Updated: June 10, 2026
By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
Timberlake Mayor John Marra is concerned about an agreement between the Willoughby-Eastlake School District and a private company, Lighthouse Media Services, LLC, renting space in the Board of Education building.
Timberlake Mayor John Marra versus Willoughby-Eastlake School District and Lighthouse Media Service Memorandum of Understanding
June 9, 2026
Dr. Patrick Ward, Superintendent
Willoughby-Eastlake City School District
35353 Curtis Boulevard
Eastlake, Ohio 44095
RE: Lighthouse Media Services Memorandum of Understanding
Dear Dr. Ward,
I recently reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding Item 8c between the Willoughby-Eastlake City School District and Lighthouse Media Services, LLC regarding the use of office space within the Board of Education building passed at last evenings school board meeting 6-0 with no discussion.
As Mayor of the Village of Timberlake and a taxpayer within the Willoughby-Eastlake School District, I have significant concerns regarding both the value being received by the District and the security implications of this arrangement.
According to the agreement, Lighthouse Media Services is being provided eight cubicles, storage space, conference room access, parking privileges, trailer storage, utilities, and building access in exchange for 80 hours of media production services annually. When averaged over a full year, this amounts to approximately 1.5 hours of services per week, 6.7 hours per month, or roughly 13 minutes per day.
Many local businesses throughout our communities pay commercial rent, utilities, insurance, maintenance costs, and other operating expenses to conduct business. Taxpayers deserve to understand why a private company is being provided publicly owned office space and related resources at no charge in exchange for what appears to be a relatively limited amount of annual services.
The District’s May 2026 financial report reflects approximately $181,000 in rental income from other users and a projected year-end General Fund cash balance approaching $45 million. Given those circumstances, taxpayers deserve to understand why publicly owned office space and related resources are being provided rent-free rather than through the District’s normal rental and procurement practices.This raises several important questions:
• What is the fair market rental value of the office space, storage areas, conference room access, parking privileges, and trailer storage being provided by the District?
• How many square feet of District property are being provided under this agreement?
• What is the estimated annual value of the 80 hours of services being received in return?
• Was an independent valuation conducted to determine whether taxpayers are receiving equivalent value for the use of public property?
• Was this arrangement competitively bid or were alternative proposals considered?
• What is the estimated annual cost of utilities, internet access, heating, cooling, janitorial services, maintenance, and other overhead expenses associated with this arrangement?
• If those costs are being absorbed by the District, what is the total annual taxpayer subsidy being provided?
Equally concerning are the security implications of this agreement.
The MOU grants Lighthouse Media Services keys, fobs, access credentials, office space within the Board of Education building, conference room access, storage space, and ongoing access to District facilities. However, the agreement appears to contain no provisions addressing:
• Criminal background checks for company personnel;
• Restrictions on access to sensitive areas;
• Protection of student records and confidential information;
• Cybersecurity requirements for equipment connected to District networks;
• Visitor management procedures;
• Insurance requirements;
• Indemnification provisions protecting the District and taxpayers from liability;
• Procedures governing after-hours building access.
At a time when school districts across the country face increasing physical and cybersecurity threats, granting a private company ongoing access to District facilities without clearly defined safeguards raises legitimate concerns that deserve public explanation.
Additionally, the agreement appears to omit several provisions commonly found in public facility-use agreements involving private entities. Specifically, the MOU does not appear to contain requirements for general liability insurance, cyber liability insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, indemnification of the District, default provisions, remedies for non-performance, immediate termination rights for cause, cybersecurity safeguards, or a clear statement of the public purpose being served by the arrangement.
For example, the agreement does not specify what occurs if the promised services are not delivered, if security concerns arise, if access privileges are misused, or if the District determines that the arrangement no longer serves the best interests of students or taxpayers. Likewise, there does not appear to be any requirement that Lighthouse Media Services maintain insurance coverage naming the District as an additional insured or otherwise protecting taxpayers from potential liability.
Given the value of the public assets involved, the access being granted to District facilities, and the District’s responsibility to safeguard students, staff, information systems, and taxpayer resources, I would appreciate understanding why these customary protections were omitted and what alternative safeguards, if any, were considered or implemented prior to approval of this agreement.
In addition, the agreement appears to lack measurable performance standards. There does not appear to be a mechanism for tracking service hours, verifying deliverables, establishing quality standards, or ensuring that the District receives the full value of the services promised under the agreement.
Because Lighthouse Media Services may be producing content on behalf of the District, questions also arise regarding ownership of recordings, retention of records, compliance with Ohio public records laws, and the handling of information generated through District-funded activities.
I would also respectfully ask why it was determined that a private company should be housed within a public school administration building when significant commercial office space exists throughout Lake County that could otherwise be utilized through the private market.
The agreement also grants trailer storage at a District transportation facility. What is the market value of that storage, where specifically is it located, and what liability protections exist in the event of damage, theft, or accidents involving that equipment?
Finally, the agreement contains an automatic renewal provision. What process will be used to evaluate whether the arrangement continues to provide fair value to taxpayers before each renewal period?
