Details from the Vermilion Local School District Board of Education’s regular meeting, held on Monday, May 12, 2025, are now becoming more widely available, with the meeting’s video only recently uploaded to YouTube in mid-June, after another public meeting had already taken place. The May session convened at Vermilion High School Commons with all board members: President Shelly Innes, Vice President Mark Benson, Sarah Stepp, Krystal Russell, and Chris Habermehl were present, alongside Superintendent Dr. David Hile and Treasurer/CFO Justin Klingshirn.
The meeting began with the approval of minutes from a prior session. Treasurer Justin Klingshirn then presented the April 2025 financial report. This report indicated that the General Fund revenue for Fiscal Year 2025 totaled $26,540,996 through April. This figure represented an increase from previous fiscal years, attributed to property reappraisal and changes in Ohio law. The district’s total cash from all funds as of April 2025 stood at $23,611,507.41.
Following the current financial update, the May 2025 Five-Year Forecast was presented. This forecast projects a significant decline in the district’s cash balance, reaching a projected ending balance of $213,638 by the end of fiscal year 2029. The forecast also indicated that a substantial revenue increase or an equivalent reduction in expenditures would be necessary to balance the budget in FY2029.
In terms of operational agreements, the Board approved the META Master Service Agreement and its Schedules I & II for 2025-2026. This agreement covers information technology services, including core services at a cost of $35,600.00 and additional services totaling $7,968.00 (based on 1,600 students). An agreement with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio (ESCNEO) for specialized educational programs, with specified daily rates per pupil, was also approved.
A significant action taken by the Board was the adoption of a resolution to establish a Capital Projects Fund. This fund is intended for accumulating resources for the acquisition, construction, or improvement of fixed assets within the District. The resolution allows the Board to transfer up to a cumulative amount of $11,490,000.00 from the General Fund into this new fund. A key provision states that funds must be used for projects or returned to the original fund within ten years, specifically by May 12, 2035.
During the meeting, no members of the public participated in the allotted public participation time. All three principals from the district provided updates on various curriculum and program initiatives within their schools.
The Board also set dates for its upcoming regular meetings: Monday, June 9, July 14, and August 11, 2025, all to be held at Vermilion High School Commons.
Agenda and MinutesAbout the Author
