A New Chapter in Finance: Getting to Know Treasurer Autumn Reed
The Bay Village Board of Education recently announced a significant leadership update. Following a unanimous vote during the March 2, 2026 Special Board Meeting, Autumn Reed was named the next Treasurer for the Bay Village City School District.
To help our community get to know our new financial leader better (she officially began her tenure on April 20), we sat down to discuss her background, her philosophy on school finance and what she looks forward to most in Bay Village.
Q: Welcome to Bay Village! Can you tell us a bit about your professional journey leading up to this role?
Autumn Reed: Thank you! I am thrilled to be joining such a respected district. I’ve spent the bulk of my career in school finance, most recently serving as the Treasurer for Avon Lake City Schools since 2012. I actually started there as the Assistant Treasurer for eight years before being promoted.
My roots are in Nova, Ohio, where I began my career in the Finance Department of my hometown district, Mapleton Local. Since then, I’ve held roles as Assistant Treasurer for Avon Local and have stayed deeply involved in the state’s professional community, serving as President of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials’ (OASBO) Northeast Chapter.
Q: School finance can be complex. What is your approach to managing a district’s "checkbook"?
Reed: My career has been defined by two things: transparency and relationship-building. It isn’t just about balancing the numbers; it’s about making sure the community understands how and why those numbers work the way they do.
I’ve been fortunate to receive awards for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Ohio Auditor of State and the Government Finance Officers Association, but the real reward is knowing the community trusts that their tax dollars are being managed with integrity. I want to bring that same commitment to transparency to Bay Village.
Q: Board President Debbie Callihan mentioned your ability to translate "financial uncertainty" into "layperson’s terms." Why is that communication so important right now?
Reed: Public school districts are currently navigating a very fluid financial landscape at both the local and state levels. Whether it's changes in state funding formulas or shifting economic forecasts, it can be overwhelming for residents.
My goal is to monitor these trends and implement strategies that keep the district on solid footing. However, those strategies only work if our stakeholders understand them. I believe in taking the
complex jargon of school finance and making it accessible so that everyone--from parents to retirees--feels informed about the district’s health.
Q: What drew you specifically to Bay Village City Schools?
Reed: Bay Village has a reputation for excellence and a very tightknit, supportive community. I’ve seen the talent within the staff and the dedication of the families here. I’m eager to work alongside the Board, Superintenent Prebles and the administration to support the students. For me, the Treasurer’s office isn't just an administrative hub; it's a foundation that allows our teachers and students to thrive.
Q: When you aren’t monitoring budgets and forecasting, how do you spend your time?
Reed: I live in Avon Lake with my partner, Kevin, and my two sons who are in high school. Most of my down time is spent at the sidelines since my boys, Slade and Drake, are very active in football and lacrosse! We also have a very large extended family, so spending time with everyone and enjoying those family connections is a huge part of my life.
Q: What can the community expect during this transition period?
Reed: I officially started on April 20. I’m very grateful to Emily Cundiff, who did a wonderful job as Interim Treasurer. She has assisted through the transition to ensure everything remains seamless. And the Finance Team of Judi Hansen, Beth Gergye and Susan Lapolla is amazing. They are all rock stars, and I am so impressed with their knowledge and work ethic. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and meeting as many community members as possible this spring and summer!
Treasurer Autumn Reed and Superintendent Scot Prebles
BHS Named to 2025 AP Honor Roll,
Achieves ‘Gold’ Status
Bay High School has been named to the 2025 AP School Honor Roll as a Gold member. More than 77% of Bay High School seniors took at least one AP Exam during high school, and 64% of these senior students scored a three or higher on at least one AP Exam. Additionally, 32% of Bay High School seniors took five or more AP Exams during their high school career. In the 2024-25 school year, Bay High School offered 15 AP courses, with 13 teachers teaching these AP classes. “This is a fantastic achievement for our district and for Bay High School,” said Superintendent Scot Prebles. “Being named to the AP School Honor Roll isn’t just about high test scores; it’s a reflection of broad access and student success--two things every superintendent wants to champion.
