Watch the above video to learn more about the specific skills identified by the community as necessary for success after graduation, and included in the District's Graduate Profile below.
About Our District
For more information on the topic(s) listed below, please click the "+" sign to open.
- About Berkshire Local Schools
- About the Superintendent
- Superintendent's Message
- Archived Superintendent's Newsletter
- Local Community (Flyers/Information)
- Educational Foundation
About Berkshire Local Schools
About Our District
Berkshire Local School District serves more than 1400 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from the communities of Burton, Claridon, Montville, Thompson, and Troy. The district is located on approximately 30 acres behind the Kent State University - Geauga campus.
Berkshire High School offers students many course offerings. Classes available include honors level, Advanced Placement (AP), College Credit Plus (CCP), career technical education, art , music, and several elective options. Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in several clubs, activities, and athletic teams.
Notifications and Important Information
- Compliance Officers
- School Calendar
- School Closing Procedures
- Extended Learning Plan
- Employment Opportunities
- Graduate Profile
Compliance Officers
504 & Title IX Compliance Officers
John Stoddard, Superintendent
Dawn Fleming, Director of Pupil Services
Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance Officers
John Stoddard, Superintendent
Dawn Fleming, Director of Pupil Services
Anti-Harassment Compliance Officers
John Stoddard, Superintendent
Dawn Fleming, Director of Pupil Services
Homeless Liaison
Dawn Fleming, Director of Pupil Services
School Calendar
School Closing Procedures
Since we are now in the grip of winter, we want to share with you our procedures for school closings in the event of dangerous conditions.
The decision to call off school due to inclement weather begins at approximately 3:30 AM and includes analysis of the following information:
● Weather and radar reports
● Personal observation of road conditions
● Input from local law enforcement and road crews
● Input from district maintenance and snow removal personnel
● When necessary, school personnel drive the roads to determine the conditions
● Input and discussions with superintendents from neighboring districts
When all of this information is gathered, the Superintendent, Director of Facilities, and Transportation Supervisor jointly make the decision to close the schools or keep them open for students. Our objective is to make this decision no later than 5:45 AM as school buses are beginning to depart for their morning runs at that time. However, it may become necessary, in isolated cases, to make the decision after that time. Weather conditions can change abruptly, for better or for worse, but our intent is to determine that it is safe for students and staff to attend school as early as possible.
Safety is our highest priority and we strive to make the best possible decision with the information available at the time. Parents can always choose to have their children ride the school bus, or keep their children home if they truly feel there is a weather-related safety risk. Absences will be recorded as excused, with make-up work provided to the student if the Superintendent designates the day as a Severe Weather Day in the school district.
Please do not hesitate to contact the district if you require additional information in this regard.
Sincerely,
John Stoddard
Superintendent
Superintendent
Extended Learning Plan
The Berkshire Local Schools is dedicated to providing supplemental educational opportunities and resources for its students. Please utilize the links below to learn more about such opportunities. Thank you for your continued support of our school district.
Click to View the Berkshire Local Schools Extended Learning Plan
Click to View the Berkshire Local Schools Tiered Levels of Support
Employment Opportunities
Graduate Profile
About the Superintendent
John Stoddard
Superintendent
Berkshire Local Schools
John has been married for 24 years to Rena Stoddard, and they have three children; Max, Lucas, and Hayley. Mr. Stoddard has 24 years of experience as an educator. He started his teaching career as the lead instructor at the Drake Planetarium inside Norwood High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. After a year at Drake, John moved to Blanchester Junior High School and taught 8th grade Science for one year. Mr. Stoddard left Blanchester for a job closer to home with the Oak Hills Local School district, where he spent 17 years as a teacher and administrator. At Oak Hills, he served as a 7th grade Math and Science teacher, an assistant principal at the elementary and middle school levels, a curriculum coordinator, and a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. John’s last position with Oak Hills was as the Oak Hills High School principal. Mr. Stoddard left Oak Hills to take the role of Superintendent for Berkshire Local School District. Mr. Stoddard has served as the Superintendent for Berkshire over the past five years. Since joining Berkshire, he has helped to implement innovative instructional practices such as Project-Based Learning. The coordination of partnerships has led to the construction of the new PK-12 school campus that houses all Berkshire students. The new campus is being built at the Kent State University regional campus in Burton.
