Kings Local enrollment growing even as district warns state funding could drop by $2 million

Kings Local School District leaders told the board at a March work session that the district is growing in size and diversity even as proposed changes to state funding could cut roughly $2 million from the district over three years.

Superintendent Matt Sears told the board Kings has reached a roughly 5,000-student plateau and that the district—s population is becoming more diverse and needs more services. "We currently have 712 students that are considered limited English proficient," Sears said, and added that "the state of Ohio provides us with approximately $180,000 total to educate those 712 students," which the district says is far short of what is needed.

The treasurer, Michael Morrow, and Sears showed state data (the ODE/CUP reports) that compare Kings with neighboring and statewide peer districts. The presenters said Kings has worked to identify about $7.23 million in revenue increases or cost reductions since the district—s last levy and is aiming for roughly $8 million before next school year, but that efficiency gains may not offset proposed state cuts. "If Governor DeWine—s budget came through as he proposed, we would see a pretty substantial drop of... almost a million dollars year over year," Sears said, and later characterized the fight to preserve funding as "an uphill battle." He and Morrow projected the governor—s proposal could amount to nearly $2,000,000 taken from the district over a three-year period.

Presenters also reviewed how state funding formulas affect per-pupil revenue. Morrow and Sears pointed to legacy adjustments in the state formula that give some districts, notably Mason, roughly $1,000 more per pupil than Kings because of historical personal property tax replacement payments. "You will see a difference between Mason and Kings, at about a thousand dollars more per student," Sears said.

Board members and staff noted that enrollment growth is concentrated in younger grades and in student groups that typically require extra services. The presenters highlighted that economically disadvantaged students rose from about 15% of the student body in 2020 to roughly 26% in 2024, students identified with disabilities are about 15.5%, and limited English proficiency climbed from about 3% in 2020 to nearly 10% by 2024.

District leaders described active advocacy steps: a state funding group of community members, targeted outreach to state legislators, and coordination with Warren County schools to press for preservation or restoration of categorical and foundation funding. Sears said the district is pursuing categorical funding to help ELL and special education populations and is involving community members in outreach to state lawmakers.

The presentation also reviewed district staffing and spending benchmarks drawn from ODE peer comparisons: Kings— overall staff and administrative ratios are generally in line with or leaner than peers, counseling caseloads are high (presenters cited a figure of about 447 students per counselor), and on a per-pupil basis Kings ranks toward the lower end of instructional and administrative cost among statewide peers. Morrow said the district has seen about $800,000 more in investment interest revenue than projected this year, and expenses are running roughly $700,000 better than forecast eight months into the fiscal year.

Board members asked for more public-facing materials. A trustee requested adding per-pupil expense and state funding tabs to the district—s fiscal-responsibility webpage; staff agreed. Superintendent Sears and the treasurer said they will provide the board the requested breakdowns and other items at upcoming meetings.

Ending

District leaders said they will continue local advocacy and monitor the governor—s budget process; no immediate policy change or levy was voted at the work session. The board then moved on to other agenda items and later convened an executive session on personnel matters.