STEWART, Ohio – Dozens of concerned parents, students and staff turned out for the Federal Hocking Board of Education’s May 21 meeting, where the board listened to concerns regarding the district’s budget deficit.
Also at the May 21 meeting, the board accepted Superintendent David Hanning’s resignation, effective July 31. Hanning’s retirement is unrelated to district finances, he said in an email.
Contrary to a special meeting notice the Independent received on May 9 that stated the meeting’s purpose was to “review the proposed deficit reduction plan and make edits,” there is no actual plan to combat the district’s budget deficit, according to FHBOE Treasurer Bruce Steenrod.
While the existence of a formal plan to address the district’s budget deficit is uncertain, the deficit itself is not: Steenrod confirmed in an email on June 3 that the district will be operating at an approximate $666,360 deficit in the next fiscal year. He also said deficit spending is not new for the district.
“The current forecast shows that the district will have expenditures exceeding revenues by $666,360 in FY25. So they are operating at a deficit. That is different from having a bottom line cash balance in the negative,” Steenrod stated in an email.
He also stated, in his explanation for why the district has been deficit spending for several years, that 86% of the district’s expenses are comprised of salary and benefits.
WOUB reported May 17 that the district may face a $1.66 million shortfall by 2027 if it does not cut spending; FHBOE President Kerry Sheridan-Boyd told WOUB the deficit is due to declining enrollment and a nearly 30% increase in insurance premiums over the past year.
The board did not discuss any reductions or budget actions at the May 21 meeting because it has not made any final decisions, Steenrod added. “It will approve appropriations for the next fiscal year at the June meeting,” he said in an email. “However, these can be amended during the year at any time by the board.”
“My recommendation to the board has been to reduce costs through attrition over the next couple of years in order to balance the budget,” Hanning said in an email. He added that the district “has a very healthy cash balance.”
More than a dozen audience members addressed the board with concerns over the district’s potential deficit reduction plan at the meeting. Comments focused on changes in administration, funding of mental health resources for students, and retaining the long-running internship and final project programs.
“Invest in the people who want to be here,” said Tera Amlin, an Amesville Elementary teacher and parent.
“All of these students that have these sparks of passion with their careers are suffering,” said Renee Ripple, a FHSD high school teacher. Ripple expressed concern over the potential loss of the school’s internship program.
George Wood, former superintendent of FHSD, offered a more positive outlook, stating that the district “can’t pretend the deficit isn’t happening,” but he feels “hopeful” for the future.
The board held an hour-long executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G). After the executive session, the board made several announcements, beginning with a statement regarding the district’s continued commitment to mental health and guidance resources.
Additionally, the board announced their plan to meet with union representatives from American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1292, aka the Federal Hocking Teachers Association; as well as the likely possibility of developing an earned income tax levy to support the district. (According to Steenrod, the board is required to notify union representatives if there are proposed reductions.)
Finally, the board announced the district’s intention to retain current middle school and high school principals Sonya White and Jake Amlin, while presenting its plan to employ Ashley Miller as Coolville Elementary principal and hire a new Amesville Elementary School principal to fill an upcoming vacancy.
These comments were followed by applause and audible relief from those in attendance.
Despite these updates, the board spoke minimally regarding the specifics of the “plan” at its May 21 meeting; as of June 4, any and all plans remain unavailable to the public, including FHSD staff and students.
“Unfortunately, there has been no document officially adopted by the Federal Hocking Local School Board of Education,” Steenrod said in an email on May 30. “I am aware that there was a ‘plan’ that was disseminated to some people … I do not consider that an official document, as no action has been taken by the board of education.”
Steenrod later clarified that the unofficial plan was distributed by a private individual. “It came from a community member,” he said in an email.
A records request from the Independent for a budget deficit “plan” was denied on the basis that there is not yet an official document. A request for all email communications between Steenrod, the board and the finance committee regarding the budget deficit from May 1 to present is awaiting fulfillment.
Ultimately, the board did not approve or deny any deficit reduction or budgetary plan, deciding rather to postpone any major changes in response to the deficit.
Moving forward, the board plans to host discussions with focus groups composed of students, parents, staff, community members and local businesses in an attempt to assuage budgetary concerns while maintaining an open line of communication with the FHSD community, said Hanning.
The FHBOE meets the third Tuesday of each month. Its next meeting will be Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. at the Federal Hocking High School Library, 8461 SR 144, in Stewart. Find meeting minutes and more online.
