Documenters: Ravenna Board of Education meeting for Nov. 24, 2025

Ravenna Board of Education meeting
Ravenna High School
Nov. 24, 2025

The Ravenna Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2025, in the auditorium of Ravenna High School.

In attendance were President Patricia Dennison, Vice President Joan Seman and council members Pamela Calhoun, LaTesha Dukes and Mike Wisniewski. Also attending were Superintendent Ben Ribelin and Treasurer Kristen Plageman.

At 5:30 p.m., Patricia Dennison called the meeting to order and a roll call was taken. She next invited those in attendance to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence.

Patricia Dennison asked the board if there were any corrections to the meeting agenda. With none offered, the agenda was approved and the meeting continued. 

No members of the public wished to make a comment, which meant the next item of business was the Treasurer’s Update. Plageman provided context on four bills that recently passed in the Ohio Statehouse. HB 129 is not applicable to the district, while HB 186 is, as it would set a new inflation credit cap at 9% for property taxes. HB 309, which deals with what financial surplus percentages can be carried over from year to year, would be applicable if the district had higher surplus numbers. Plageman said HB 335 would set a cap for inside millage growth at 9%.

Next, Ribelin offered the Superintendent’s Update. He noted that the past weekend, 122 high school students came together for an academic awards ceremony. Ribelin commented that it was the largest gathering he’s seen for that annual ceremony in quite some time.

Ribelin also said that in January, all of the schools would be visited by Illustrative Math specialists to see how the math curriculum is being taught and received and offer suggestions for greater success.

The board then took up and approved the minutes of the Oct. 27 business meeting, a donation from HomeTown Ticketing, financial reports and Then and Now payments. Plageman next offered a positive financial forecast adjustment: revenue is trending upward by $462,000 and expenses are trending down by almost $1 million.

Plageman asked the board to consider a resolution that would put a renewal tax of 10 mill on the May 5, 2026, ballot in support of Reed Memorial Library. She explained that Reed is classified as a school library, and so the board must approve this request. 

“This does not affect the schools,” Plageman said. “We are just a pass-through.” 

The board approved the resolution unanimously.

Ribelin next asked the board to approve several resolutions. First was for the closure at the end of the school year of West Main Elementary School. Ribelin said this request was made “to adjust for budget shortfalls and enrollment patterns.” The request was unanimously approved.

The board also approved, without comment, a resolution for the sale of the former Tappan Elementary School building.

An approval was also given to the revision of two district policies. One involved drug and alcohol testing for van drivers and another regarded the purchasing and bidding process. 

Ribelin also asked the board for approval, which they granted, for revised payment rates for athletic workers for the playoffs. 

Unanimous approval was also provided for entering into a service agreement with Southeast Local Schools for the services of an ELL tutor, the establishment of an Indoor Track and Field Club at the high school, and the purchase of a new van for the transportation of special education students.

A number of personnel matters were also put before the board. All members approved, without comment, stipends of $30/hour for certified staff members who work an extended day, providing for a translator at the high school, the hiring of new afterschool tutors, the hiring of a home instruction tutor and an unpaid leave of absence request.

Ribelin asked the board to approve a stipend for extended work day duties to Lauren Calhoun. Patricia Dennison, Joan Seman, Dukes and Wisniewski approved the request, while Pamela Calhoun abstained from the vote.

Ribelin also asked the board to approve a stipend for extended work day duties to Andre Dennison and Cary Dennison. Pamela Calhoun, Joan Seman, Dukes and Wisniewski approved the request, while Patricia Dennison abstained from the vote.

There was also a request for the board to approve a stipend for extended work day duties to Amy Seman. Pamela Calhoun, Patricia Dennison, Dukes and Wisniewski approved the request, while Joan Seman abstained from the vote.

The board also accepted the resignation of high school cheerleader advisor Donald Stoll and the hiring of Kami Arus as the new head cheer advisor.

Unanimous approval was also granted to a number of volunteers and substitutes, as well as to the resignation of West Main Elementary aides.

The final announcements were for upcoming events. There will be conferences on Dec. 1, and the next board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Dec.15 at the high school. Following these announcements, the meeting was adjourned.