They came, they listened, they smiled.
For a first date, parents from Berkshire and Ledgemont school districts seemed to hit it off Tuesday evening.
The public forum at Kent State University Geauga campus was hosted by the Berkshire Schools Board of Education to discuss the proposed transfer of territory from Ledgemont Schools to Berkshire Schools.
The overall air of a possible positive outcome for beleaguered Ledgemont seemed to infect folks from both districts as they chatted and wondered how everything might work out.
Berkshire Treasurer Beth McCaffrey laid out the financial picture for the audience of about 75, explaining residents of Thompson and Montville townships pay similar tax rates to those in the Berkshire district, so if Ledgemont becomes part of Berkshire, residents won’t see much change in their taxes.
Ledgemont fell into fiscal emergency with the state after its income tax expired in 2008, said Berkshire school board President James Koster.
By the time voters approved the current 1.25-mill income tax in May 2010, the district had become indebted to the state, he said. Currently, Ledgemont owes about $1.9 million.
If the transfer takes place before the end of June, the debt will be forgiven, per legislation supported by State Rep. John Patterson passed expressly to deal with the issue, Koster said. Patterson was at Tuesday’s meeting.
McCaffery said she combined both districts’ forecasts recently. The legislation guarantees about $2 million in foundation money that Ledgemont would receive over the next three years will follow it to Berkshire, she said, regardless of how many students are transferred to Berkshire.
Annual property tax revenue from Thompson and Montville townships of about $112,000 would be used to keep the elementary school on Burrows Road open for grades pre-school to six, McCaffrey said.
The transfer would eliminate the pay-to-participate fees Berkshire now charges for sports and other extracurricular activities, she said, adding if the deal goes through, the 0.25-mill earned income tax increase on the Berkshire district ballot would become unnecessary.
Some retirements are anticipated, she said, adding some positions will become unnecessary because of duplication, McCaffrey said, adding Ledgemont has really tightened its belt and the elementary school will still need teachers and staff.
“Ledgemont has really cut out the fat. We commend you for doing that,” Koster said.
About 184 Ledgemont students would transfer to Berkshire, said Berkshire Superintendent Doug DeLong, including 35 seniors.
He listed many of the courses students would be able to take including some advanced placement courses.
Berkshire also has programs that will enable students to take college-level classes free up to three years, a grant for 300 free iPads for the school and plans to upgrade the district’s wireless system so electronic devices will work quickly and seamlessly, he said.
By combining the student populations, Berkshire would be able to offer more classes, save on vocational school costs and absorb open enrollment students who might want to come back, DeLong said.
“The better product we offer, the more kids we will keep here,” said Berkshire school board member John Manfredi.
Details would need to be worked out for busing and Berkshire’s Thursday afternoon teacher team meetings to include elementary school teachers from Ledgemont, DeLong said, adding the elementary school students could still be called Ledgemont Redskins.
Susan Anderson, an attorney who represents both districts, said once both boards agree to the transfer, the Geauga County Educational Service Center would pass the initial resolution to initiate the transfer.
There is a 30-day wait during which the public has the opportunity to get more than 800 voter signatures on a petition for a referendum. If there is not a qualified petition, the ESC passes a resolution to make the transfer effective, then the Berkshire board passes a resolution to accept the transfer.
If the process is held up and there is no transfer by June 30, 2015, the debt will not be forgiven under the current legislation, Anderson said.
KSU-Geauga Interim Dean Jarrod Tudor said the transfer would not affect projected plans to combine Ledgemont, Berkshire, Newbury and Cardinal districts into one school district with a high school at the KSU campus.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to become a community center. It would be fantastic if the transfer of territory takes place,” he said.
After a short intermission during which the audience mingled and talked, DeLong answered questions people had written on index cards,
Asked if some of the classes Berkshire had cancelled could be brought back with the influx of new students, DeLong said it will depend on if students sign up for family consumer science or a second foreign language.
“Right now we only offer Spanish. Enrollment numbers are vital,” he said. “Sign language is popular.”
DeLong also said he would encourage both parent-teacher organizations to arrange events during the summer so Ledgemont and Berkshire students could get to know each other better if the transfer looks likely.
One resident asked what would happen to the Ledgemont board and superintendent. Koster said Berkshire will be the only board of education and three seats on the board are up in November. If the transfer occurs, candidates could come from anyone living in the Berkshire district.
Ledgemont Superintendent Julie Ramos has a contract with the ESC and would go back there, he said.
Ledgemont’s athletic fields would continue to be used for middle school and junior high sports and community events, Koster said, and McCafferty said the proposed budget would include maintenance of the facilities.
“We have to make some decisions. We have to continue to talk,” said Ledgemont school board member Rick Loveland.
Berkshire board members said they will meet on the matter at 7 p.m. Mondayand Ledgemont board members said they will meet the same day at 6:30 p.m. on the proposed transfer.