Willoughby-Eastlake City board approves FY26–27 appropriations, contracts and transfers; many items pass unanimously

The Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Board of Education approved a slate of fiscal and contract items at its July 13, 2026 meeting, including final appropriations for fiscal 2026, the district's permanent appropriations for fiscal 2027, and a one-year transportation services agreement to support routing and the upcoming bid process.

Treasurer Nick Charnello reviewed the finance items and explained procedural steps: the FY26 final appropriations will be sent to the county auditor and budget commission for sign-off, June appropriations were amended from permanent to temporary to avoid filing two permanent sets against a single certificate of estimated resources, and permanent appropriations for the new fiscal year were established after July 1. "Revenues came in at 101 percent of expected," Charnello said, adding that expenditures were about 95% of budget and that savings included negotiated transportation efficiencies.

The board approved a one-year agreement with Shared Services Alliance for transportation support; Charnello said the district expects the RFP and bid opening process to run in the January–February timeframe to allow staffing or vendor transitions before the next school year. Board members asked for a follow-up work session after the RFP process to review proposals and impacts.

Under consent and action items the board approved a consulting agreement with Defense Doctors LLC to provide residency and truancy investigation services, a settlement agreement with a district employee, a classified substitute pay schedule, non-bargaining and administrative salary schedules for 2026–27, an interdistrict services contract with the ESC of Northeast Ohio, and a package of MOUs and service agreements (including virtual ASL instruction, a school-based health clinic arrangement with Crossroads Health, therapy-hour addenda and an expanded YMCA before/after-school agreement tied to a dedicated bus route). The board also approved routine transfers (debt service and grant advances), establishment of change funds for athletics and school centers, and the student activity accounts for new clubs and classes.

All recorded motions on the agenda were carried unanimously where roll-call voting was recorded (meeting minutes note motions carried 5-0). The board concluded regular business and voted to adjourn into executive session at 6:36 p.m. to discuss appointment or employment of a public employee; no action was indicated to follow the executive session.

Votes at a glance (as recorded during the meeting): approve agenda — 5-0; approve minutes (June 8) — 5-0; approve 6a (FY26 final appropriations) — 5-0; approve 6b (amend June appropriations to temporary) — 5-0; approve 6c (FY27 permanent appropriations) — 5-0; approve 6d (Shared Services Alliance agreement) — 5-0; approve 6e (FY27 financial updates) — 5-0; approve 7a–7q (contracts/MOUs listed on the agenda) — 5-0; approve 10a (consent calendar) — 5-0; approve 11a (enter executive session) — 5-0.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the district Administration Building, 35353 Curtis Boulevard, Eastlake.