student Liaison Report by three high school students. Slides are available here. Highlights include but are not limited to:
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Prom tickets have gone on sale for seniors and juniors and the prom court has been selected by the senior class.
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On Thursday, April 17th, Chardon High School (CHS) held its Battle of the Classes.
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Students are in the process of completing or have completed end-of-year tests.
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CHS will be implementing a new schedule, eliminating Red and Black Block Day schedules and switching to a White Day schedule through the end of the year.
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The Geauga County Job Fair will occur at the school on Friday, April 25th.
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Powder Puff Football Game is May 4th.
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Prom and After Prom is May 10th.
11:26 Min Superintendent Report and Recommendations. Items, contracts, fee proposals and associated documents 5.1-5.18 can be found here, select meetings, date, and number 5 on the agenda. All approved. Highlights from the Superintendent’s report and recommendations include but are not limited to:
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The Superintendent presented and discussed his written report available here. Dr. Hanlon began with the details of “What’s At Stake” for school funding with the House passed version of Ohio’s proposed budget and the potential impact on pages 1-3 of his report. The Superintendent also enumerated changes to district carryover balances and forecasting requirements. See the Superintendent’s report for the combined impact of these changes. His conclusion expressed great concern that the changes will ultimately lead to less stability for students, more volatility for taxpayers, and greater uncertainty for communities. The bill will next go to the Senate where they will develop their own version of the budget. There was some discussion of how the district cash carryover balance cap at 30% can hurt the district.
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The Superintendent recognizes CHS Junior, Rosemarie McDonald, for her exceptional effort, relentless dedication and outstanding academic excellence in earning a perfect score of 36 on her ACT exam, an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects her hard work and passion for learning.
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New Physical Education High School - Officiating Certificate Preparation and Personal Training Certificate Preparation for students to earn industry recognized credentials upon graduation.
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Pursuant to Board of Education Policy 0165.1,E, the Superintendent makes recommendation to the Board of Education to approve the attached agreement with Millstone Management Group for guaranteed maximum price for Park Elementary security vestibule project.
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Board Policies for First Reading- some, but not all, that might be of interest include:
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5223 Released Time for Religious Instruction During the School Day
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5780.01 Parents’ Bill of Rights
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7421 Restrooms, Locker Rooms, Shower Rooms and Changing Rooms-Access in accordance with a policy definition of biological sex.
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7440.01 Video Surveillance and Electronic Monitoring
51:30 Min Chief Financial Officer’s Report and Recommendations. Items and associated documents for 6.1-6.6 can be found here, then select meetings, date, and number 6 on the agenda. All approved. Some highlights of the presentation include:
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Financial Report for March 2025 here.
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AI Podcast of March 2025 Financial Summary here.
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Revenue is trending $512,792 favorable compared to forecast.
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Expenditure trend is $177,322 favorable compared to forecast.
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Net potential trend is $690,114 favorable impact on cash balance.
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June 30 cash balance is estimated to be $18,816,892 at the end of the current fiscal year.
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Actual revenue collections for March- $8,020,804, and actual expenses for March- $3,527,769.
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YTD Revenue - $36,380,700
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YTD Expenditures - $29,316,245
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Compensated Absences Liability Fund: Severance liability was $547,703 due to EPC (Educational Purchasing Council) buyouts. This year there are expected to be 8 retirees so far and finance will need $280,000 for those retirements. Money for this fund is pulled from the General Fund every three years.
1:12.52 Min Board of Education Reports here and Recommendations
New Business - There was none.
1:33.01 Min hearing of the Public on Non-Agenda Items
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Aggie Eisler, a Chardon resident, commented on an article that she had read regarding the sexual assault allegations made against a Chardon Middle School student, and she expressed her belief that the allegations were appropriately handled by the district.
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Nate McDonald, a Munson Township resident and parent of three Chardon students, expressed his concern about the “incoherent” legislative process with regards to school funding, and he expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the school Board and Mr. Albright. He expressed his belief that nothing is more important to a community than its local schools, and he plans to call his representatives accordingly.
1:37.45 Min Motion to adjourn approved at 7:07 pm. The video concluded at 1:38.02.
Board agendas and minutes are available online.
Next meeting is the regular meeting scheduled for May 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm.
Virtual Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date submitted: May 28, 2025
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