July 13, 2023
The Beachwood Board of Education honored retiring treasurer Michele Mills for her 35 years as the District’s chief financial officer during her final board meeting on July 10.
“Your fiscal stewardship in combination with your dedication to our students is just really top notch,” said Board of Education president Megan Walsh.
Superintendent Dr. Robert P. Hardis called Ms. Mills a “wonderful colleague, mentor, and role model.”
At the meeting, several former school board members spoke movingly about Ms. Mills’ extraordinary legacy, which has positively impacted generations of students and community members through expanded programming and services, upgraded facilities, and strong community partnerships. Steve Rosen, a school board member from 2011 - 2019, called Ms. Mills “the backbone of our district.”
Under her leadership, Beachwood Schools consistently received top honors from the Auditor of State for sound stewardship of tax dollars and compliance with laws and regulations. Notable achievements include a four-star rating – the Highest Achievement in Open and Transparent Government – as well as the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for excellent financial record keeping. The District has achieved Aaa ratings, the highest possible bond rating, from Moody’s Investors Service every year since 2008.
“You brought great honor to the district,” commented Sylvia Aarons, who served on the school board from 1989 - 2004.
During the 2022-2023 school year, Ms. Mills played a pivotal role in establishing a property tax partnership with the City of Beachwood, which maintains a flat tax rate for residents and businesses for up to the first three years of the District’s $65 million elementary facilities project. Beachwood voters overwhelmingly approved the bond issue during the May 2 special election.
“You have always strived to nurture the relationship between the city and the schools, which recently led to the tax agreement that will help build two new buildings while benefiting every taxpayer in the city of Beachwood,” said Dr. Brian Weiss, a school board member from 2004 - 2021.
Dr. Weiss shared a letter written by former Beachwood mayor, city councilman, and school board president Martin Horwitz. “As a result of your skillful management of our community’s school tax money, we have continuously improved our buildings and expanded our curriculum and extracurricular activities, special education, and diversity programs,” wrote Mr. Horwitz.
Mr. Horwitz, who was not present at the meeting, served on the school board from 1990 - 2005. “It is your work that has consistently benefited our children and parents and resulted in the growth of Beachwood’s reputation and population,” he wrote.
David Ostro, who served on the school board from 2000 to 2014, reflected on his longtime friendship with Ms. Mills. “From that first day that we met in 1995 in that old Fairmount school building until today, you’ve always been the same–gracious with your time and your knowledge, incredibly warm, kind and thoughtful, engaged and committed to do what is best for the school system and our children,” said Mr. Ostro.
Ms. Mills will be succeeded by Matthew Brown, effective August 1.