Ravenna district says release from fiscal oversight likely; state veto override and federal Title cuts create uncertainty

The Ravenna School District Superintendent said the district expects to be released from state fiscal oversight pending presentation of a revised financial forecast on Aug. 11. The superintendent told the board that, per communications with ODEW, the district would be the first to be released within a year if the Aug. 11 revised forecast and monitoring workbook meet state requirements.

The update matters because the district's forecast and monitoring workbook are the primary documents state officials use to judge whether a district remains under fiscal oversight. The superintendent said deadlines and forecast formats have changed this year: instead of a November 30 fall forecast, the schedule was adjusted and the district will present an updated forecast on Sept. 22; the forecast will cover four years (one current year and three future years) rather than five.

The superintendent also reported that the Ohio House voted 61–28 to override Governor Mike DeWine's veto of an item the speaker described as “line 66,” which the superintendent said would restrict public subdivisions, including school districts, from pursuing replacement property tax levies and would affect the structure of future levies. The superintendent said districts that already have five‑year emergency levies can still renew those levies in five‑year increments, but that the immediate effect of the override requires clarification; the superintendent said she received preliminary information early the same morning and would provide further clarification as details became available.

At the same time, several federal Title allocations arrived lower than expected. The superintendent reported Title I funding for reading and math came in about $338,000 less than projected, and Title VI‑B (special education) came in about $56,000 less. The superintendent said some expenses the district ordinarily would cover from Title grants (for example, school resource officer funding noted as a Title‑eligible cost in prior budgets) were moved back to the general fund after a federal notice reduced or paused allocations to states pending a review.

The superintendent said the district had offset some of the reductions by increasing projected revenue and trimming expenditures in the monitoring workbook, and that the district is “still in the position that we predicted in April,” but cautioned that additional state and federal clarifications may change the picture.

Board action during the meeting included approval of the district’s June monitoring workbook and monthly statements, items the superintendent said factor into the forthcoming Aug. 11 presentation to state officials. The board approved the monitoring workbook (Consent Agenda item 11a5) by roll call; each listed board member voted yes.

The superintendent also listed a schedule of upcoming fiscal and calendar deadlines: a special board meeting on Aug. 11 for the revised forecast, and the next regular board meeting on Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m., when the board will revisit financial documents and other business.