BHS Students Break $1M Mark for Blood Cancer United
Bay High School students recently achieved a historic milestone in the fight against blood cancer. Participating in the “Student Visionaries of the Year” campaign for Blood Cancer United, the student-led team of “It Takes A Village” raised a staggering $245,747 in just seven weeks.
BHS has 18 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Winners
Bay High School is proud to announce that 18 students received 34 awards in the 2026 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Of these recognitions, nine were Gold Key awards, 11 were Silver Key awards and 14 were Honorable Mentions. The Gold Key award is the highest honor of distinction in this competition, and these works move on to the National level of the competition.
Congratulations to the following students who earned Gold Keys: Melia French, painting; Martin Hausler, painting; Sophia DiCicco, ceramics; Rhea Klinger, photography; Cameryn Williams, poetry; Ariah Baum, poetry; and Annalise Crites, poetry.
Note: Sophia DiCicco was also recognized by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) for her sculpture "For My Daughter's Wedding.” The jury displayed this piece for the K-12 National Ceramic Exhibition, with only 100 entries chosen.
Led by seniors Molly Keane, Meredith Weiden and Shelby Gillette, the group shattered the initial $150,000 goal. This achievement pushed Bay High School’s total contribution to over $1 million since they began participating in the initiative in 2017. Creative community fundraisers fueled their success, most notably the “Shave It to Save It” event, which saw 15 students and Principal Jason Martin shave their heads and beards to drive donations.
The school’s effort was part of a larger regional movement involving 39 districts that collectively raised nearly $2 million this past winter. These funds support research and patient advocacy, proving that dedicated young leaders can mobilize an entire community to make a life-changing impact.
Celebrating State-qualifying Athletes
Swimming
Six Bay High School swimmers competed in seven events at the OHSAA State Swim Meet February 26-27, 2026 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. We congratulate the following athletes:
200 Medley Relay: Luke Filiatraut, Ilias Ghaffari, Ollie Brown, John Allan (13th in State)
200 Freestyle: Luke Filiatraut (3rd in State; All-Ohio honors; new BHS record)
200 Individual Medley: Ollie Brown (17th in State)
100 Butterfly: Luke Filiatraut (5th in State)
100 Freestyle: Ruby Render (29th in State)
100 Breaststroke: Ollie Brown (24th in State)
400 Freestyle Relay: Luke Filiatraut, Ilias Ghaffari, Sam Farrar, Ollie Brown (19th in State)
Gymnastics
Congratulations to Paige Kerber for qualifying for the OHSAA State Gymnastics Championships March 7-8, 2026 at Hilliard Bradley High School. Paige placed 7th in the State on bars, 25th in the state for floor exercise and made the All-State team.
Sophia DiCicco
Melia French
Martin Hausler
Rhea Klinger
BMS Student Meets with Congress to Advocate for Tourette Syndrome
Bay Middle School fifth-grader Noah Cronin was one of 116 young people selected nationwide to attend the Tourette Association of America’s (TAA) Ambassador training in Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers and advocate for greater support for people living with Tourette Syndrome and other Tic Disorders.”I want to help teach people more about Tourette Syndrome so they can understand what it’s like and how hard it can be,” said Noah. “I hope that sharing my story with members of Congress can help to get the support and resources people with TS need.”
Two Destination Imagination Teams Qualify for Global Finals Competition
Ten of the district’s 13 Destination Imagination (DI) teams qualified for State competition, and of those 10, two received bids to Global Finals, Destination Imagination’s national culminating competition taking place in Kansas City, Missouri this month. Westerly School’s fourth-grade team, the Tiny Exploding Kiwis (above left), took 3rd place in the Elementary Technical Challenge category, and Bay Middle School’s sixth-grade team, Drama Squad (above right), won 1st in the Middle Level Fine Arts category. Congratulations to all the teams and to DI Moderator Leigh Ann Spratt for a great season.
