Findlay Schools OKs teacher contract

FINDLAY — The Findlay City Schools Board of Education approved a contract with the Findlay Education Association on Monday, with both parties praising the negotiation process. "It was probably the most respectful negotiations I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of, and I've negotiated contracts for this district for 17 years," said Angela Dittman, counselor at Bigelow Hill and co-president of the Findlay Education Association. She said she was pleased they arrived at a contract for more than one year. School board member Matt Cooper also praised the process. "Working with the teachers was an absolute pleasure this time around," he said. "It's not often that you shake hands and walk away from the table and everybody's happy." He said this was the first time, in his time on the board, that they had been able to ratify an agreement "that created long-term stability for our teachers and our staff. It's a big deal for them to be able to know where they're going to be at in three years, and also a big deal for us to be able to plan around the finances related to the contract." He also thanked the teachers for their willingness to contribute more to their healthcare premiums. "I'm going to be proud to vote for this contract tonight," he said. Dittman added that she appreciated the HR team working to fill positions earlier in the year. "It's something we have wanted and wanted and wanted, to really focus on getting teachers hired early, so we can get the best of the best, and it sounds like we're really doing that," she said. She added that a new hire who will teach at Northview Primary School in the fall has already come to Northview to spend a day becoming familiar with the school. Superintendent Andy Hatton shared an update on hiring at the school board meeting. The district had had to cut about 40 positions prior to this school year for budget reasons. Hatton said they are bringing back about 20 of these positions going into the 2026-27 school year, and 17 are filled so far. The district has begun to receive funding from its recent income tax levy and is working to rebuild. Hatton announced that Jackie Nelson, currently principal of Findlay City Schools Preschool, would be serving as director of elementary education. Hatton also shared a transportation update, saying that the district should be on track to meet the goals for 2026-27. These include providing transportation to Findlay High School for those living outside a two-mile radius, as well as offering K-5 busing for those living more than one mile away. The district has reduced the number of bus stops, but students will not have to walk more than a quarter-mile to their bus stop, Hatton said. The district currently has 33 drivers on payroll, some of whom are in training. Hatton said they will need 38 drivers to complete not only the regular routes but afterschool activities. Transportation staff will meet with a team from TransFinder later this month for training on that software. New treasurer The school board also welcomed incoming treasurer Alex Hix, who will assume the role on Aug. 1. Current treasurer Pam Harrington will step back to become fiscal compliance coordinator prior to retirement. Hix is currently treasurer of Miami East Local Schools. "I'm looking forward to working with Alex as he transitions," Harrington said. Hatton said he has been asked to attend meetings of civic organizations to share the facts on the possible impacts of the initiative to abolish property taxes in Ohio. He said that taking a look at "reasonable property tax reform in the state of Ohio" is needed. However, the proposed ballot measure would abolish all property taxes in the state. "If it were to go through and they changed the constitution in the state of Ohio, Ohio would have to figure out how to replace $24 billion in revenue overnight," Hatton said. "And it doesn't just impact public schools. We know that." Harrington added that agencies around the state are working to share what property taxes do for their communities. Board member Katie Hite also mentioned the coalition Ohioans to Protect Public Services, which includes organizations all over the state providing such education. Student presentations The school board also heard presentations by two groups of students. Glenwood Middle School students shared about their experience reading the novel "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. The students held a mock trial after reading the book, and then were able to visit the U.S. federal courthouse and learn more from the judge there. In honor of America 250, a group of third-graders from Susan Beggs' class at Bigelow Hill Intermediate School recited "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Beggs said afterward the class had spent the entire school year memorizing the poem, which is 14 stanzas long. The children came dressed in period accessories, with the boys wearing tricorne hats and the girls wearing bonnets to represent the time period. They performed a dramatic reading, their voices rising at the more intense moments of the poem, and shouting at the final line: "And the midnight message of Paul Revere." Throughout, they also acted out some portions. For example, when it came to the lines "the measured tread of the grenadiers/Marching down to their boats on the shore," the children themselves marched in place. They received a standing ovation from the school board.