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Board approves routine finances, accepts bus safety grant and extends treasurer contract
Summary
Canton Local accepted a $27,659 bus safety grant, approved routine January financial exhibits and personnel items, reviewed an updated forecast with projected later-year deficits, and moved to extend the treasurer’s contract after an executive session.
At its Feb. 9 meeting the Canton Local Board of Education approved routine financial exhibits, accepted a bus safety grant and moved to extend the district treasurer’s contract.
The treasurer presented the January 2026 financial report and recommended payment of invoices and acceptance of exhibit TA2 (monthly financial report) and TA3 (gifts and donations). The treasurer also reported an updated cash reconciliation and investment listing and recommended approval of the exhibits as presented.
The board was asked to approve an appropriation modification after the district received a safety grant of $27,659 intended for bus safety upgrades, including adding flashing stop signs to buses. Administration also recommended the district participate in the Stark County bus bidding program for next school year to preserve the option to purchase buses if permanent improvement funds become available; participation does not obligate a purchase.
On the financial forecast, the treasurer told the board that recent state tax‑code changes are producing uncertainty in property‑tax revenue timing and amounts. The presenter said the district remains in a positive spending position for the current year but projects expenditures exceeding revenues by roughly $2 million in later years unless additional savings are found; staff are pursuing attrition and other measures to balance future budgets.
Personnel items were presented and approved, including the retirement of an elementary educational professional effective June 1, 2026, the resignation of an athletic director effective Aug. 26, 2026, and multiple hires and substitute assignments for the 2025–26 school year. The board also approved membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for 2026–27 and paperwork to host a leadership competition.
After an executive session to discuss public‑employee matters, the board moved to extend Treasurer Jason Chhatzel’s contract from Aug. 1, 2027, to July 31, 2030; the motion was seconded and proceeded without extended discussion in the public transcript. The transcript includes numbers adjacent to the contract motion that are unclear; the meeting record does not provide a definitive contract‑value figure in plain text.
Board members also discussed an introduced state bill (referred to in the meeting as "bill 671") that one speaker said would withhold state funding from districts contesting vouchers; the speaker asked the board to monitor developments in the legislature.
The meeting then returned to other business and moved toward adjournment.
