ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEETING - January 5th, 2026

The Willoughby Eastlake City School District (WESCHOOLS) held its organizational board meeting on January 5, 2026. The meeting included standard procedural items such as swearing in new board members, electing board officers for one-year terms, and establishing meeting dates. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the district's membership in the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) and the value of various training and advocacy resources, including the Educational Service Center (ESC) and other state-level organizations. The board voted to table the decision on continuing OSBA membership dues, citing the need for further evaluation of benefits and costs, with the OSBA membership costing $11,222 annually. Additionally, the board discussed the district's financial challenges related to emergency levies and property tax relief. Members expressed strong interest in exploring alternative funding models, including the possibility of pursuing an income tax initiative to replace emergency levies, aiming to stabilize district funding and provide meaningful tax relief to residents, especially seniors and those on fixed incomes. The board emphasized the importance of community engagement and education on these issues and planned to consider necessary resolutions for potential ballot initiatives in upcoming meetings.