House Bill could impact funding

FORT RECOVERY — Some legislation proposed at the statehouse could make a significant impact on the school district’s budget.

Fort Recovery School Board heard about Ohio House Bill 335 at its meeting Monday.

Superintendent Tony Stahl talked about the state’s biennial budget process, which will wrap up by June 30. He noted various concerns from the school district’s standpoint that have been proposed, including a potential year-end cash balance cap for school districts as well as discussion about scrapping the Fair School Funding Plan and creating a new model.

A recently proposed piece of legislation that would specifically hit Fort Recovery Local Schools’ budget if approved is Ohio House Bill 335. Among other items, it would eliminate inside millage starting Jan. 1. (In Ohio, property taxes are charged as millage, with one mill equal to one-tenth of a cent.)

If inside millage is eliminated, Stahl noted, an estimated $3.5 billion in property tax collection across Ohio would stop in January. For the village’s school district, that would amount to just over $1 million.

Fort Recovery Village Council approved a resolution Monday opposing the bill. (The village receives approximately $72,000 annually from inside millage.)

The bill hasn’t made its way through the House of Representatives yet. If it is approved, Stahl suggested school board look into a tax levy to help make up for the loss. 

Also Monday, Stahl noted work is ongoing with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) project at Fort Recovery Elementary and Middle School. Hopes are to have the project completed by Aug. 15.

In other business, Fort Recovery School Board members Sean Kahlig, Greg LeFevre, Mitch Fullenkamp, Nick Wehrkamp and Don Wendel:

•Approved high school boys and girls bowling as a full sport for the upcoming school year. Fort Recovery’s program had previously been recognized as a club sport. (See related story on page 8.) The school board also approved other sports and approved wrestling and indoor track as tournament sports.

•Accepted resignations from fifth grade teacher Kim Niekamp and high school English teacher Brent Niekamp.

•Hired second grade teacher Abigail Bowers and fourth grade teacher Kiah Bruns, effective Aug. 1. Both teachers are Fort Recovery alumni.

•Approved hiring Nicole Fennig as a long-term substitute for the 2025-26 school year. Stahl noted Fennig will be hired as a full-time teacher once she completes requirements for obtaining her teaching license.

•Accepted the following as volunteer coaches for the upcoming school year: assistant junior high football coach Troy Homan, assistant junior high football coach Connor Kaikala, assistant junior high football coach Gabe Knapke and assistant basketball coach Hunter Muir.

•OK’d hiring several substitute bus and van drivers as needed for the 2025-26 school year.

•Approved participating in the federal free and reduced price lunch program for the upcoming school year.

•Authorized an agreement with Stolly Insurance for liability, fleet and property insurance and CFC for cyber insurance from July 1 of the current year through June 30, 2026. Treasurer Deanna Knapke noted liability insurance this year jumped to $63,000, an increase of $8,000.

•OK’d renewing liability insurance for eligible school groups at a cost of $70 each for one year, effective July 1.

•Approved, with Kahlig dissenting, supplemental contracts with the following junior high football coaches: coach Darien Sheffer, assistant coach Bo Thien, assistant coach Brian Bihn and assistant coach Reece Guggenbiller.

•OK’d high school and junior high sporting event ticket prices as established by Midwest Athletic Conference and season ticket prices for the 2025-26 season. Varsity sport tickets are $8 per adult and $7 per student, junior high sport tickets are $5 per adult and $4 per student and season tickets are $150 for adults and $50 for students.

•Set lunch prices for the upcoming school year as follows: preschool through fifth grade, $2.55; sixth grade through 12th grade, $2.80; adults, $4; main dish, $1.75; fruit or vegetable, 50 cents; two breadsticks, $1; chips or granola bars, 75 cents; and milk, 35 cents.

•Authorized an agreement with Jostens for producing the high school’s yearbook from 2026 through 2028.

•Recognized nearly 25 students for obtaining perfect scores on their end of course state exams.