[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6657145,"mediaKeyId","5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f","parentId",5088911,"title","Olentangy presents preliminary Ohio State Test results showing gains in many grades, identifies third-grade ELA and eighth-grade math as focus areas","audioSeconds",1286,"startMs",3110000,"endMs",4396000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f&start=3110&end=4396","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f/thumbnail_3110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6657145/Ohio/Olentangy-presents-preliminary-Ohio-State-Test-results-showing-gains-in-many-grades-identifies-third-grade-ELA-and-eighth-grade-math-as-focus-areas","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657145-1c56d2f7ea7408b48cb2babcdde630c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1774954575&Signature=e4WcgkZ4MZW5nub2vZblWKQwrjNdtfYK9kesjTr~Gka9RusHhy8Wct3PR7R~Zj5znePzmo7ryu9uUTmDQdZPCW3jR~rVUwssnyTVrfL7MDjqyJKjuQ7E8i4W3ytY9FZ3N916Nz95dyu2JcDUha6~fmKvrLbteEv2P~WjkeKmlFVzw6FxH3WSjhrRpaJxYrSZjxTLxmJZ18JWzTqR8Ik~z0eNyJm~tMeTQhml6yfdDMNn0DPucATRGNz4qTONer5Nt75iBEjtROD~q6IO9cBCPHrYhbk74axubvZZVyLINwJc~4UB2AMw2FQMXaN6xOUt~FMM04W9klkql1-uIUgJNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Olentangy Local","date","2025-06-27T14:37:12.137Z","article","Olentangy Local School District staff presented preliminary results from the spring Ohio State Tests (OST) and told the board that the district outperformed state proficiency rates on most assessments while noting specific grade-level areas for intervention.

The district reported that proficiency increased in 12 of 20 tests this year, and that the combined achieved/advanced percentage in many subjects exceeds the state proficiency rate. The presentation covered elementary, middle and high school results and included trend graphs across a nine-year span.

Why it matters: District staff said the results show many students performing at high levels while also highlighting where targeted instruction, curriculum adjustments or intervention could raise proficiency further — most notably third-grade English/language arts and eighth-grade math.

Key findings and context
District staff said the statewide average spending per pupil is about $16,300 and reported that Olentangy’s most recent per-pupil spending was $16,019 — below the state average — while ranking among high-performing districts. The presenter said Olentangy’s outcomes place it in the top 10% academically despite lower-than-peer spending per pupil.

On test performance, the presenter (Brunswick) told the board that the district exceeded state proficiency rates by 16 to 38 percentage points depending on the test, with the largest gap in geometry. The district reported 772 instances of students earning the highest possible score across tests.

Areas for improvement
Administrators identified two primary focus areas: third-grade English language arts, which has declined slightly over the last two years and is near the district’s 80% benchmark, and eighth-grade math, which the district said is affected in part because about half of eighth graders take the Algebra I assessment rather than the grade-level test (district acceleration choices affect comparisons to other districts).

Board discussion and follow-up
Board members asked about cohort tracking, chronic absenteeism within subgroups and the timing for value-added and Advanced Placement data. The administration said subgroup and report-card data will be available in forthcoming state report-card releases and that value-added data typically arrives in October (one board member referenced October; the presenter clarified it typically is released in October). The district said staff will collaborate across departments to monitor trends and implement action plans.

No board vote was required for the data presentation; the discussion concluded with board members praising staff and asking for follow-up analyses by cohort and subgroup.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Olentangy Schools, Board of Education 6.26.25","oneSentenceSummary","District staff reported increased proficiency in 12 of 20 Ohio State Test assessments, higher rates of top performance relative to the state, and outlined areas for targeted improvement: third-grade English language arts and eighth-grade mathematics.","taxTitle","Olentangy Local, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",14476,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6657149,"Olentangy to roll out ParentSquare after staff survey finds high internal satisfaction but message-volume concerns",1369,1871000,3240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f&start=1871&end=3240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f/thumbnail_1871000.jpg","/articles/6657149/Ohio/Olentangy-to-roll-out-ParentSquare-after-staff-survey-finds-high-internal-satisfaction-but-message-volume-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657149-2f06940b56c1b4e1865d2f35cb81d213/orig.mp4?Expires=1774954575&Signature=jRVODzFYQhzYMohkDaQr-fCMyJhoAK-y38~8OZJbbYOOLzFPKzetRtSbkaV-L~KtrqhYz~Yks0wYDZ5XYo3DhfKvYwkJWHQ44~qlFqHI6MAfdkL1SzzYB-cutghutRrYZ6mP2lsaqmmnIHIMyhT3fTMCeGLDAyhowo5bn1DuPfT0kZ5PHv67TMclzhMjQdQ4q0uSxThyvVkkDcXo1sK4A2lJJCnhKJUTDyNZ5yrTOPkj2BTYdPvX55-B08S6va2LoQgcoj~xXe6jovWBMaixALfRDT-cWkd8gytBlxA28U2CDVmQvVTwyLc3OwE87iheD4zAVUOpuYViz3ldEV-4qA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Olentangy Local School District will roll out the ParentSquare communications platform this summer to centralize district, school and classroom messaging, officials said during the board meeting.

