School Board Budget Woes Continue
Five-Year Financial Plan Approved
The Westerville School Board approved a state-mandated five-year budget during Monday’s board meeting, which indicates declining revenues and projects a deficit by 2029, the fifth year of the budget.
Board Treasurer Nicole Marshall explained to the board that the figures may not be entirely accurate. The state legislature is still considering a new school funding plan that could differ from the assumptions used in the calculations.
She noted that regardless of the legislature's decision, the school system will need to find ways to operate with reduced funding following the failed levy last November. Marshall also mentioned that the board is planning to implement a small number of staffing reductions across various employee groups in fiscal year 2026.
The largest reductions come from the Westerville Education Association (WEA), with 19 of 1,178 employees being cut, accounting for 2% of the group. Administrative staff will see the highest percentage reduction, with 5 of 97 employees (5%) slated for elimination. The Westerville Educational Support Staff Association (WESSA) will lose 6 of 150 employees, or 4%.
Reductions in other categories are minimal: one employee each from the Academy of American Studies (AAS) and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) 138 groups will be cut. OAPSE 719 is not expected to see any staffing reduction.
One major administrative change is eliminating and replacing the deputy superintendent position with a single position combining the assistant superintendent, business manager, and human resources positions. Additional changes include combining the special education and student enrollment coordinators into a single position and the elementary and secondary curriculum directors into a single position.
Marshall told the board what the planned austerity measures include:
Rescinding $30 million from the Capital Projects Fund that was previously set aside for facility work
Reducing current year budgets by $4.8 million
Cutting projected curriculum and technology spending by $2.4 million
Eliminating over 30 staff positions district-wide for an expected savings of more than $3 million
Ending a $65,000 annual transfer to the Permanent Improvement Fund
Trimming more than $1 million from the FY26 operating budget
The district has not indicated that these measures are tied to a single-year shortfall but rather to multi-year financial planning challenges as expenses continue to rise faster than revenues. No new levy has been placed on the ballot for 2025.
Africa Road Phase One Almost Complete
Installation of the sanitary sewer beneath Africa Road from County Line Road to the southern end of the East of Africa project is complete. The only remaining task is replacing curbs, gutters, and roadway that had to be removed during the sewer installation, as the contractor encountered unexpected obstacles and rainy weather that delayed the project.
A rain forecast for the next two days may again delay completing the road repairs.
The contractor will soon close Africa Road at Polaris Parkway for a similar but shorter sanitary sewer installation.
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