April Legislative Impact Meeting: Superintendent Panel 4/11/23

The Chamber hosted its monthly Legislative Impact Meeting on April 11th with a Logan County School Superintendents panel. Scott Mann from Riverside Local School District, John Scheu from Benjamin Logan Local School District, Rob Underwood from Indian Lake Schools, Rick Smith from Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, and Brad Hall from Bellefontaine City Schools all shared about recent wins and challenges at their schools.  They asked the community to continue holding the schools and students to a high standard. All students, regardless of economic status, behavior, or other obstacles are still just as capable of learning and being successful in the community.
Several highlights shared include:

• Logan County Schools share an incredible partnership and collaborative spirit.  The Superintendents regularly interact and share ideas
• Our schools are a reflection of the greater Logan County community.  The values of the community are seen in the schools just like the challenges seen in the community are seen in the schools.  Superintendents asked the community to not believe everything they read about schools as issues that show up in national or even state news often do not reflect what is happening locally.
• Mental health of students has become a focus and concern.  More dollars are being budgeted for things outside the classroom: social emotional issues, mental health professionals, counselors, school security, and safety.
• There is ongoing concern for the ability of students to pay for lunch.  During COVID all students received free breakfast and lunch.  Today, many kids simply go hungry.  Looking to the state for possible other resources to support students nutrition.
• Enrollment at all districts but Benjamin Logan and Ohio Hi-Point has been gradually declining and now seems to be nearing a plateau
  • Bellefontaine about 2,300 students gradual decline for 15 years. Major success in 2022 adding pre-school which will expand in 2023
  • Riverside about 600 students and also a steady decline.  Very proud of 31 kids being selected to compete in the national Business Professionals of America event this summer
  • Indian Lake about 1,400 students down from 1,800 in 2009.  Expect to plateau at about 1,300. Seeing significant growth in their FFA and Agriculture programs with onsite pasture and livestock
  • Benjamin Logan about 1,700 students and seeing minor growth.  Covers 3 counties and is the 16th largest school district in the state by square mileage.  26 bus routes. Very proud to onsite health care with Community Health and Wellness Partners and of their required financial literacy class for all students. 
  • Ohio Hi-Point has growing enrollment and programming.  They cover 5 counties and 14 school districts.  They are about to expand into their 59th program offered either onsite or at their satellite school locations.
• School Funding is always a challenge as the state makes changes every two-years with the state budget, yet schools budget on a 5-year plan.  85% of budgets are employees so any time reductions are needed, there are not many non-people places to reduce cost.  95% of what schools receive funding for is for mandated programming, meaning there is little discretion in how dollars can be spent. 

The next Legislative Impact Meeting will be held on Tuesday May 9th from 8-9am at the Mary Rutan Health Center.  The Logan County Commissioners will be presenting on recent project updates, wins, and challenges.