More funding expected

FORT RECOVERY –– A new state funding plan will result in additional funding for local schools.

The Fair School Funding Plan, which was passed by the Ohio Senate Jun. 28, will provide an estimated $572,800 in additional state funding to Fort Recovery Local School District for the next two years.

Superintendent Larry Brown discussed highlights of the bill at Fort Recovery School Board’s meeting Monday.

The new plan is the bipartisan approach developed by a committee over three years, he explained. One of its goals is to accomplish constitutionally based funding for Ohio schools. (The Ohio Supreme Court declared the state’s funding system unconstitutional in 1997.)

The new system considers local property values and income wealth to determine the raise in local tax revenue, Brown continued. (In the past, state funding was determined by considering property values alone.)

Brown noted changes won’t be seen until October.

“We won’t probably see the details of how this is affected until we start seeing the distribution that we get,” he said, noting that the funding enrollment model will change. “Really, the total idea is the money follows the student.”

The plan was originally designed to be phased in over six years, but the Ohio Senate passed it as a two-year plan. It will be re-evaluated in coming years and potentially reinstated in the next budget.

“I think (they’re reevaluating it) to make sure the word ‘fair’ is truly fair,” Brown said, “Because they’re selling this as, this solves the long-term debate … of constitutionally based funding.”

Also Monday, school board learned treasurer Deanna Knapke is in the midst of filling out an application to refinance a school improvement refunding bond. (It is from the 2012 high school renovations.) The new bond, which is not to exceed $2.155 million, would be paid off in December 2032 –– two years sooner than the original bond –– and offers a potential savings of $400,000.

In other business, school board:

•Hired or renewed contracts with the following for the 2021-2022 school year: substitutes Daniel Braun, Cody Brown, Denise Bruns, Marilyn Fortkamp, Shirley Gruss, Beth Guggenbiller, Kelly Hein, Vicki Jutte, Sandy Kaiser, Sheri Kerns, Karen Klenke, Lisa Lennartz, Shelly McCain, Elaine Pax, Cheryl Perkeybile, Nancy Reinhard, Barb Sautbine, Kylee Sutter, Jill Walter and Courtney Westgerdes; volunteer assistant girls golf coach Jeff Vaughn; and van driver Theresa Lennartz.

•Accepted the resignation of Tracy Evers-Westgerdes as junior high drama advisor for the upcoming school year.

•Approved $350,000 in transfers from the general fund to permanent improvement fund and $32,000 in advances from the general fund to early childhood education, Title IA, Title IIA and Title IVA funds.

•Accepted donations of $1,699 to FFA and $4,000 to the elementary/middle school auditeria audio upgrades.

•Approved usage of $1,626 in credit card rewards.

•Set elementary and middle school student fees to the following: $20 for preschool, $64.25 for kindergarten, $73.75 for first grade, $76 for second grade, $84 for third grade, $80 for fourth grade, $77.50 for fifth grade, $64.50 for sixth grade, and $64 for seventh grade and eighth grade.

•OK’d lunch fees with no changes except for adult lunches, which raised from $3.30 to $3.35. (All students have the option for free lunch this year as a result of the extended U.S. Department of Agriculture School Lunch Program.)

•Appointed board member Don Wendel as the delegate to Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference in November, with Jake Knapke to serve as an alternate.