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Board hears state budget and federal guidance update; staff to collect club purpose statements to meet federal verification request
Summary
The board received a legislative update Monday that covered the state budget cycle and a federal verification notice concerning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activity.
The board received a legislative update Monday that covered the state budget cycle and a federal verification notice concerning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activity.
The nut graf: The legislative liaison summarized that the governor, House and Senate have different budget proposals under negotiation and that at least one House proposal would change how districts may use carryover funds; school staff recommended advocacy and monitoring. Separately, staff reported a federal verification form the district may need to return related to DEI activity and said they will gather club purpose statements, scholarship terms and written materials to confirm district compliance.
The liaison described the state process briefly: "The governor releases his proposal. The house then released their budget. Now we're in a place where the senate established their. And even after that happens, ... the governor signs it." He recommended that the district continue advocacy to ensure any state changes do not punish districts with strong fiscal positions.
On federal guidance, staff said the U.S. Department of Education changed the required data and the Ohio Department of Education said Ohio will maintain local practices. Staff described the verification as procedural and said they are not finding systemic issues in district policy but will request that staff resubmit club purpose statements and review scholarship criteria: "I'm gonna send something to staff saying if you... do have a group ... resubmit your purpose statements." The presenter noted that student clubs and third-party scholarships must be open to all students and cannot exclude members based on protected characteristics.
Ending: Staff will collect and review written club purpose statements, scholarship criteria and related materials and return to the board if policy or practice adjustments are needed; the district will continue to monitor the state budget and engage in advocacy through existing channels.
