Marion Local board blasts vouchers, House funding plan

MARIA STEIN - Marion Local school board members again expressed their opposition to state education funding plans during Monday's meeting.

Members approved a statement criticizing the state's EdChoice vouchers program, contending "the deduction of school voucher funds from the appropriation that fund authentic public education increases reliance on local tax revenue to maintain school operations in violation of the Ohio Constitution and clear directives of the Ohio Supreme Court."

Board members also blasted state funding plans at their April meeting.

The board also approved membership in the statewide Vouchers Hurt Ohio organization.

Treasurer Ryan Goldschmidt said the organization is involved in lawsuits against the state over vouchers and education funding. Goldschmidt said membership fees are based on $2 per student and Marion Local's share would be about $1,960. He said more than 350 schools are members of the group.

State education funding plans must be finalized by the June 30 deadline for the General Assembly to pass a new two-year budget. In presenting his revised five-year financial forecast, Goldschmidt said current state funding projections would result in a reduction of $1.7 million in state funding for the district. He noted the district is "still sitting good," but the reduced state funding would result in district expenditures exceeding revenues in the last two years of the forecast.

The district would see a gradual reduction in the cash balance, falling from $9.6 million in fiscal year 2028 to $9.2 million in 2029, according to Goldschmidt. He also pointed out in his presentation that the district would have fewer days of cash on hand if the state funding is not increased.

"Less days of cash on hand means more uncertainty," said board president Randy Bruns. "I don't see the state's logic."

Goldschmidt said he and superintendent Mike Pohlman are holding out hope that the senate's version of the school funding plan results in more money for schools. Pohlman said the senate's version is expected to be released later this month or in early June.

Goldschmidt said the forecast "would have been more bleak" were it not for higher-than-expected income tax receipts and increased enrollment at Marion Local schools.

Board members also:

• learned 73 seniors will receive diplomas during graduation ceremonies set for 1 p.m. Sunday. The last day for other students will be May 23.

• approved the classified salary schedule granting non-teaching employees 3.5% raises for the 2025-2026 school year. Teachers receive the same raises through a three-year contract previously approved by the board.

• approved the purchase of Netgear switches from ITsavvy at a cost of $69,663, with the E-Rate discount program reimbursing the district for half of the costs. They also approved the purchase of metal siding for the high school and weight room at a cost of $54,560 from Cotterman and Company and authorized the purchase of two school vans from American Bus and Accessories at a total cost of $141,315.

• approved the resignation of Reagan Kremer as freshman volleyball coach and Allison Dirksen as seventh-grade girls basketball coach.

In other personnel matters, the board hired Veronica Bertke as elementary school administrative assistant/cafeteria support, granted extended service days to several staff members, hired 10 summer help workers and hired three people as part-time groundskeepers.

• agreed to pay Becky Bruns $125 per track meet for operating the timing system.

• approved an athletic trainer contract with PT Services for the 2025-2026 school year at a cost of $15,000

• authorized a payment of $50 for employees who complete a wellness initiative program for the next school year.

• accepted a $1,606 donation to the drama club from concessions during the school play and $2,000 from the Mercer County Civic Association (Urban and Irene Zahn Memorial Fund).

• approved the Flyer Football, Lady Flyer basketball, Summer Hoops and volleyball camps. A list of camp advisors and their payments also was approved.

• approved an assistive technology contract for the 2025-2026 school year at a cost of $900.

• approved a list of policies recommended by the NEOLA independent school policy service.

• heard high school principal Tim Goodwin congratulate Alan Wendel, Henry Mescher, Wyatt Fleck and Emily Schater for earning state FFA degrees. He also commended the director, assistants and students for the recent successful high school musical "All Shook Up."

• learned from elementary and middle school principal Kelli Thobe report Adellyn Opperman and Harper Fledderjohann placed first and second in the Mercer County Bar Association essay contest. She also congratulated Angie Leugers and Jody Gerlach on their retirement at the ended of the school year.

• approved the capital plan and the transfer of $1 million from the general fund to the capital projects fund for upcoming repairs and other outlays.

• went into executive session to discuss employment and compensation. No action was taken after the one-hour executive session.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 9 in the former high school media room.