Superintendent says district has paused cyber charter payments amid state budget impasse

Superintendent Dr. Stage told the Athens Area SD board that the district has "effectively stopped making our cyber charter school payments" while state subsidy payments remain suspended because of a budget impasse. He said invoices continue to arrive but that the district is conserving cash and that there are two mechanisms for paying charter obligations: pay monthly invoices as they arrive or allow deductions from basic education funding at year end.

"While we're not receiving any subsidy payments, our cash flow is low. We're doing everything we can to reserve all cash on hand," Dr. Stage said, explaining the rationale for withholding payments at this time. He added that the district believed the approach was prudent and that other districts had taken similar steps.

The transcript records this as a superintendent report rather than a formal motion or board vote; no action to codify the pause was recorded. The board did not ask for a recorded vote on rescinding or approving the suspension during the meeting. Administrators noted the district is continuing to receive monthly invoices and that the district could alternatively permit the payments to be deducted from state basic education funding at the end of the fiscal year.

The superintendent’s remarks raise budgetary questions for district stakeholders. The board’s minutes or subsequent meeting materials should clarify whether this pause will be brought forward as a formal agenda item, how the district will document the decision, and what timeline will apply to resuming payments if state subsidies are restored.