Westerly Elementary Students Explore: From Passports to Space Technology
Westerly fourth-graders researched content for their Spanish-speaking country slide decks. Ms. Harris and Sr. Carpenter combined Technology and Spanish skills for this project. Students also recorded themselves speaking in Spanish for their presentations. Third-grade classes connected with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student Ty Hollis, studying aerospace engineering in NYC. They learned what it’s like to study space technology, and the path needed to become an engineer. This was a great complement to their English Language Arts (ELA) space unit.
The Bay Middle School Power of the Pen teams had a great showing at the recent Regional competition, with the seventhgrade team (above) winning first place out of 30 teams and nearly 100 writers in attendance. Both seventh- and eighth-grade teams also had highlighted wins, including Best of Rounds awards and the prestigious Director’s Choice award. Next up is the State competition later this month.
Normandy’s ‘One School One Book’ Celebrates 13Years of its Book Club
Normandy celebrated the 13th anniversary of One School One Book (OSOB) by reading Big Foot and Little Foot by Ellen Potter, who visited Normandy in person. About 500 students and adults participated in the school-wide book club. Events included an all-school assembly; a special OSOB Night with 300 students and parents in attendance; and a fun night out at Village Rose Deli. This program is made possible thanks to many volunteers, including Normandy PTA, parents, staff and local merchants.
Glenview Celebrates Early Literacy
The Glenview Center recognized early literacy throughout the month of March, kicking off its monthlong celebration with Read Across America Week. The Glenview team had many fun and unique ways to celebrate reading, including favorite book week, author studies, creating class books and a spirit week to go along with themed-reading days. Glenview wrapped up the month with a Book Fair fundraiser to bring the joy of books home.
On April 30, staff and stakeholders of the Bay Village Schools community came together for the Facilities for the Future “Grand Reveal” ceremony at Bay High School to share final renderings of the improvements at four school buildings, and a ceremonial moving of dirt to symbolize the subsequent next two years of construction.
This event comes nearly one year after the community demonstrated remarkable unity by approving a no-increase
property tax levy dedicated to these permanent improvements, a decision that ensures students have access to safe, secure and modern facilities for the next 30 years or more.
Throughout the month of May, these final renderings are available for the public to view inside Glenview, Normandy, Westerly and Bay High schools. Please take a moment to see what your support is building for current district students and those yet to come.
*Glenview Final Walk-through is Wednesday, May 20 from 6-7:30 p.m.; open to the public.
•Normandy Main Entrance:
Beginning June 5; estimated five-month project
•Bay High Event Center Entrance:
Beginning June 5; estimated five-month project
•Glenview Main Entrance:
Beginning June 5; estimated 24-month project
•Bay High Main Entrance:
Beginning winter 2026; estimated five-month project
•Bay High Library:
Beginning June 2027; estimated three-month project
•Bay High Counseling & Career Offices:
Beginning June 2027; estimated tthree-month project
•Westerly Main Entrance:
Beginning June 2027; estimated five-month project
*Pending Planning Commission & Architectural Review Board approvals
Following a traffic study last fall by Toole Design Group, Bay Village Schools and the City of Bay Village are updating the Safe Routes to School Travel Plan. The school district will install and fund a new highvisibility crosswalk in the Bay Middle School Wolf Road exit parking lot during the summer of 2026 to significantly reduce the instances that students cross entrances and exits. Concurrently, the city applied for nearly $1 million in state grant funding to enhance student safety, which includes a proposal to add new bike racks near the upcoming crosswalk to help student cyclists avoid busy school driveways (contingent upon final grant approval). This partnership demonstrates an ongoing commitment to creating a safer, more accessible environment for every student.
SCAN TO STAY UPDATED ON THE FACILITIES FOR THE FUTURE PLAN
Bay High School, Main Entrance
Bay High School, Event Entrance
Westerly Elementary, Wolf Road
Glenview Center, Beach Lane
Normandy Elementary, Normandy Road
Glenview Center, Wolf Road
A Picture of the District’s Expenses, by
By Emily Cundiff, Interim Treasurer
THE NUMBERS
Personnel: Salaries, Wages, Benefits
84% Personnel
As in most public schools, the majority of Bay Village Schools’ budget, 84%, is dedicated to salaries and benefits. This reflects our core mission: Education is a people-driven endeavor. Our teachers, support staff and administrators are the foundation of our learning community. Their expertise, care and commitment are what drive student success. This level of investment in personnel is consistent with districts across Ohio.
