ONTARIO — Treasurer Randy Harvey was optimistic about the Ontario Local School’s district finances during Tuesday night’s board meeting.
“Barring anything else crazy, it looks like we could be back on track,” he told the board.
Harvey projected long-term deficits in the November five-year forecast due to the harsh impact of COVID-19 on the school district.
Ontario lost $258,406 in funding last May due to a statewide education funding cut. Governor Mike DeWine restored part of that funding through an executive order last month. Ontario’s funding cut will be reduced by about $141,000 as a result.
“Were getting back some of our money. We’re not getting new money, we’re getting money he cut from us,” Harvey explained.
In addition, the district will receive more than $500,000 from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund), a provision of the most recent coronavirus relief bill.
The district will also receive an additional $100,000 in property taxes due to an increase in property values and a worker’s compensation rebate totaling almost $200,000.
Superintendent Lisa Carmichael shared that Ontario’s teachers and staff would be receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 18. Close to 70 percent of the district’s workforce opted to participate.
The vaccinations will be administered throughout the day on school grounds.
Carmichael said she had not been told whether staff would receive the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine, but that the second round will be administered during spring break.
Carmichael also gave a status update on plans for various spring events. Many will have to be filmed or live-streamed for parents, but the district plans to hold in-person prom (with no dancing) and graduation ceremonies.
“We’re absolutely going to have a (graduation) ceremony but it’s going to have to look differently,” she said, adding that graduation will likely take place in the stadium with limited tickets available.
The academic honors banquet scheduled for April 22 will more than likely only include seniors and possibly be combined with senior honors night.
Field days will still take place, but will probably be staggered by grade level.
Board member Jerod Them shared a brief update on education legislation, including House Bill 1, a school funding overhaul bill similar to the Cupp-Patterson plan that passed the Ohio House last year.
Harvey added that he hopes to see the legislature pass the bill, which could increase the annual state funding for Ontario Schools by close to $4.4 million by 2026.
In fiscal year 2020, Ontario had the lowest total revenue per pupil in Richland County and the fourth lowest in the state.
As a result, the district spent less money per pupil than any other Richland County school district and ranked ninth-lowest spending in Ohio.
Harvey said much of the discrepancy is due to the way Ohio handles public education funding.
“The state is not funding us,” Harvey said. “Am I proud of being the lowest spending per student? No. You don’t want to be the lowest in spending, but when you’re the fourth lowest in revenue you have to survive.
“What I am proud of is what we accomplish, what we do here and the opportunities we give people. We could do major things with an extra $4 million a year.”