Communications staff presented results from a February internal survey showing that roughly 85% of responding staff rated district internal communications as good or excellent, and that email and district updates were among the most-used sources. Staff also flagged message volume and a desire for more targeted, role-specific communications as consistent themes.

Communications director Miss Davis said the district piloted ParentSquare with several schools, athletic groups and staff groups and plans a phased launch in June, July and August. \"This easy to use platform with integrated school services best support staff communication and streamline workflow and increase job efficiencies,\" Miss Davis said.

Why it matters: Administrators said the platform will allow the district to reach families by email, text or app; provide language translation and ADA compliance features; and reduce duplicate messaging by consolidating newsletters and sign-up tools. The district also cited the need for a new tool after guidance around student-data privacy in Senate Bill 29 prompted clubs and teams to seek alternatives for group communication.

Pilot results and timeline
District communications staff said the ParentSquare pilot produced more than 2,600 registered users, over 2,000 mobile app users, 14,000 messages, 1,400 posts and 718 calendar events during testing. The administration said ParentSquare can deliver large-scale notifications (the vendor’s capacity was summarized as delivering hundreds of texts and tens of thousands of emails per second) and provides two-way messaging and sign-up features.

Miss Davis told the board the district will continue email for users who prefer it and will offer a sign-up option for non-district-affiliated residents who want certain district-level announcements. The administration plans to provide staff office hours and summer trainings, finalize a data sync with the district student-information system (PowerSchool), and offer technology assistance at back-to-school and support nights.

Board questions and follow-up
Board members asked whether families who do not want the app can still be contacted; Miss Davis said yes. The board also asked about non-district residents receiving district-level messages; Miss Davis said the district will keep an email sign-up path for those communications. Implementation steps include finalizing data migration, launching promotional materials and providing staff training and support through convocation and summer office hours.

No board vote was required for the platform update; communications staff presented the plan and answered questions.","After a staff communications survey showed strong approval for timeliness and transparency, the Olentangy communications department announced the district will launch ParentSquare to centralize family and staff messaging and increase contactability and translation support.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6657154,"Olentangy board approves resolution to explore $235 million bond, moves $50 million to reserve funds amid proposed state carryover cap",1910,4956000,6866000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f&start=4956&end=6866","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088911-f1b49c454124be87e4fa38c5184f590f/thumbnail_4956000.jpg","/articles/6657154/Ohio/Olentangy-board-approves-resolution-to-explore-235-million-bond-moves-50-million-to-reserve-funds-amid-proposed-state-carryover-cap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657154-e971c0692a81a3d3ad1d81b3fdb2b9e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1774954575&Signature=ak9SjoQ-B-LIupWhjTdkueVkzzsHHGssKaxUDeSYvVujaAdB9ZN7qXn8RWcg1PLINmic4PctaVsL9hvZ0Hw3VEan8yBad6h2dK1pFnovTOFDKFTA~zth1TZd22kI~Mkylwy4reB-c5-kS1pRaUANrToaS~9Sm~k-0wMwKpl-UjORM7IswqerSYXm1gir~rN6JNQ-qbuGi0DaFJ41HBFXKkRjgUIpvL0nSEiCgfSTcYl3A5~zq4L89UAfSs7NQe06evWjo98N3M~zPOHqE2473ZHyznKYv03PDTvcUVVbFb~A9c4XWPgmQgvB-LRgZhVsRoBvqniZnfv1wdNywCXy8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Olentangy Local School District Board of Education on Monday approved a resolution of necessity to explore placing an estimated $235,000,000 bond issue on the November ballot and separately approved transferring $50,000,000 out of the district general fund into restricted reserve funds.

