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Board unanimously passes 'Safeguard Our Schools' resolution opposing proposed federal K–12 cuts; approves routine financial and personnel items
Summary
The New Philadelphia City Board of Education passed a resolution opposing a draft federal budget plan described in the packet as proposing a $7.3 billion cut to K–12 and changes to IDEA; the board also approved routine financial agreements, policies and personnel items by unanimous roll-call votes.
The New Philadelphia City Board of Education unanimously approved a 'Safeguard Our Schools' resolution objecting to a draft of the 2027 federal budget described in the meeting materials as proposing an additional $7.3 billion in cuts to K–12 education and a change that would convert the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act into a state-directed block grant.
The board then completed a series of routine approvals and votes by roll call, all carried unanimously.
Votes at a glance (outcomes recorded by roll call):
- Adoption of the meeting agenda — approved (yes: Miss Fontana; Mr. Petrullo; Mr. Rick; Mrs. Shrock; Dr. Bachmann). - Approval of minutes for April 13 and April 9 special meeting — approved (unanimous). - Financial approvals including memorandum of agreement for public funds deposit with Huntington National Bank, service agreement with Johnson Controls, agreement with Learnwell (amount stated in packet), invoices for Kennedy Insurance and ECO ESC virtual speech-pathologist — approved (unanimous). - Federal purchasing procedures update and acceptance of donations — approved (unanimous). - Second reading and adoption of five board policies — approved (unanimous). - Personnel slate (retirement, resignations, hires, summer school staffing, substitutes, volunteers, corrected contracts, preschool psychologist, preschool intervention specialist, seventh-grade language-arts teacher, classified contracts, supplementals for 2026–27) — approved (unanimous). - Approval of class-of-2026 graduate list pending completion of requirements, early graduation for Alexis Barnhart, and trip approvals for speech and debate nationals (June 13–20) — approved (unanimous). - Motion to enter executive session — approved (unanimous roll call).
What the resolution says: The packet text the board discussed framed the resolution as a request to federal representatives to oppose cuts to K–12 funding and to maintain IDEA's federal oversight rather than convert it into a block grant. The board’s vote was unanimous; the packet urged contacting Congressman Ruly (name in packet) to oppose such budget actions.
Why it matters: If enacted at the federal level, the budget changes described in the packet would alter K–12 funding and the structure of special-education funding. The board’s action is a formal local advocacy message to federal lawmakers and reflects district concern about potential reductions in Title funding and federal oversight of special-education services.
What’s next: The board did not specify additional local lobbying steps during the meeting; passage records the board’s formal opposition and could be used in outreach to elected officials.
