Voters who live in the Bellefontaine City School district can expect to see a 1 percent earned income tax levy on the ballot in the November election as the BCS Board of Education voted to put the measure before the electorate at its regular meeting Tuesday, June 16.
The board reported that state funding to public schools has significantly decreased over the last five to 10 years and scores of schools across the state, including BCS, are facing deficit spending in their respective financial outlooks.
Given the BCS’s recent five-year forecasts, the district received a Fiscal Pre-Cautionary Status designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This designation is used as a heads-up message to local school districts that show signs of potential future financial distress.
Should the BCS financial continue to deteriorate, the next steps the DOEW may take are increasingly dramatic, starting with a fiscal caution, followed by a fiscal watch and, finally, a fiscal emergency.
While rare (only two of Ohio over 700 school districts are in a fiscal emergency at present and two more are under a financial watch), should a fiscal emergency be declared, the State of Ohio would step in and form a financial and supervision commission to run the district’s finances.
The commission would provide oversight to ensure that the district prepares a proper financial recovery plan and that appropriations and spending are consistent with the plan.
Once established, the commission has the power to cut expenses and staff as it sees fit in order to meet the district’s financial goals. While the BCS is nowhere near financial emergency status, the district’s financial situation can be expected to worsen should the levy fail.
Last month, BCS Treasurer Josh Wasson explained why the levy is necessary.
"Bellefontaine City Schools has been fiscally responsible with taxpayer funds by making several strategic staffing adjustments in recent years to save money while only being on the ballot three times since 2011,” Wasson told the board.
"Unfortunately, public school districts have been put in a position where expenses are increasing but revenues are not. BCS needs local community assistance to maintain the basic programming our students need and deserve."
If the levy passes, the taxes will begin to be collected Jan. 1, 2027.
In other news, the board approved an updated five-year forecast relating to receiving the Fiscal Pre-Cautionary Status. Updating the forecast was the last requirement of this designation.
Another five-year forecast will be completed in August.
In other action, the board approved, accepted or extended:
the following resignations: Grant Gariety - 7th Grade Social Studies; Angie Horvath - Gifted Coordinator; Tyler Shamblin - Intervention Specialist; Cody Sigrist - High School Science; Whitney Stolly - Literacy Coach; Kimberly Collier - Educational Aide; Susan Gleason - Educational Aide; Tina Norton - Transportation Aide;
the following hires: Whitney Stolly - Gifted Coordinator; Christy Ash - Bellefontaine Intermediate School Guidance Counselor; Alyssa Maguire - Intervention Specialist; Courtney Sims - Intervention Specialist; Lucy Somerlot - 5th Grade; Makayla Young - 5th Grade;
James Howell to teach summer school; and Donna Howell and Bri Hughes to teach ABC K-Camp in August;
six extended days for high school guidance secretary Deborah Sheehan;
the following classified contracts: one-year - Valerie Burton, Lauren Henry, Jayden Sims; two-year - Jai Abhyankar, Cindy Agamez, Kristin Allore Lowe, Jolene Clary, Trinity Floyd, Nicole Fulkerson, Brenda Hall, Micah Haynes, Terry Headings, April Logan, Chandler Martell, Joseph McCall, Margaret Navaroli, Tonja Reed, Lisa Ropp, Jody Salmons, Connie Sanders, Erin Short and Erica Young; continuing contracts - Tonya Anderson, Seth Close, Mary Dillard, Joyce Fogan, Tawnya Irick, Cassidy Miller, Brenda Moon, Erica Morris, Rebekah Price, Eva Skaggs and John Vicario;
the following supplemental resignations: Sean Egler - High School Boys Basketball Assistant; Darcy Neeld - Bellefontaine Middle School Show Choir Director; Garrett Reinhard - High School Chieftain Leaders Adviser;
the following supplementals were approved: Daniel Boy - 8th Grade Football Head; Jason Brown - High School Football Head; Hoyt Buckingham - 7th Grade Football Head; Art Caudill - High School Football Assistant; Jeremy Clifton - High School Football Assistant; Carleton Cotner - High School Football Assistant; Sean Egler - High School Girls Basketball Head; Sean Egler - High School Football Assistant; Matt Gallaway - High School Girls Basketball Assistant;Yvette Hunsicker - High School Chieftain Leaders Adviser; Jesse Jervis - High School Percussion Adviser; Melanie Lehman - High School Interact; Skylar Mifsud - High School Football Assistant; