Documenters: Crestwood Board of Education meeting for Oct. 14, 2025

The Crestwood Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2025. The meeting took place at the Crestwood Schools Central Office. In attendance were Board of Education President Kristen Cavanaugh, Vice President Eric Hummel, Board Member Dan Tillett, Board Member Bonnie Lovejoy and Board Member Todd Monroe. Also attending were Superintendent Aireane Curtis and Treasurer Katie Hoffmeister.

The meeting was called to order with a call of the roll, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion was then made to approve the night’s agenda. It passed unanimously.

Curtis then offered the superintendent’s report, which led off with a warning about an expected slate of votes on property taxes in the Ohio statehouse, which would upend school funding. 

“The state is still not fulfilling their part,” she said. 

To illustrate this point, she said that in 1991, 47% of the cost of school funding came from homeowners and farmers. In 2023, that number jumped to 70%. To help illustrate her concerns to the public, she showed a prototype brochure, which showcased many recent achievements within the district, as well as illustrations that showcased concerns around potential changes in funding from the state.

“It’s scary what some of our lawmakers are throwing around,” she said before urging everyone to continue to put pressure on lawmakers regarding changes to property taxes. “People also need to realize that this doesn’t impact only us here at schools, but we’re also talking road levies that have been approved for the state. This also includes our developmental disabilities board. This includes libraries, this includes police, fire, EMS, so we’re not just talking about schools that are going to be impacted.”

Curtis then reminded the board that there is a professional development day on Oct. 24.

She added that the renovation of the school library is nearing completion. As a reminder, Curtis shared that the space was being repainted, getting new furniture and undergoing renovations to improve its use as a flexible space. She is currently working on dates for an open house.

Hoffmeister next presented the treasurer’s report. The district ended September with a general fund balance of $12.9 million. The month also closed with a small fund balance of $1,700.63, which was left over from a USDA grant for the purchase and installation of smartboards. Once the federal government reopens, the grant will be officially closed out and that remaining balance will be shifted to the general fund. 

With the current budget update completed, Hoffmeister offered a look at the financial forecast. She said that there are several major factors affecting the forecasted budget numbers. First is that health care costs rose 19% this year and the expectation is that next year will also see an increase. In the spring of 2027, the district will need to undergo a negotiation period with the union. And a classroom facilities fund that was created to build the intermediate and primary school has $674,000 remaining in it but has not collected any new funds since December 2024. That money will be spent and the fund closed. She then spoke at length about overrides in the Ohio statehouse of vetoes to property tax legislation. If no changes are made, the district expects to have a deficit of $817,000 in 2028. 

“The state is not keeping up their end of the bargain,” she said.

The forecast also accounts for the elimination, based on state legislation, of the emergency 1.4-mill levy, which can not be directly replaced because of that same legislation. 

“This forecast does not project any new levies because the board would need to discuss first what is in the best interest of the district,” she said.

A motion was made next to take up the meeting’s consent agenda. This was seconded and the consent agenda items were approved without discussion or comment. They included the Sept. 9 meeting minutes, September’s financial statements, the previously discussed financial forecast, the acceptance of the resignation of the middle school football coach, transportation agreements, contracts with ESCWR and SPARCC, the approval of supplemental positions and substitutes and a request for FMLA leave.

The board then took up the contracts for Lisa Davis (bus driver) and Cynthia Snyder (aide), which were extended by unanimous consent. Donations for furniture for the library, Champions Day and a bicycle were all also unanimously approved.

The board approved the second reading to rescind a policy regarding drug and alcohol testing at non-academic activities. Several band volunteers and classroom trips were approved without comment.

Several employees had requested various days of unpaid leave and the board approved each one individually. They also approved several planned fundraising efforts for the high school yearbook.

Theodore Georger was approved by the board to take the position of middle school wrestling and football coach, although Tillet abstained during the vote.

A discussion was held over the potential discontinuation of livestreaming board meetings. Curtis expressed concerns that “hackers” were using videos in other districts to manipulate the voices of the superintendent and the treasurer. When the vote came, Tillet voted no with all other members voting yes. Livestreams will be discontinued in January, but the board will discuss the matter again in April to consider any public feedback from the decision.

The final items in this section of the agenda were the creation of a fund for curriculum. This was approved, although no money was initially transferred to it. Money was approved to be transferred to two other funds, one for capital improvements and one for transportation upgrades.

The district’s principals then offered updates on their respective schools. Primary School Principal Cindy Ducca shared a program that pairs 3rd grade student council members with preschoolers to get them safely on and off their buses. She also said that the book vending machine has been “an amazing success” with 152 books given away since Oct. 1.

Intermediate School Principal Hillary Geiger reported that there have been 266 positive office referrals since the start of the school year. She also congratulated students of the month Layla McGowan and Dylan Hunter. The final part of her report was a comment on the state school report cards, which saw the school’s rating improve a full star.

The report from the high school was about the positive reception to Champion’s Day, which saw students from 10 districts convene for a number of events and celebrations.

During the athletics report, Serena Wright was congratulated for her win at the sectional tennis tournament and it was announced that Coach Wanda Hoffman would be retiring next year after 35 years on the sidelines. There was no further news on the girls cross country team. They had recently been named CVC champs but a question regarding timing arose. They are awaiting results of a conference meeting to see if they will be able to retain their title.

This was followed by committee reports. Most committees only reported that they had nothing to report. Hummel did tell the board that the Permanent Improvement Committee did meet and “the projection is grim, because a lot of money is needed.” They will continue to discuss options, but stated that a levy may be needed.

At 8:28 p.m. the board moved into two back-to-back executive sessions.