Superintendent's Message
John Stoddard
Superintendent
May 2023
Dear Berkshire Local Schools Community,
Our first full school year in the new preK-12 facility is rapidly winding down, and our school family couldn’t have asked for a more significant positive impact than the state-of-the-art, innovative, and expansive facility that we now call home. Simply put, it’s amazing. Throughout the year, you have seen how students, staff, and community have begun to utilize our first-rate new learning space with optimal results and outcomes. Our focus and dedication to project-based learning is fully realized in our new facility. Thank you all once again for your support of our school district.
A number of important dates and opportunities for members of the Berkshire school family are listed below. Please take note, mark your calendar, and see if you can attend!
The Berkshire Local Schools Class of 2023 will graduate on Sunday, May 21st at 2 p.m. during our annual commencement ceremony in the gymnasium. On behalf of the Board of Education and our staff, we congratulate the Class of 2023 and wish them well in their future endeavors. The last day of school for students will be Tuesday, May 23rd, and we thank everyone for another successful school year.
On Thursday, May 18th, Kent State Geauga will host an open house to showcase their latest round of renovations and upgrades at 14111 Claridon-Troy Road. Please come and see the state-of-the-art Nursing Lab, Student Commons, and Flash Bistro. The event will kickoff with a 4 p.m. presentation, and reception with light refreshments to follow, along with tours of the renovations. Registration for attendance is strongly encouraged by contacting Becki Gierman at RGierman1@ksu.edu or by calling 440-834-3761.
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 13th at 6 p.m. for those who are involved in charitable organizations or school-based volunteer groups such as the Boosters, to participate in a forum on the legal obligations for such groups presented by a representative from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The forum will take place in the auditorium, and will feature a discussion about the do’s and don’ts of your involvement with such organizations, and understanding the legal realities of your responsibilities. If you are involved with similar volunteerism, please plan to attend. More information can be found on our website.
Combat Robotics Team Wins Team of the Year Award
Berkshire High School’s combat robotics team competed recently in the Alliance for Working Together (AWT) Robobots competition at Lakeland Community College, and as a result of their excellent documentation of the process, interviews with industry leaders, spirit, and drive to compete, won AWT’s Team of the Year award! The team received medals, a $250 donation from AWT towards next year’s robot, and placement of the team’s name on the Team of the Year plaque that will be displayed in AWT’s new building. Congratulations Robotics team participants!
Berkshire’s Ashley Brzozowski Named Professional of the Year!
Congratulations to Berkshire High School Intervention Specialist and Transition to Work Coordinator, Ashley Brzozowski on being selected by her peers to receive the Career Technical Professional of the Year award for her contributions to education and the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Special Needs Division. Ashley was nominated for the award by Berkshire Board Member John Manfredi, and High School Intervention Specialist Earl Beebe. In her role as the Transition to Work Coordinator, Ashley oversees the Badger Lab Vocational Program which provides real-world, problem-solving opportunities for students with partnering businesses and organizations. In participation, students learn valuable and transferable life skills for today’s workforce. During the current school year, The Badger Lab has helped to secure paid internship opportunities for students with Great Lakes Growers and Domino’s Pizza and formed a new partnership with the Kent State University Geauga campus. The Berkshire Local Schools proudly congratulates Ashley Brzozowski for this well-deserved recognition of her dedication and care on behalf of our students.
Congratulations to everyone mentioned in this email, for your success and accomplishment. Once again, all the best to our graduating Class of 2023.
GO BADGERS!
John Stoddard
Superintendent
Berkshire Local Schools
2/17/2023
Archived Superintendent's Newsletter
Local Community (Flyers/Information)
Community Organizations
Community Involvement
Community Flyers
Learning Adventures Summer Progam
The ESC of Northeast Ohio will sponsor a Learning Adventures summer program at Berkshire Schools in June. The Program is open to upcoming 1st through 8th grade students (the grade your child will be in for the 2023-2024 school year). This program will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Geauga Park Disrict
The Foundation for Geauga Parks is hosting it's Annual 5K race, the Cave Man Crawl.
Click here for more information.
Ohio Governor's Imagination Library
Click here for more information on how to receive your child's free monthly book delivery.
Summer Camp and Enrichment Program
This program, sponsored by Geauga County Job and Family Services, is a funding source for lower income Geauga families to receive assistance with the cost of summer camp, enrichment activities, and more. Click on the flyer for more information.
Global Connection Academy's 2023 Summer Camp Lineup
Global Conenction Academy, located in the former Ledgemont Elementary School, will be offering various summer camps during the month of June.
Educational Foundation
Building our community, leaving our legacy. Click here for more information on Berkshire's PRIME+ Capital Campaign for Berkshire Schools.