Kenston BOE Organizes for New Year and Welcomes New Board Members
Kenston Board of Education Organizational Meeting & Regular Meeting – January 12, 2026
Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) Organizational Meeting took place on January 12, 2026 at 6:30 pm followed by the Regular Meeting at 7:00 pm. The full video (1) of the both meetings is posted on the Kenston Website page here and on Kenston’s YouTube page here. View both agendas online and any attached documents here by selecting the meeting tab, the meeting date, and the agenda.
8:52 Min Video Opening and Call to Order at 6:30 pm.
Kenston Board of Education Organizational Meeting
Welcome and Roll Call: This meeting is being held in accordance with Section 3313.14 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Board Attendance: Tom Manning, Beth Krause, Jim Henry, Girtha Smith, and Benjamin Timmons
Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Bruce R. Willingham and Treasurer Seth Cales
9:40 Pledge of Allegiance
10:10 Min Oath of Office for Newly Elected Members - The Treasurer administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected BOE members Girtha Smith and Ben Timmons and reelected BOE member Beth Krause.
13:31 Min Organization of the Board for 2026
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Mr. Tom Manning was nominated and elected to serve as Board President. The Treasurer administered the Oath of Office.
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Dr. Beth Krause was nominated and elected to serve as Board Vice President. The Treasurer administered the Oath of Office.
17:25 Min Board of Education Appointments. All approved.
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Dr. Beth Krause will serve as the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Legislative Liaison for 2026.
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Ms. Girtha Smith will serve as the OSBA Student Achievement Liaison for 2026.
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Mr. Tom Manning will serve as the OSBA delegate and Mr. Benjamin Timmons will serve as the OSBA alternate delegate for the Capital Conference in November 2026.
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Mr. Jim Henry will serve as the Auburn Career Center Board Representative for a 2-year term effective January 1, 2026.
19:09 Min Board Meeting Schedule for 2026. All Approved.
Regular Meetings - Kenston High School/Auburn Bainbridge Room - 6:00 pm. Observer Note: 6:00 pm is a time change.
February 9, 2026 Board Retreat: February 18, 2026; 5:30 pm at the Auburn Career Center
March 16, 2026
April 20, 2026
May 11, 2026
June 29, 2026
July 20, 2026
August 10, 2026
September 14, 2026
October 19, 2026
November 9, 2026
December 7, 2026
Special meetings/work sessions will be scheduled as needed.
2027 Organizational Meeting - Kenston High School/Auburn Bainbridge Room - 5:30 pm,
January 11, 2027
Regular Meeting - January 2027 - Kenston High School/Auburn Bainbridge Room - 6:00 pm,
January 11, 2027
20:41 Min Legal Counsel. All items Approved.
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The Kenston Board of Education authorized enrollment in the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund (pursuant to ORC 3313.171) for the 2026 calendar year at a cost of $250.
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The Kenston Board of Education authorized the Board, the Superintendent or the Treasurer to employ any legal firm necessary during the course of calendar year 2026.
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The Kenston Board of Education authorized the Treasurer and/or Brindza, McIntyre & Seed, LLP to act as agent for the Board of Education with respect to filing and signing real estate tax complaints and to represent the School District at Board of Revision Hearings.
21:08 Min General Business Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 7.1-7.12 on the agenda. All Approved.
21:42 Min Other Business Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 8.1-8.10 on the agenda. All Approved. Items of interest include but are not limited to:
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See 8.5 - The Kenston Board of Education hereby authorizes the Treasurer to pay the current State of Ohio minimum wage (Effective 1/1/26 - $11.00) to those individuals that are paid under the minimum wage provision.
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The Kenston Board of Education approved the Tax Budget for fiscal year 2027 as submitted via handout. The required Tax Budget Hearing was held on January 12, 2026 in the AB room at 6:00 pm. Observer Note: No copy of the tax budget appears to be available online at this time. The Statement of Funds for this report will be visible during the Treasurer’s Report presentation below.
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Members of the Kenston Board of Education will be compensated in the amount of $125.00 per meeting for FY27, not to exceed 24 meetings.
22:47 Min A motion to adjourn was made and approved at 6:45 pm. The active video ended at 23:10 min.
Observer Note: There is an approximate 15 minute break before the video resumes with the Regular Meeting at 7pm.
Kenston Board of Education Regular Meeting
38:34 Min Video Opening and Call to Order (clock time not noted by Mr. Manning but assumed to be 7pm)
Pledge of Allegiance led by TES 3rd Grade student, Landyn MacWhinnie, and Mr. Manning.
39:49 Min Regular Meeting Welcome and 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, Mr. Jim Henry, Ms. Girtha Smith, and Mr. Benjamin Timmons.
Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Bruce R. Willingham, Treasurer Seth Cales, TES Principal Dave Rogaliner, TES Assistant Principal Kristen Hasenohrl, KMS Principal Adam Fender, KHS Principal Tom Gabram, Special Education Director Melissa Miller, Transportation Director Cris Illnor, and KHS Teachers Maggie Colicchio and Gregory Koltas.