9% Purchased Services
The second-largest budget category is Purchased Services, making up 9% of total expenditures. These are services the district does not or cannot provide in-house. This includes tuition for students attending West Shore CareerTechnical programs, offsite special education facilities and College Credit Plus courses.
Also included are expenses for substitute teachers, legal and consulting services, maintenance contracts and specialized student services like physical therapy and occupational therapy. Utilities, internet and phone service, and staff training and travel are also accounted for here.
Actual 2024-25 District Operating Expenses
Personnel: Salaries, Wages, Benefits Purchased
34,620,309 3,846,147 1,905,757 694,083 $41,066,296
5% Supplies and Materials
Classroom resources, educational software, Chromebooks, instructional materials, and custodial and maintenance supplies fall under the Supplies and Materials category, which accounts for 5% of the budget. These are the tangible tools that support daily teaching, learning and operations.
2% Other
This category includes facility maintenance and improvements, equipment purchases, auditor and banking fees, certain debt payments and transfers to the capital projects fund. This year, the district has continued its commitment to long-term building upkeep by setting aside funds for future capital improvements. These transfers are part of a responsible savings plan to avoid unexpected costs or disruptions in facility operations.
In Summary
When looking across all categories, more than 72% of the district’s spending is invested directly in students--a figure that exceeds the state average. This demonstrates the district’s strong commitment to classroom instruction, learning environments and student support services.
Auditor of State Keith Faber announced that Bay Village City School District received the Auditor of State Award for its clean audit reports for the fiscal year ended 2025. Less than 10% of government entities in the state receive this award. Bay Village Schools has received the Ohio Auditor of State Award 11 of the last 12 years.
“I am honored to have served a district that so clearly prioritizes financial integrity, and this Auditor of State Award is a well-deserved recognition of the team's hard work prior to my arrival,” said Interim Treasurer Emily Cundiff. “It has been a privilege to support a finance department and leadership team so
deeply committed to transparency and the responsible stewardship of our community’s resources.”
The Bay Village Schools Financial Team consists of: Emily Cundiff, Interim Treasurer; Judi Hansen, Accounts Payable & Health Benefits; Beth Gergye, Accounts Receivable & Payroll; and Susan Lapolla, Payroll.
Note: This award also includes the work of former Treasurer Meghan Rohde, who left the district in January. Emily Cundiff served as Interim Treasurer during the transition, and Autumn Reed joined the district last month.
Bay Village City School District
377 Dover Center Road
Bay Village, OH 44140
Board of Education
Debbie Callihan, President
James Goodman, Vice President
Kevin Ballantine
Amy Huntley
Dr. Andrey Stojic
District Office
Scot T. Prebles, Superintendent Autumn Reed, Treasurer
Three BHS Students Invited to OMEA State Conference
Congratulations to Bay High School Seniors Devon Gerig and Keller Shea, who were asked to participate in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) All State Band and Jazz Ensemble, respectively. Devon was one of only four tuba players in the state, and Keller Shea was one of only two tenor sax players. Sophomore Iris Hunt was asked to participate in the OMEA conference, singing in the AllState Choir. This annual conference took place in Columbus.
Month of the Military Child
During April’s Month of the Military Child, the district recognized its 72 military-connected students and their 42 families. This month-long celebration honored these students and their families for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome. Activities included a Purple Up Day, social media posts, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with militaryconnected families and dedicating the POW/MIA Honor Chair at Bay Memorial Stadium.
‘Anything Goes’ was a ‘De-Lovely’ Production
Congratulations to the cast, crew, pit orchestra and directors for the spring musical Anything Goes. With more than 100 students involved, months of rehearsals and an incredible set, this "de-lovely" production wowed audiences during its four-day run. Theater-goers were especially impressed to see so many students tap dancing on stage, and they also enjoyed the cameo appearances by several well-known administrators.
www.bayk12.org
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