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Olentangy Schools
July 9 Meeting Summary
July 9, 2025 Meeting
- Board President Brandon Lester shared, that on July 1, 2025, Governor DeWine signed Ohio's Fiscal Years 2026-27 budget into law, which included several critical line-item vetoes on provisions that would have caused potential long-term, significant financial harm—not only to Olentangy Schools but to public school districts statewide.
- President Lester expressed his appreciation for Governor DeWine’s decisions safeguarding the district from significant financial harm and preserving the local control that allows; however, he also reiterated disappointment in legislative decisions that do not provide meaningful funding increases and failing to fully implement the Fair School Funding Plan.
- Board member Lizett Schreiber noted the Ohio House of Representatives is expected to interrupt its Summer Break on July 21 to override Gov. Mike DeWine's line-item vetoes potentially and once again threaten the financial stability of Olentangy Schools.
- Despite recent reforms, Ohio’s Fair School Funding Plan continues to rely heavily on local property taxes and local levies, which unjustly shift the burden of school funding to district residents. The Board and district leaders continue to advocate for shifts in how the state allocates resources to public schools to provide property tax relief in our Olentangy Community. President Lester encouraged the community to visit the district website and learn more about complex issues that directly impact them and the future of Olentangy Schools: Olentangy School Funding Overview & Advocacy Resources.
- As the district prepares to welcome students and families for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 20, Superintendent Todd Meyer shared that the Human Resources Department is finalizing staffing for school administrators, teachers, classified, and other district staff for the 2025-26 school year.
- He also acknowledged the district’s intentionality surrounding professional development and leadership, which has allowed Olentangy to develop a strong internal pipeline of high-quality candidates for various roles in the district.
- Treasurer Ryan Jenkins reiterated that district leaders continue to examine the potential impact of any Ohio lawmakers’ decision to override Governor DeWine's budget vetoes, including:
- 20-Mill Floor Calculation: Contains a requirement for certain tax levies to be included in the 20-mill floor calculation for school funding purposes; this would include emergency, substitute, and other levies and income taxes.
- Expanded County Budget Commission Authority: A provision granting county budget commissions authority to unilaterally reduce a levy passed by voters for a school district or other taxing authority under certain circumstances.
- School District Property Tax Levy Restrictions: An item that eliminates school districts' ability to levy fixed-sum emergency and substitute emergency levies and school district income tax and fixed-sum property tax levies.
BUSINESS & FACILITIES DISCUSSION
- Olentangy Schools remains proactive in addressing the projected 2,000 new students by the 2028-29 school year, and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gordon shared that the district will continue to partner with Fanning Howey Associates, Inc. for the schematic design services of future High School #5.
- Construction of future Olentangy schools is contingent on future successful ballot issues; however, due to the timelines associated with design and construction, the district’s capital plan includes deliberate and thoughtful long-range planning.
- Mr. Gordon shared that Olentangy’s continued collaboration with Fanning Howey Associates, Inc. to replicate school construction and design services has equated to a cost savings of more than $6 million for the district—including a negotiated cost-savings for High School #5 of $583,000.
INTENT TO REHIRE RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT TODD R. MEYER FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR
- The Olentangy Schools Board of Education approved the retirement and rehiring of Superintendent Meyer effective July 31, 2025, with Superintendent Meyer’s new five-year re-employment contract beginning August 2, 2025, and continuing through July 31, 2030.
- President Lester noted that a public notice motion was approved in accordance with Section 3307.353 of the Ohio Revised Code during the Board’s May 5 regular business meeting, and additional discussions were held during the June 12 meeting. He also reiterated that this action does not increase costs for the district or taxpayers and expressed his appreciation for the work Superintendent Meyer has done and will continue to do in service to Olentangy Schools.
ADDITIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION INFORMATION
- The next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Olentangy Administrative Offices. View the 2025 board meeting dates.
- All meeting information and records are available on the Board Meeting Records webpage.