News / Articles

Board Colleagues Praise Jody Miller As She Retires After 7-½ Year Tenure 

Berkshire Board of Education – Regular Meeting, December 8, 2025

Meeting Details:  The meeting was held at the Berkshire Workforce Development Campus at 13595 Center Street, Burton, Ohio 44021 at 6 pm.  A video of the meeting is posted here. View the agenda online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab and then the meeting date.  The notation of minutes refers to the time posted on the video for the discussion of the item listed.

Board Members Attendance: John Manfredi, President, Jody Miller, Vice President and members Dan Berman, Linda Stone and Bryan Wadsworth. 

Staff Attendance: Superintendent John Stoddard, Treasurer Beth McCaffrey, Middle School Principal Mandy Randles, Middle School teacher Andrew Rodehorst.

Others in Attendance: Newly elected Berkshire School Board Member Brandon Townsend who will be sworn in at the organizational meeting in January (see below for information). Observer Note: This Observer watched the meeting on video.

 

0:30 Min. Opening of Regular Meeting - The Regular Meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mr. Manfredi who led the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll was called.

Approval of Agenda – unanimously approved without discussion.

 

Approval of Minutes – Minutes for the November 10, 2025, meeting were unanimously approved without discussion. Minutes are available through Board Docs here by clicking on the Meetings tab.  The minutes are available in the detailed Agenda for the meeting following the meeting in question. So these approved minutes are in this meeting’s Agenda.

 

2:00 Min. Student/Staff Presentation – Middle School Presentation

Middle School Principal Mandy Randles spoke about the broad range and large number of the Middle School clubs, created in part in response to student survey results that showed students did not feel a connection to the school. She said all students in grades 5-8 annually complete a Developmental Assessment Profile which provides feedback on how the school can be better. To address this lack of  connection, the school established, guided by student feedback, an increasing number of clubs to give “everyone the opportunity to be involved.” Ms. Randles listed their many clubs which include music, sports, art/crafts, games, music, and electronics.

 

Mrs. Randles introduced Middle School art teacher Andrew Rodehorst, advisor to the newly formed, student-led and “extremely popular” Art Club. He talked briefly about the Club, followed by five 6th grade Club members who spoke about their Club experiences, including sharing several drawings and paintings. Observer Note: See the meeting video for the full presentation, 

 

12:25 Min. Public Participation – No speaker requests.

 

13:40 Min. Treasurer’s Report

 

Financial Statements – unanimously approved without discussion

The Treasurer submitted a statement to the Board and the Superintendent showing the revenues and receipts from whatever sources derived, the various Appropriations made by the Board, the expenditures and disbursements, the purposes, and the balances remaining in each fund.  The financial statements for the period ending November 2025 were submitted subject to audit and include Financial Summary, Appropriations and Revenue Summary, Check Register Recap, and Bank Reconciliation per ORC 3313.29. Observer Note: See Financial Statement details in the meeting agenda available online.

 

Donations – The Board voted unanimously the following donation:

The lunch fund supports costs for lunches to students who are unable to pay.

 

Financial Amendments – The Board unanimously approved without discussion the following financial amendment:

Appropriation Modifications:

*This is a grant from the State Support Development Team relating to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Then and Now Invoices:

Invoice:

15:20 Min. Superintendent’s Report

 

Personnel – The Board unanimously approved the personnel actions for Certified and Classified staff as listed on the meeting agenda. Observer Note: A complete list of personnel actions is available in the meeting agenda online.

 

Volunteers – The Board unanimously approved a combined total of 16 volunteer coaches for baseball, softball, indoor track and girls’ wrestling. Observer Note: A complete list of volunteers is available in the meeting agenda online.

Dr. Stoddard noted that nine girls had signed up for the new Middle School girls’ wrestling club.  Dr. Stoddard is one of the volunteer coaches for the club.

 

Contracts – The Board unanimously approved contracts for:

• Re-Education Aspire - Student Service Agreement (Student Specific)

• Re-Education Occupational Therapy Service Agreement (Student Specific)

• Contract for Educational Student Services - Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools (1)

• Abundant Life Ballfield Lease - 5 years

• Lebra Services Agreement (Leadership Development Programs)

Observer Note: Details of all contracts are available in the meeting agenda online. 

Burton Public Library Board Member Appointment – The Board unanimously approved without discussion a motion to re-appoint Julie Ziemak to the Burton Public Library Board for a four-year term ending December 31, 2029.

First and final reading to delete the Policy 8410204 from the Board’s policy manual. The Board unanimously approved the motion without discussion. Observer Note: This item was not on the meeting agenda. According to Mrs. McCaffrey, the policy had been included in the manual “due to a clerical error” by NEOLA, the policy service provider.  The policy, however, had never been requested by, voted on or approved for inclusion in the manual by the Board. Policy 8410204 refers to Student Discipline, Safety, and Behavior, specifically concerning Restraint & Seclusion.

 

18:15 Min. Board Discussion - Observer Note: Mr. Manfredi chose to move these items before Old Business in the agenda.

Next regular meeting dates – January 12, 2026, will be in the Auditorium of the Berkshire Local Schools complex, 14155 Claridon-Troy Rd, Burton, Ohio 44021 at 6 pm immediately following the BOE organizational meeting which is scheduled for 5:30 pm. Mr. Manfredi invited the public to attend the swearing-in ceremony for newly elected board member Brandon Townsend and the President of the Board in the High School auditorium at 5:30 pm, before the organizational meeting.

19:00 Min. President Pro Tem – The Board voted unanimously without discussion for Mr. Manfredi to serve as President Pro Tem until a new President can be elected at the January organizational meeting.

No Executive Session.

19:49 Min. Old Business – None.

 

19:55 Min. New Business – Jody Miller retires

Mr. Manfredi and the other Board members praised Mrs. Miller’s 7 ½ year tenure on the Board, including her work leading the successful levy campaign. Mrs. Stone said Mrs. Miller “is a real inspiration to this community.” Observer Note: Mrs. Miller is retiring from the Board after this meeting. She will be replaced by Brandon Townsend, who also expressed his appreciation to Mrs. Miller for her help.

Mrs. Miller said she is grateful and humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve and thankful to students, administrators, teachers and the community. She stated she is proud of what “we were able to accomplish” and knows the district is in excellent hands. She said she will miss being on the Board but is looking forward to “just being a parent.”

26:08 Min. Meeting Adjourned.

Observer: Rooney Moy

Editor: Gail Roussey

Reviewer: Carol Benton

Date Submitted: December 12, 2025

The League of Women Voters 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.