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Kenston BOE Renews the Contract of Superintendent Dr. Bruce Willingham

Kenston Board of Education Regular Meeting – July 20, 2026 

Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) Regular Meeting took place on July 20, 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. 

6:00 Min. Video Opening 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Tom Manning.

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 Dr. Beth Krause, and members Jim Henry, Girtha Smith, and Benjamin Timmons.

Staff in Attendance: Superintendent Dr. Bruce R. Willingham, Treasurer Seth Cales, and new KMS Intervention Specialist Clare Fyfe 

Others in Attendance: N/A

7:36 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 June 29, 2026 (available here),  as recorded or corrected.  

8:12 Min. Commendations  There are no commendations for July.

8:20 Min. Informational Items

• Legislative Report-Dr. Krause advised that there is nothing to report

8:30 Min. Superintendent’s Report with an accompanying slide presentation.

• Census Verification will begin on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 8:00 am with parents directed to please complete it by August 7, 2026. More information is on Kenston’s website here.   Parents with additional questions should contact the Board Office.

• Ohio Back to School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:00 am Friday, August 7, 2026 and extends through 11:59 pm Sunday, August 9, 2026. For exemption details, see slide beginning at 9:18 Min in video.

• Agenda Item 10.2: Clare Fyfe, present at the meeting, is being recommended as a new KMS Intervention Specialist.

• Agenda Item 15.1: Dr. Willingham highlighted new curriculum for KHS - 8th Grade Intro to Family and Consumer Science

• Agenda Item 18.1: Updated handbooks (3) for 2026-2027; links can be found in the agenda at 18.1.

• Agenda Item 18.6: Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Kenston Board of Education approved a contract with James Knight Consulting to provide student assemblies, staff professional development, parent/community forums, and leadership planning/coaching sessions during the 2026-27 school year to reinforce PEAK (Peaceful Environment At Kenston) values; to be paid with state subsidy funds. Dr. Willingham advised that the main goal is to revitalize PEAK. For more information about PEAK, visit Kenston's website here.

• Agenda Items 18.10 and 18.11: PI (Permanent Improvement) Levy -  Improvements include the purchase of a Sparz Sharpener 3 Pro Hockey Skate sharpener and a Bakko Rebounding Wall for tennis.

• Dr. Willingham advised that many PI projects are being completed this summer, and he noted that the Timmons roof replacement is complete and that the Dry Stack System for fire suppression was replaced and passed the Fire Department inspection.

• Mr. Cales and Dr. Willingham will give a “more robust and comprehensive” update on Permanent Improvement at the September 2026 Board meeting.

14:37 Min. Treasurer’s Report with Mr. Cales

• Mr. Cales addressed the Fiscal Year-end report for June 2026 with a slide presentation beginning at 15:02 Min in the video. Topics addressed:

  • Projected cash flow versus forecast for the General Fund

  • Revenue Sources: Kenston is largely funded by voter approved levies in the form of property taxes.

  • FY 2026 Expenses by Object, such as Salaries and Wages, Benefits, Purchased Services, Supplies, etc.

  • General Fund-Monthly Cash Flow Overview.

  • General Fund-Cash Balance versus Historical. Mr. Cales wanted the community to know that Kenston is being a “good steward” of public monies.

27:46 Min. Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items - There were no speaker requests. 

27:54 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.

• Financial Items - All items and accompanying documents can be found here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 9.1-9.7 on the agenda. All Approved. Items of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Item 9.4: The Kenston Board of Education is being asked to approve the technology fees, as listed below, for the school year 2026-2027.

1. Broken Screen repair  - $15.00

2. Missing Chromebook Charger - $15.00

3. Broken Cables/Hinges - $15.00

4. Missing Keys - $5.00

5. Missing Camera - $10.00

6. Broken / Missing Bezel - $10.00

7. Replacement keyboard - $ 15.00

8. Replacement Case - $25.00

9. Replacement Chromebook - up to $200.00

• 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 of interest include but are not limited to: 

  • Item 10.5: Pursuant to ORC Section 3307.353, the following is a Public Notice of Intent for a teaching retire-rehire contract. No Approval Needed.

    • Name:             Robert Ross

    • Position:          KMS PE/Health Teacher

• Name:             Kathleen Thorn

• Position:          KMS Intervention Specialist

• Classified Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 11.1-11.8, (11.6 and 11.7  approved separately with Mr. Manning and then Mr. Timmons abstaining) on the agenda.  All Approved. Items of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Item 11.8: Pursuant to ORC Section 3307.353, the following is a Public Notice of Intent for a non-teaching retire-rehire contract. No Approval Needed.

    • Name:             Steve Miner

    • Position:          Bus Driver - 5.5 hours

• Supplemental Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 12.1-12.7 on the agenda. All Approved.

• 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. 

  • Item 13.1 includes hyperlinks to Administrative Handbook, Administrative Pay Schedule, and Administrator Positions and Compensations.

• Business Operations -  No items.

• Teaching and Learning Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 15.1-15.4 on the agenda. No Approval needed for first reading.

• 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. 

• Old Business- No items.

• New Business Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 18.1-18.13 on the agenda. All Approved. 

  • Item 18.13: BE IT RESOLVED that the Kenston Local School District Board of Education hereby renews the contract for Dr. Bruce R. Willingham Jr., Ed. D., as the Superintendent of the Kenston Local School District for a term of five (5) years commencing on August 1, 2027 and expiring on July 31, 2032, subject to the terms and conditions of employment set forth in the employment contract with Dr. Willingham, and authorizes the Board President and Treasurer/CFO to sign the employment contract with Dr. Willingham on behalf of the Board of Education. The employment contract can be found here.

33:10  Min. Hearing of The Public on Non-Agenda Items No speaker requests.

35:09 Min.  A motion to enter into executive session was made and approved.  

The Board will enter into executive session pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(1) to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing by division (G)(1) 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 executive session.

35:30 Min Video ended

Next regular meeting: Monday, August 10, 2026 at 6:00 pm.

More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools

 

Virtual Observer: Jacqueline Berger

Editor: Gail Roussey

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone 

 

Date Submitted: July 29, 2026

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