To help provide transparency and public confidence, I respectfully request copies of the following:
- The Board of Education resolution approving this agreement;
- Any legal opinion authorizing or reviewing the arrangement;
- Any valuation analysis supporting the exchange of services for facility use;
- Certificates of insurance provided by Lighthouse Media Services;
- Any security protocols governing access to District facilities under this agreement;
- Any policies regarding access to District computer systems, networks, student information systems, or confidential records by non-District personnel;
- Documentation showing how service hours will be tracked, documented, and verified;
- Any conflict-of-interest disclosures related to the negotiation or approval of this agreement;
- Documentation identifying the square footage and specific areas being provided under the agreement, including office space, storage areas, conference room access, parking privileges, and trailer storage;
- Any risk-management, insurance, cybersecurity, or legal review conducted prior to approval of the agreement;
- Documentation explaining the public purpose served by providing District facilities and resources to a private company under this arrangement.
If the District believes this arrangement provides fair value to taxpayers, then the District should have no difficulty providing the valuation analysis, financial justification, and supporting documentation used to approve the use of public property, public resources, and taxpayer-funded facilities for a private enterprise.
The residents of Willoughby, Eastlake, Willowick, Lakeline, and Timberlake entrust the District with public assets, taxpayer dollars, and the safety of our students. Before publicly owned office space, utilities, building access credentials, storage facilities, parking areas, and other taxpayer-funded resources are provided to a private company, the public deserves a clear understanding of the financial value being exchanged, the security protections in place, and the justification for the arrangement.
I appreciate your attention to these questions and respectfully request a written response.
Sincerely,
John Marra
Mayor, Village of Timberlake
CC:
Mayor Robert Fiala, City of Willoughby
Mayor Kevin Kostelnik, City of Eastlake
Mayor Michael Vanni, City of Willowick
Mayor Debbie Neale, Village of Lakeline
Members, Willoughby-Eastlake Board of Education
Here is Dr. Ward’s response to Mayor Marra:
Good afternoon, Mr. Marra,
Thank you for reaching out to share your extensive list of concerns.
I would be happy to set up a time for you to meet with Kevin. Kevin is the 1 man (small business owner) who has worked and will continue to work out of the second floor and is the entirety of “light house media”.
He can happily address your concerns. My assistant will reach out and find some convenient time.
Have a pleasant balance of the week.
Best,
Dr. Ward
Update: June 10, 2026
Here is Mayor Marra’s response to Dr. Ward’s email:
Dear Dr. Ward,
Thank you for your response.
I appreciate your willingness to arrange a meeting with Kevin. However, respectfully, my concerns are not directed toward Kevin personally, nor are they questions that should be answered by the private company benefiting from the agreement. My questions are directed to the Willoughby-Eastlake City School District as the public entity that approved the arrangement, granted access to public facilities, and is responsible for safeguarding taxpayer resources, District property, confidential information, and public assets.
I respectfully request that the District provide the records and supporting documentation identified in my June 9, 2026 correspondence in this email thread.
In fact, your response raises an additional concern.
Your email indicates that Kevin is currently operating out of the second floor of the Board of Education building and will continue to do so. This appears to confirm that the occupancy and access arrangement is already active and not merely a future proposal.
If a private business is already occupying District facilities and has already been granted building access, keys, fobs, storage space, conference room access, parking privileges, utilities, and other District resources, I am requesting all records associated with the approval, implementation, security review, and ongoing administration of this arrangement.
Specifically, I request copies of:
• The fully executed Memorandum of Understanding and any amendments;
• The Board resolution approving the arrangement;
• Any legal review, legal opinion, or correspondence regarding the legality of providing District facilities to a private business;
• Any valuation analysis, appraisal, or financial review used to determine fair value for the office space and resources being provided;
• Documentation identifying the exact square footage and specific areas currently occupied or assigned to Lighthouse Media Services;
• Any key, fob, badge, credential, or access-control authorizations issued to Kevin or any other individual associated with Lighthouse Media Services;
• Any background check documentation, screening requirements, or security clearances required by the District prior to granting facility access;
• Any visitor management, escort, access-control, or facility-use policies applicable to Lighthouse Media Services personnel;
• Any cybersecurity review, technology review, network-access approval, acceptable-use agreement, or information-security assessment conducted prior to granting access;
• Any agreements governing access to District computers, servers, Wi-Fi networks, cameras, telecommunications systems, student information systems, or confidential District records;
• Certificates of general liability insurance, cyber liability insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, and any endorsements naming the District as an additional insured;
• Any indemnification, hold harmless, risk-management, or liability analyses related to the arrangement;
• Any conflict-of-interest disclosures, ethics reviews, or recusal statements related to the negotiation or approval of this arrangement.
Additionally, your statement that Lighthouse Media Services is essentially a one-person operation raises further questions regarding the scope of resources being provided.
If this is a one-person business, please explain:
• Why eight cubicles were deemed necessary;
• Whether all eight cubicles are currently assigned or occupied;
• Whether additional personnel are expected to receive access to District facilities in the future;
• What analysis was performed to determine the amount of space and resources being provided;
• What the fair market rental value is for the office space, storage space, conference room access, utilities, parking, and trailer storage being provided.
I am also concerned that none of the security, liability, insurance, cybersecurity, or taxpayer-value questions raised in my original correspondence were addressed in your response.
Because this arrangement involves a private business operating within a public school administration building, transparency is essential. Taxpayers deserve to understand the financial value being exchanged, the legal authority relied upon, the security measures implemented, and the protections established to safeguard District facilities, information systems, employees, students, and public assets.
Please consider this correspondence a formal request for public records under Ohio law. If any requested records are being withheld, please identify the specific legal basis for the denial and provide all reasonably segregable portions of otherwise responsive records.
I look forward to receiving the requested documents and the District’s written response.
Respectfully,
John Marra
Mayor, Village of Timberlake
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Categories: Lake County Cities & Townships