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Volume 55, No. 25
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967 West G Inks Agreement With Teachers Union By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Superintendent Richard Markwardt expressed gratitude April 22 after West Geauga Schools Board of Education approved an agreement with the West Geauga Education Association. The terms of Markwardt the contract are expected to begin July 1, 2024, and end June 30, 2027, according to the agreement. “I am grateful that the board and the teachers’ union were able to come to such a speedy agreement,” Markwardt said, adding the agreement between the teachers’ union and the school board was a rollover of the existing contract with minor language housekeeping edits. “We did not actually commence full negotiations,” he said. “The board and the teachers' union have had a strong positive relationship for the last several years and I think that history of cooperation is what made the rollover possible without reopening the contract.” The base salary for teachers will increase by 3.2% during the 2024-2025 school year, 3.3% during the 2025-2026 school year and 3.5% during the 2026-2027 school year, according to the agreement. Markwardt said the annual raises for the next three years are healthy ones that reflect the effort and success of teachers in raising the bar on instruction. “They are deserved raises,” Markwardt said. He acknowledged not knowing of any other Ohio school district that has matched the academic gains of West Geauga in recent years. “The board and administrators are appreciative of our teachers' work,” he said. In other business, school board See Union• Page 3
Basista Family Celebrates 50 Years at West G Plaza By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Tom Basista finds it hard to believe how quickly the 50 years his family’s owned West Geauga Plaza in Chester Township have flown by. After looking through photographs collected over the years and recalling changes made to buildings, signs and people, Basista recently reminisced about past tenants who have come and gone. “The times have changed a lot, which brings on new challenges and customers who I think are more demanding,” Basista said in an interview May 2. “I am grateful that we have been able to weather the storms over these 50 years. This is definitely not a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday job.” See Plaza • Page 9
Town Crier page 2
Obituaries page 4
Police Update page 11
Classifieds start on page 11
Community Meetings SUBMITTED
An honored West Geauga Plaza owner Tom Basista, left, proudly stands with his brother, Ron Basista, right, after receiving a proclamation from former Ohio Sen. John Eklund for the Chesterland Chamber of Commerce Business Persons of the Year Award in 1995.
Listed are public meetings and executive sessions for the month of May, unless otherwise noted. These meeting notices are NOT legal notices. Chester Township: May 13, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; May 15, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; May 16, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees; May 30, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.
SUBMITTED
Pamela Pastoric, the daughter of Ghost Army member Marion “Pat” Pastoric, of Chester Township, poses with replicas of the Congressional Medal at the recognition ceremony in Washington D.C March 21.
Daughter of Ghost Army Soldier To Speak Memorial Day By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Chester Township’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 27 will be a little extra special this year as Pamela Pastoric shares the story that earned her late father a Con-
gressional Gold Medal. In an interview April 10, Pastoric expressed a desire to share her father’s medal with others during the service at Chester Township Cemetery. “There are so many stories from every branch of the military,
and just today, all the Rosie the Riveters were recognized, as well, with a Congressional Gold Medal at the capital,” Pastoric said. “Everyone did their part at that time and many younger people do not See Memorial• Page 3
Russell Township: May 15, 4 p.m., Citizens’ Park District; May 16, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; May 22, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at Russell Town Hall, 14890 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted. West Geauga BOE: May 20, 7 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings are held at the BOE Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road, unless otherwise noted.
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