Public voices heard at Findlay Schools town hall

FINDLAY — With early voting started for the May 6 election, Findlay City Schools Board of Education hosted another town hall at Donnell Middle School to discuss district finances Wednesday evening. The board and school administrators addressed questions from the community relating to the 1% earned income tax proposal on the ballot. The board reminded the community that the 1% earned income tax would apply to residents living in the Findlay City Schools district with earned income, applying to salaries, wages and self-employment income. The levy will not tax Social Security payments, pensions, retirement income, child support, unemployment benefits or investments. The revenue obtained through the levy will be put towards the district's general operating fund, officials have said. "It is an operating levy, which means that it goes toward the operational expenses of running the school district," said Treasurer Pam Harrington Wednesday. "We're talking about the salaries of all the employees, maintenance costs — it's everything to do with running the school district, besides building buildings or improving infrastructure." Following the same levy proposal's failure in November 2024, the district has developed a phased plan of budget cuts to address the projected $12.7 million deficit it currently faces. The levy would generate roughly $13 million in revenue. Regardless of the outcome of the May election, $6 million in cuts will be implemented for the 2025-26 school year. If the levy fails again in May, an additional $4 million in cuts will be made for the 2026-27 school year, with another $4 million in cuts planned for 2027-28. Among the planned 2025-26 reductions is the elimination of 16 elementary teaching positions and supplemental positions, resulting in increased class sizes and reduced opportunities for individualized instruction, officials have said. "We're also looking at potentially 92 supplemental positions." said Superintendent Andy Hatton Wednesday. "That means assistant coaches in sports or assistant directors in the fine arts and performing arts. It's those extra opportunities that we are so very proud of that we offer here in Trojan Country. Those are the things that will have to be in place because we have to stabilize the budget and the cuts going into next year." Questions from the public During the town hall, residents raised concerns about recent spending decisions, particularly regarding administrative and staff salaries. Some wondered about the district's business development and alumni coordinator position, a role with a $90,000 salary. Residents questioned the timing of the role, given the district's financial situation. Board President Matt Cooper defended the decision to create the position, saying it has already secured over $500,000 in external funding for the district as well as launched the Trojan Foundation, a long-term source of funding. "She connected teachers with 53 grants totaling $522,787. She has personally written grants totaling $116,692 with another $100,000, which is in the approval stage. The process of streamlining fundraising has been executed and narrowed to six district sales generating $61,991. Working with the Community Foundation, she's already secured initial donors for our foundation in the amount of $60,750, and she's also already organized many class reunions and visits back to the district, whether it be tours or school events," Cooper said. "To me, this more than demonstrates that she's paying for herself." Questions were also raised about the hiring of a new director and assistant director for Findlay First Edition following former Director Kevin Manley's resignation. Hatton said the district has remained committed to a verbal agreement made to Manley to hire an assistant director prior to his resignation. "We were committed to finding the absolute best and doing the best we could, to find an amazing director to try to fill those shoes, which is just darn near impossible," said Hatton. "That's why we hired David Coolidge. We also wanted to keep that verbal commitment and for me it was to those students. So we hired an assistant director because again, this is one of the premier not just show choirs in our county, in the region, but in the state." Residents questioned some of the district's recent purchases and various school organization's trips. The board emphasized the funding used for these expenses were not paid for with the general operating fund that the levy would be supporting. Examples include: Furniture upgrades — Paid for through grants secured by student-led leaders, The Trojan Trail Blazers. FFE's recent Orlando competition trip — Paid for by parents and students. Millstream competition costs — Covered by weighted funds from the state designated for Millstream projects. Millstream improvements — Funded by state grants. District officials said if the levy passes in May, they will not need to return to the ballot again soon for operating dollars. "The idea is that with the property tax and the earned income tax, diversifying those revenue streams, that we will intentionally not be back on the ballot for as long as possible for operating dollars," Hatton said.