[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6641849,"mediaKeyId","3556415-e87fbfd95d46db1ca715a31d4e215c26","parentId",3556415,"title","Orange City Schools approves suite of contracts, personnel hires and OCR accreditation plans","audioSeconds",2617,"startMs",2849000,"endMs",5466000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3556415-e87fbfd95d46db1ca715a31d4e215c26&start=2849&end=5466","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6641849/Ohio/Orange-City-Schools-approves-suite-of-contracts-personnel-hires-and-OCR-accreditation-plans","mediaUrl","author","Orange City School District OH ","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Orange City Schools Board of Education on May 27 approved a package of membership and vendor contracts, several student-placement contracts and routine personnel actions, and granted formal approval to Orange Community Education and Recreation (OCR) accreditation materials.

The board approved a grouped motion to accept membership-contract items labeled a–h. Contracts listed in the meeting packet and approved by the board included: Dancing Classrooms in Northeast Ohio for $12,000; Comfort Systems USA to add new Schneider controllers for two high‑school chillers for $19,821; a JAMF renewal for Apple device management for $10,305; Google Workspace Plus for $10,500; HIPARA monitoring for $16,820; LEARN21 services for $10,461.16; TDAGS asphalt and seal coating for $59,850; and Eagle Abatement and Destruction for $43,334.31. A Garland DBS Inc. change order for unforeseen repair conditions for $114,000 was presented as an emergency change order and included in the consent approvals.

Board members also reviewed multiple high-cost special-education placements and tuition agreements that were presented for review. Items presented in review included a Cleveland Clinic Learner School for Autism tuition agreement for $94,080; a placement renewal for $38,220; an ECP Leaf Bridge placement for $98,000; and a Beachbrook placement agreement for $295,702. The board asked staff to clarify whether an Achievement Advantage Assessment Services contract (presented under review as item c) carries a $35,000 maximum; a board member noted the $35,000 figure appeared in the agenda but not in the contract text and asked staff to follow up before the next meeting.

Personnel and hiring: The board approved general personnel consent items for hire and reassignments. New hires highlighted during the meeting included Amber Smiley (intervention specialist, Moreland Hills), Emily Jackson (intervention specialist), science teacher Kyle McMahon (Brady Middle School) and PE teacher Scott Gibson (Brady Middle School). Several candidates sent written notes of gratitude because they were unable to attend the meeting.

OCR accreditation: The board approved OCR’s master plan and strategic plan, items the district said were required to complete accreditation review. Jill (OCR leadership) told the board that the accreditation review team was “very impressed” and that formal accreditation will be awarded in September at the National Recreation and Park Association conference.

Votes at a glance: Consent packages containing the membership and contract approvals, the financial consent resolutions, personnel approvals, disposal (one TV) and OCR plan approvals were moved, seconded and approved by roll call. Board members who responded during roll calls included Mrs. Arnold (yes), Dr. Boyle (yes), Mr. Bilski (yes) and Mr. Lycan (yes). The minutes for the May 12, 2025 meeting were also approved earlier in the meeting by roll call.

Clarifications and follow-up: Board members asked staff for additional documentation on the Achievement Advantage contract amount discrepancy and requested follow-up information on long-term student placement costs and whether placements are expected to be temporary or extend for multiple years. Several board members also urged staff to ensure any public-facing explanatory materials (for example, a school-funding FAQ distributed by regional education service centers) are fact‑checked and cited before posting on the district website.

Ending: The approvals were routine consent actions required to manage operations and student services; board members asked for follow-up on a small number of contract clarifications to be provided at a future meeting.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved membership and vendor contracts, several high-cost student placement agreements and personnel hires; members also approved Orange Community Education and Recreation accreditation documents.","taxTitle","Orange City SD, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",70136,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641854,"Orange City Schools warns of budget gaps; forecast shows possible 5-mill levy by 2028",935,3152000,4087000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3556415-e87fbfd95d46db1ca715a31d4e215c26&start=3152&end=4087","/articles/6641854/Ohio/Orange-City-Schools-warns-of-budget-gaps-forecast-shows-possible-5-mill-levy-by-2028","Todd Puster, finance presenter for Orange City Schools, told the school board May 27 that the district’s five-year forecast shows a sustained gap between revenues and expenditures and that the board would likely need to consider asking voters for a 5-mill levy in 2028 to maintain current services.

Puster opened the presentation by warning that “there is no getting around uncertainty,” citing an unpredictable state budget and the effect of a recent property reappraisal on near-term tax collections. He said property taxes account for about 80% of district revenue while salaries and benefits make up roughly 83% of spending.

The forecast shows the district’s long-term revenue trend softening after a multi-year run of rising property values. “Property taxes are the ballgame,” Puster said, urging the board to consider the timing and length of any future levy. He presented a scenario in which a successful 5-mill levy placed before 2028 would produce an uptick in revenue for several years but would not fully eliminate the long-term decline in the absence of broader changes to state funding rules.

Why it matters: Orange relies heavily on locally collected property tax revenue, and the district’s forecasting model assumes limited new state support. Puster highlighted two state policy risks: a possible return to residual budgeting for school funding and a carryover cap on balances. He said the carryover cap — currently a 30% limit discussed in the state legislature — is “very problematic for cash flow management” for districts that receive large property tax receipts in two annual tranches.

Board members pressed for specifics. Board member Rebecca asked Puster to walk through the “5-mill sustainability” slide; Puster explained the chart’s assumptions and the timing that produces a 5–7 year levy cycle under the scenario shown. Angela and other board members asked what level of program or personnel reductions would be required to stretch the timeline; Puster said most discretionary cuts would come from staffing and programs, and that many expenditures (utilities, transportation, contractual obligations) are not easily reduced.

Puster flagged additional near-term items that could affect revenues and enrollment: pending property-value appeals (which he said are expected to be resolved for many taxpayers within 30 days but could take years if appealed fully) and several planned housing developments that could add units and change the district’s tax base and student counts. He also noted that the district’s reserves remain strong enough today “to give us time to address the situation.”

The presentation included several numeric details the board discussed: property taxes ≈ 80% of revenue; state foundation ≈ 5%; salaries/benefits ≈ 83% of expenditures; and a projected deficit of roughly $1 million in fiscal 2027 under current assumptions. Puster cautioned that those figures are subject to change as the state budget and local property tax collections are finalized.

Next steps and timing: Board members noted the state budget timeline and a mid-July tax deadline for collections. Puster said the district expects to have clearer property-tax receipts and appeal outcomes within about 30 days and that he and other staff will continue to update the board’s forecast at future meetings.

Ending: Board members thanked Puster for the report and asked staff to provide additional detail at the next meeting; no formal action was taken on the forecast itself during the May 27 meeting.","District finance staff told the board that rising personnel and benefits costs, uncertainty in state funding and a property reappraisal shortfall could push the district to seek a 5-mill levy in 2028 unless revenues or policy change.","actionData","errors"]

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Orange City Schools approves suite of contracts, personnel hires and OCR accreditation plans

Orange City Schools warns of budget gaps; forecast shows possible 5-mill levy by 2028