Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Chesterland News
West G Superintendent Urges Kindergarten Registration Now By Valerie S. Clause editor@karlovecmedia.com At the June 13 West Geauga Schools Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Richard Markwardt reported registration for kindergarten is very low right now, with only 88 students registered for the 2022-2023 school year so far. “That’s not a topic for rejoicing because we know we’re going to have many more than 88 students — I should say I assume we’ll have many more than 88 students by the time we get to August,” Markwardt said. Kindergarten registration started on Feb. 15. Incoming students must be 5 on or before Aug. 1 to be eligible to attend kindergarten. There are early admissions regulations on the district’s website for students with birthdays between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31. “We typically run around 120 in kindergarten,” Markwardt said. “I expect we will have similar enrollment this year, but parents are late registering because they have the ability to do so online rather than in-person on designated days.” Markwardt is asking parents to register their kindergarten children as soon as possible. “If parents have kindergarten students and they have not yet registered, then I would urge them to do so now because it really helps us with our staffing,” he said. Markwardt also reported while the last day of classes for the 2021-2022 school year has been completed, there is still much work that goes on in the schools before the 20222023 school year starts. “This begins the time period we have a lot of summer projects going on,” Markwardt said. “People aren’t aware of how much happens here in the summer.” He explained once people are out of the buildings, there is a lot of labor that goes into work on the facilities. He also said this is time where a lot of hiring decisions are made, due to the need to replace staff that have retired or resigned. “The district offices remain open,” Markwardt said. “We’re open throughout the summer, so I think sometimes people think that we shut down, as well, because a lot of people tell me, ‘Have a nice summer!’ And I do have a nice summer, but most of it is spent here.”
In other business, board members agreed not to reconsider their position regarding the former Newbury Schools property. The discussion was prompted by a letter from Newbury Township Trustees, which asked that “negotiations be recommenced.” “Last week, we received a letter signed by Bill Skomrock on behalf of the board of trustees for Newbury Township,” Leavenworth said. “It’s worth noting, that even though the letter came from the board of trustees, I do not believe Mr. Skomrock’s proposal has the unanimous support of the Newbury trustees. Regardless, the letter requested that we reconsider our previous action and instead vote on a new lease agreement that would contain provisions closer to what we originally proposed.” In an attempt to be more aligned with what the school board had proposed, the letter said “the (Newbury trustees) will withdraw all of its substantive revisions in the last draft except with respect to the mechanics of the board’s exercise of the purchase option … Specifically the language that states that if the (Newbury trustees) exercises the purchase option (as defined therein), the parties will negotiate the terms of a purchase agreement and, if such terms cannot be agreed upon, the purchase option will lapse.” The letter went on to explain the need for Newbury to protect its interests if, during a lease, they were to expend funds to repair the roof and then lose the right to purchase the property. To eliminate this loss, Newbury proposed “to attach a form purchase agreement to the lease, eliminating the need for negotiations when the purchase option is exercised.” Leavenworth reiterated she still supported the school board’s decision to end discussions with Newbury Township, however, she did ask board members for their input. “As you know, the board of education’s current position is to end discussion with the Newbury Township,” Leavenworth said. “I also do not believe that we should suspend our current plans and revisit the lease agreement with Newbury, however, if any of you had a change of heart and now want to reopen a discussion with Newbury, you will need to make a motion that will need to be seconded and a vote can be taken.” No board members chose to further the discussion or make a motion. The next school board meeting is June 27 at 7 p.m.
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