Council committees review plan to use opioid settlement funds for Green Drug Task Force scholarship

Valerie Wolford, communications manager and drug task force liaison, presented a proposal to establish a $25,000 endowed scholarship with the Green Schools Foundation funded from the city’s drug task force special revenue (opioid settlement) account.

Wolford said the endowed scholarship would follow Ohio settlement restrictions on the use of opioid funds. Eligibility would focus on graduating seniors who either plan to pursue careers in addiction recovery services or whose lives have been directly impacted by substance use disorder (for example, those who have lived apart from a parent or guardian because of treatment). She said the fund has historically been supported by donations and that donation‑funded scholarships totaling $7,100 have been awarded since the program began; the new request would use $25,000 from opioid settlement funds to create an endowment and seed annual awards.

Director Schmidt provided recent settlement transfer figures: about $27,489.81 in 2022, $32,859.24 in 2023, and $67,893.10 so far in 2024; staff said settlement receipts are expected for at least the next decade though amounts can change. Wolford and Schmidt emphasized that the proposed funds would come from opioid settlement receipts, not general tax revenues.

Council members asked why the Green Schools Foundation — rather than the Green Community Fund or Akron Community Foundation — would hold the endowment. Staff said the Foundation acts as a designated scholarship custodian and can administer investments and deliver a perpetual scholarship with established selection procedures; the drug task force would create a review committee to recommend recipients, while the Green Schools Foundation would make final awards under its investment and payout policies. Members also raised concerns about outreach to Green residents who attend other schools; staff said the task force and city will broadly disseminate scholarship information to ensure resident students are aware of the opportunity.

Committee members suggested the administration consider other prevention‑oriented investments allowed under the settlement rules, while affirming support for the scholarship concept. With no objections in committee, staff said they would seek the usual readings, and committee members indicated they would request time for the item on the regular council agenda.