Kenston Projects Deficit Spending in 2028; Operating Levy May Be on the Horizon
Kenston Board of Education Regular Meeting – August 10, 2026
Meeting Details: The Kenston Board of Education (BOE) Regular Meeting took place on August 10, 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.
11:30 Min. Video Opening
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Tom Manning.
12:05 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, Director of Athletics Reid Guarnieri, Director of Communications Amy Sparks, and Director of Transportation Christine Illner.
Others in Attendance: Bomber Elite Club Representative April Ehrenbeit
13:07 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 July 20, 2026 (available here), as recorded or corrected.
Commendations There are no commendations for August.
13:45 Min. Informational Items
-
Legislative Report - Dr. Krause/Dr. Willingham advised that there is nothing to report
-
14:07 Min Kenston Department Updates:
-
Athletics Department - Reid Guarnieri, Director of Athletics, accompanied by a slide presentation.
-
Full membership in the Suburban League’s American Division begins with this Fall competition. The Western Reserve Conference is defunct.
-
Suburban League Ticket Pricing Changes (Slide 2)
-
HUDL Live Streaming represents a new service. Slide 3-4 contains the price and information for this service. Generally live-streaming will only cover varsity unless the competition is a triple-header which then might include coverage of freshman, JV, and varsity games.
-
28:18 Min District Communications - Amy Sparks, Director of Communications, accompanied by a slide presentation.
-
Improving and Refining Communication
-
Improving Kenston Local Schools App for ease of use.
-
Superintendent and Principal Newsletters and At-A-Glance (Weekly on Sunday Afternoons) communications
-
Families need to be sure to complete the Census information on Infinite Campus as Communications will pull current contact info from that source.
-
34:43 Min Transportation - Christine Illner, Director of Transportation, accompanied by a slide presentation.
-
Routes are still being updated and will continue to be tweaked as new information about riders comes in from the Census.
-
Transportation has five open routes this year due to retirements, etc. Two bus drivers are currently in training but will not be ready at the start of the school year. Ms. Illner and other members of Transportation will be driving those routes until all spots are filled.
-
Mr. Timmons questioned Item 14.2 on the agenda which is the approval of bus routes. Dr. Willingham advised that the Board is approving the basic number of routes as created for the beginning of the school year. The actual names and addresses of stops are not posted in the minutes for privacy reasons and specific stops may change or be added as the year starts up and progresses, but the number of routes is approved at the start and will generally remain the same.
-
42:05 Min Kenston Organization Update - Bomber Elite Club - April Ehrenbeit, speaking on behalf of the athletic boosters for the varsity football team, accompanied by a slide presentation.
-
Fundraising Activities
-
Purchase of Guardian Caps- a soft shell cover that sits on top of the football helmet and reduces the severity of impact.
-
The success of the Booher Family Gridiron, the standalone football weight room facility.
47:59 Min. Superintendent’s Report with an accompanying slide presentation.
-
Important Reminders
-
Teachers return this Thursday and Friday for work days. Campus activity is beginning to pick up.
-
Monday, August 17th is the day that all of the staff are welcomed back to campus. A Meet-the-Teacher Open house event, a campus wide opening to come and go as you please, is also happening from 5pm-8pm on this day. Food trucks will be available.
-
Teacher assignments will be released on Infinite Campus on Wednesday, August 12th.
-
Also on Wednesday, August 12th, there will be an incoming kindergarten meeting at 6pm, and then at 7pm, an incoming 4th grade/new to KMS meeting.
-
Thursday, August 13th, there will be an eighth grade orientation to KHS from 8:30-10am, and later that day from 12pm-3pm, a 9th grade packet pick-up and parking pass sale.
-
Wednesday, August 19th, is the first day of school.
-
There is a first responder tailgate on August 28th at Kenston’s first home game.
53:30 Min. Treasurer’s Report- Mr. Cales, accompanied by a slide presentation. Observer Note: As of the publication of this report, there is no available hyperlink to this slide presentation on the agenda page or on Kenston's Finance page here. Mr. Cales noted in his presentation that the slides would be up on Kenston’s website by Friday (August 14, 2026).
-
Mr. Cales reminded the Board that the fiscal forecast represents the General Fund and is an estimate based on past, current, and projected financial conditions. Many factors, such as inflation, legislative and state funding formulas, tax collections, interest rates, etc., can impact this forecast. Mr. Cales explained the methodology and assumptions used to create the 5 year forecast as identified in his second and third slide.
-
Kenston enrollment is shrinking a little year over year, a phenomenon not unique to this district, but visible throughout Ohio schools and across the nation.
-
76% of revenues come from local taxpayers. Real estate taxes continue to be the largest component of district revenues.
-
Personnel costs are the largest costs for the district at 81% in FY2027.
-
FY2027 year end cash balance projected to be + $98,196. Structural deficit spending will begin in 2028 with an eroding cash balance projected - $4,349,151 by FY2031.
-
Cash balance will remain above or at the minimum through FY2029, decreasing below Kenston Board Policy minimum in FY2030. Kenston Board Policy indicates a minimum 30 day cash balance requirement. A potential operating levy is on the horizon.
-
It is estimated to cost $18,656 per year of general fund dollars to educate a student in FY 2027. 61% percent of the per pupil expenditure is paid by residential property owners, and 39% is paid by “state, federal, business taxes, and others’ portion”.
-
Mr. Cales noted key factors to monitor annually in the five-year forecast including deficit spending, projected cash balances, declining student enrollment, and alignment of staff with enrollment.
-
Mr. Cales noted that continued steps are being taken to maintain fiscal responsibility such as aligning staff with enrollment, utilization of all available grant opportunities, and bringing as many third party contracts and services as possible in-house while maintaining quality.
-
Mr. Cales noted that it has been more than a decade since the district’s last operating levy, but the forecast indicates that there will be a need for additional operating revenue in the near future to maintain long term financial stability and essential educational services.
-
Mr. Cales thanked the community for their continued support and investment in the future of the district’s students.
Mr. Henry asked if private school voucher costs are a constant or increasing year over year.
-
Mr. Cales stated that Kenston remains a destination school for parents and families moving to the community. Parents applying for vouchers are generally parents who already have their children in the private schools, so while Kenston does lose money for education due to vouchers, there is no actual increasing “flight” from the Kenston Schools.
1:24.08 Min. Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items - There were no speaker requests.
1:24.15 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 9.1-9.8 on the agenda. All Approved. Items of interest include but are not limited to:
-
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. Item 10.5 was approved separately so that Mr. Timmons could abstain because it involved his relative. All Approved.
-
Classified Personnel Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 11.1-11.5 on the agenda. All Approved.
-
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.
-
Exempt Personnel Items - No items.
-
Business Operations - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 14.1-14.3 on the agenda. All Approved..
-
Teaching and Learning Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 15.1-15.3 on the agenda.
-
Special Education Items - These items and accompanying documents are available here by selecting the meeting tab, meeting date, and 16.1-16.4 on the agenda. All Approved.
-
Old Business- No items.
1:28.17 Min. Hearing of The Public on Non-Agenda Items - No speaker requests.
1:29.08 Min. A motion to adjourn was approved and the video ended- no clock time noted.
Next regular meeting: Monday, September 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
More information here: Board of Education | Kenston Local Schools
Virtual Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: August 14, 2026
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.