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Trotwood-Madison City leaders review several pending state education bills, warn of operational impacts
Summary
District staff summarized multiple Ohio bills under consideration — including proposals on assaults of sports officials, cellphone bans, Title VI certification and school board party declarations — and said some measures could require quick compliance or operational changes.
Trotwood-Madison City School District staff reviewed a package of pending Ohio bills during the board meeting and warned that several could require operational changes or rapid compliance steps.
A staff member summarized the bills, noting House Bill 79 (the "Sports Official Assault Act"), House Bill 96 (addressing school district property tax collections and possible expansion of cellphone restrictions), House Bill 155 and Senate Bill 113 (changes related to Title VI certification and limits on policies recognizing diversity, equity and inclusion), and House Bill 190 (the "Given Name Act"), among others. The staff member said district attorneys and superintendents across the county had discussed the Title VI certification requirement and that the district must submit the certification by the end of the next day.
The staff member said HB 96 contains language that could move districts from restricting cellphone use only during instructional time to a broader ban during the entire school day, which "could force adjustments to school schedules and supervision." They also said draft language under consideration would require some local school board candidates to declare a political party or be nominated through primary elections, which was drawing attention among district leaders.
Board members and staff emphasized uncertainty about final language and timing. The staff member said attorneys had advised local superintendents and that discussions had been “very, very lively” as districts worked to interpret compliance obligations and timelines.
The meeting record also noted the district’s planned graduation date of May 20 and that the staff member had prepared a one-page summary of the bills for board members.
No formal board action on the bills was recorded in the portion of the transcript provided; staff described the items as a legislative update and said the district would continue to consult its legal counsel.
Why it matters: Several of the bills described carry compliance deadlines or impose operational changes that could affect school schedules, disciplinary policies and requirements tied to federal funding. The district flagged the Title VI certification deadline as immediate and encouraged continued legal review and superintendent-level coordination.
