Geneva school board hosts organizational meeting
Jan. 5—GENEVA — The Geneva Area City Schools hosted an organizational meeting on Wednesday night.
New board members Michele Krieg and Brock Pierson were sworn in at the start of the meeting.
For the election of president and vice president, Jamie Ortiz was initially nominated as president and Marti Milliken Dixon was nominated as vice president before the motion was amended to reverse the order, with Milliken Dixon president and Ortiz as vice president.
The board appointed Ortiz to the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus board for a three-year term.
Former board member Sally Fisher, who was not re-elected in November, previously served as the district's representative.
The board voted to continue membership in the Ohio School Boards Association.
Fiscal officer Kevin Lillie said the OSBA provides a significant amount of services to the district, including various informational items, discounts to training events, and help with transportation.
Milliken Dixon said she has spoken to OSBA regularly since being elected.
Pierson was appointed legislative liaison.
Board meetings will continue to take place on the third Wednesday of the month at the Geneva High School auditorium, with the exception of the April and June meetings, which will take place on April 24 and June 26. Meetings will start half an hour later than in previous years, at 7:30 p.m. instead of 7.
In other business:
—The district hosted a public hearing on the proposed budget for the coming year.
Lillie said the budget is a statutory requirement, and it kicks off the budgeting process for the coming year.
Board member Roger Wilt asked if the forecast reflects the defeat of the November levy.
Lillie said it is included in the budget, but if the levy is not renewed, it will not be reflected in future budgets.
Wilt also asked about insurance cost increases.
Lillie said the district participates in a consortium with other county school districts, but insurance costs have been increasing.
—The board conducted an executive session after the regular meeting.