40:49 Min Approval of the Minutes: The Kenston Board of Education approved that the reading of the minutes be waived, and approved the minutes from the Regular Meeting on December 15, 2025 as recorded or corrected. Ms. Smith and Mr. Timmons abstained as new Board Members who were not present at the December meeting. The minutes are available here.
41:25 Min Commendations
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Kenston Board of Education approved all of the following commendations:
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Kenston Board of Education members, Jim Henry, Dr. Beth Krause, Tom Manning, Girtha Smith, and Benjamin Timmons for their service and dedication to the Kenston Local School District. Each January is School Board Appreciation Month and Dr. Willingham took a moment to recognize Board members.
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TES Principal David Rogaliner introduced two Timmons Elementary third grade students to the podium to express their appreciation to members of the Board.
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KMS Principal Adam Fender introduced two seventh graders to the podium to express their appreciation to members of the Board.
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KHS Principal Tom Gabram introduced two high school seniors to the podium to express their appreciation to members of the Board.
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Special Education Director Melissa Miller presented two books to the Timmons’ Library in honor of Board Members.
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Transportation Director Cris Illner expressed appreciation to members of the Board.
1:01.52 Min Informational Items
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Kenston Community Education (KCE): Jennifer Moore, Executive Director, expressed her appreciation for the support of the Board and the school community over the years. KCE is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. They are looking to start organizing for a “turf fundraiser” for the front fields 4 and 5 (near Bainbridge Road).
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1:09.10 Min TES Building Update with a slide presentation
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David Rogaliner, TES Principal, and Kristen Hasenohrl, TES Assistant Principal, discussed building goals, student work, highlights.
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Principal Rogaliner also gave an update on the District’s Health and Wellness Plan as he is one of the Administrators on the Health and Wellness Committee.
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1:23.25 Min Kenston Legislative Update: Dr. Krause advised that the House and Senate resume session in late January/February of 2026. At that time, conversations will begin again around property tax legislation. A new law, HB 114, signed into law on December 19, standardizes a cutoff date for kindergarten enrollment in public schools across the state. Prior to this legislation, school districts could pick their cutoff date (the date by which a child must be five years of age) as either August 1 or September 30. Now a child must be five years old by the first day of school.
1:26.25 Min Superintendent’s Report with an accompanying slide presentation.
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Administration is in the midst of calendar planning for the 2027-2028 school year and a “skeleton” calendar should be presented at the February meeting.
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Timmons Elementary School Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting will be held on March 2, 2026 at 7 pm.
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Kenston Local Schools will present Madagascar, A Musical Adventure, Jr., an eighth grade production, on January 22-24, 2026 at KHS auditorium.
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The Science Olympiad Tournament is on January 17th at KHS.
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The KMS Power of the Pen Tournament is being hosted by Kenston on January 31st.
1:28.40 Min Treasurer’s Report -
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Mr. Cales reviewed the tax budget, noting that each school district in the state is required to prepare a budget. This budget documents the revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2026. The document is required by the county and demonstrates the need for tax revenues to support district operations. The county then approves the budget and authorizes collection of funds from the taxpayers (through property taxes) and distribution to the school districts. Mr. Cales discussed the Statement of Funds Report for the upcoming fiscal year. This document is the starting point for appropriations each year and foreshadows the five-year forecast document. The updated five-year forecast will be presented at the February 2026 meeting. This document will attempt to model some of the impact of the most recent property tax legislation. Should Kenston need to put an operating levy on the ballet, the Geauga County Budget Commission (County Auditor, Treasurer, Prosecutor) now has the power to assess the amount requested and choose to reduce a voter-approved levy amount.
Superintendent Willingham advised new Board members and reminded old ones that he will be reaching out to them to serve on subcommittees such as finance, technology, curriculum, and safety, etc.
1:37.15 Min Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items - There were no speaker requests.
1:37.23 Min Agenda approval items 9-18: As the Board President announced at the beginning of the meeting, these items were reviewed by Board members before the meeting and most were 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.
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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 on the agenda. All Approved.
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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- 11.4 on the agenda. 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 on the agenda. All Approved.
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Exempt Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 13.1 on the agenda. All Approved.
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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 - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 15.1 on the agenda. All Approved.
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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 on the agenda. All Approved.
1:40.32 Min Hearing of The Public on Non-Agenda Items
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Maggie Colicchio - Dr. Colicchio is Head Coach for the Kenston Science Olympiad held at the high school. She also introduced the Assistant Coach Gregory Koltas, and two middle school coaches. Dr. Colicchio spoke about the 19th Kenston Science Olympiad Invitational, which is to be held on Saturday, January 17th and is open for others to come in and see what happens at the event. She expressed appreciation for all those who help to make this large event happen.
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Michael Eisner - Mr. Eisner expressed his concern about current property tax legislation and school vouchers and their impact on the finances of public schools. He further expressed support for the Board that must operate under potentially more difficult financial circumstances and reminded the community how important their support is at this time.
1:49.50 Min - A motion to adjourn was made and approved, with the active video ending at 1:49.50 min.
Next regular meeting: Monday, February 9, 2026. The meeting time has been changed to 6:00 pm.
More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools
Video Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: January 19, 2026
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