Parents urge board to protect special-education programs as levy planning continues

Several parents and residents used the board’s open forum to urge trustees to avoid cutting special-education services and to support a successful levy that preserves programming. Speakers framed their remarks around the district’s current budget gap and the board’s upcoming levy decisions.

Kirsten Bowen, a Nordonia homeowner and parent, described her son’s experience in the district’s special-education programs and said those services were the reason the family chose to live in the district. Bowen said enrollment has fallen while the number of students needing special-education services has not, increasing the percentage of students who require supports. She said specific programs at risk include adaptive art, the Teammates peer program, and social clubs, and argued those offerings build inclusion and help retain staff.

Another resident, George Malachin, spoke about the local economic link between well-funded schools and workforce readiness and urged residents and board members to “step up and do everything we can to change this narrative” by supporting adequate funding. Ingrid Schmidt, a long-time meeting attendee, told the board she believed members had exercised careful fiscal responsibility and urged constituents to work together to pass a levy that addresses buildings and services.

Board members and staff present noted they are pursuing multiple strategies: committees convened by Superintendent Casey Wright are studying cost-saving and efficiency options and the board is exploring sponsorships and other alternative revenue sources. The board emphasized it has been engaging legislators and attending conferences to seek broader funding reforms but said local levies remain the primary near-term option.

Ending: Speakers asked the board to prioritize programs that support inclusion and learning for students with disabilities as the board moves toward finalizing which certified levy measures will go on the ballot.