Board heard Osborne Engineering’s comparison of two design‑build proposals for a new water treatment plant and maintenance garage: Cold Harbor/RE Warner (fewer exclusions, higher confidence) and Higley (lower initial price, more exclusions). Board authorized Osborne design criteria and bid advertising ahead of a February vote.
District staff presented a prioritized list of summer capital projects (roof repairs, track replacement options, Lindsay boilers/water filtration, buses/vans, teacher devices and classroom furniture). The board authorized bid advertising for water projects and asked staff to bring detailed line items back for individual approvals.
Board approved appointment of a treasurer pro tempore for the special meeting and voted to retain Osborne for design criteria on the Lindsay boiler/water filtration package and to advertise/receive bids for summer projects; roll call votes were recorded as shown.
Students from Lindsay Elementary presented to the board for Board Appreciation Month, the Noetic Math contest winners were recognized, and the West Geauga Bees club reported educational progress and that their first honey run produced 44 4-ounce jars.
District treasurer presented an alternate tax budget showing a modest valuation uptick but projected revenue losses from state tax changes; the board adopted the 2026–27 alternate tax budget and was warned the general fund could deplete before 2029 without levy renewals or replacements.
Board elected a president and vice president for 2026, appointed liaisons and delegates to OSBA events, approved routine organizational resolutions (meeting dates, service fund, memberships, insurance broker) and accepted a joint-recreation resignation; the board tabled a borrowing authorization for further clarification.
A township trustee sought school support for America250 summer celebrations and a resident urged reconsideration of the eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C., and replacement of a dilapidated sign at the high school; the board acknowledged and said it would gather more information.
The board discussed reducing open enrollment as numbers decline, noted changes under the Fair School Funding plan, debated outreach after a failed levy, and approved a consultant-led instructional platform partially offset by an Ed Foundation grant.
Kindergarten through second-grade students from Westwood Elementary presented classroom literacy work to the West Geauga Local Board, while staff announced the preschool earned a Gold Step Up to Quality rating; the board and community praised student achievements.
The West Geauga Local Board approved a string of routine resolutions including warrants, donations, personnel appointments and retirements, service agreements, and purchases of buses and vans; most motions passed by roll call with affirmative votes.