The resolution authorizes the district to request auditor certification and state consents required before a district may proceed with a bond issue that would exceed the 10-mill limitation. Treasurer Ryan Jenkins told the board the proposed bond proceeds would be used “principally for a high school and an elementary school, and other district facilities.” The board also approved a set of transfers that district officials said are intended to comply with a carryover-cap provision under the pending state budget bill.

Why it matters: District leaders said rapid enrollment growth has produced pressing capacity needs and that the board is trying to avoid adding millage for residents while preserving funds needed for ongoing operations. At the same time they said a recently negotiated provision in the state budget — if signed into law — would limit how much cash a district can keep in its general fund and could force steep reductions unless funds are reallocated.

Board action and next steps
The board voted to approve the resolution of necessity — an initial legal step that asks the county auditor to certify estimated values the district would use when placing a bond question on the ballot. Treasurer Ryan Jenkins described the resolution as an exploratory step. “We are recommending, as an administrative team, that we explore, with this passage of this resolution, what a bond issue would look like,” Jenkins said during his presentation.

If the board elects to proceed after receiving auditor certification, Jenkins said a second resolution — the resolution to proceed — would have to be approved no later than the statutory deadline for ballot placement and the district would seek consent from the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Ohio Department of Education as required by law.

No new millage approach
District leaders and the board said the strategy for the bond would be a “no additional millage” approach, meaning the district expects to issue debt without increasing the tax rate that property owners pay for debt service. Jenkins explained to the board that the certificate process requires an estimated millage rate but does not obligate the district to collect additional mills, and noted the district has used this approach for most bond issues in recent decades.

State budget change and transfers
Board members and administrators also discussed a provision in the legislature’s budget bill (conference report for House Bill 96) that would cap general-fund cash carryover at 40% of the most recent year’s operating expenditures; the provision was included in the version sent to the governor. Jenkins said the district’s current general-fund carryover is roughly 50% of one year’s operating expenses and recommended reallocating the excess to funds that are allowed under Ohio law to hold restricted reserves.

The board approved a plan to move $50,000,000 from the general fund into four funds: $20,000,000 to a self-insurance claims stabilization fund, $20,000,000 to the capital projects fund, $5,000,000 to a workers’ compensation stabilization fund, and $5,000,000 to a termination/severance benefits fund. Jenkins described the transfers as a way to preserve money for anticipated costs that otherwise would remain in the general fund but could be swept under the proposed state cap.

Board discussion and vote
Board members discussed growth pressures and the district’s fiscal planning before voting. The roll-call votes recorded in the transcript show Dr. Dabrico, Dr. Wallach, Mr. O’Brien, Ms. Schreiber and Board President Brandon Lester voting yes on the resolution to declare necessity; consent agendas including the transfers were later approved by the same affirmative vote pattern.

What the votes do not decide
The resolution approved Monday does not itself place a bond on the ballot or set final dollar amounts or timelines for construction. The action authorizes the district to seek auditor certification and state approvals needed to determine whether to proceed. If Jenkins and the administration recommend moving forward after certification, the board would still have to pass a resolution to proceed and, if placed on the ballot, the voters would decide the bond question.

Context: growth, taxes and state policy
District leaders repeatedly said they want to keep costs low for local taxpayers while addressing capacity created by rapid enrollment increases. Jenkins and Board President Brandon Lester noted that because property values in the district have appreciated, the district has previously issued bonds without increasing taxpayers’ millage; they said that approach is being considered again. Administrators also cautioned that the proposed state cap on general-fund carryover would reduce local flexibility and could require asking voters for additional operating levies in the future if the district returned funds to the community now and later needed to restore them.

Implementation and timeline
If the board decides to pursue a bond following auditor certification, additional board votes and administrative steps would be required before a question could appear on the November ballot. The administration said it will return with more details after receiving the auditor’s certification of estimated rates and the Department of Taxation’s guidance.","The Olentangy Local School District Board voted to declare the necessity of a potential $235 million bond issue to fund a high school and an elementary school and approved a $50 million transfer from the general fund into four restricted reserve accounts to comply with a proposed state cap on carryover cash.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Olentangy presents preliminary Ohio State Test results showing gains in many grades, identifies third-grade ELA and eighth-grade math as focus areas

Olentangy to roll out ParentSquare after staff survey finds high internal satisfaction but message-volume concerns

Olentangy board approves resolution to explore $235 million bond, moves $50 million to reserve funds amid proposed state carryover cap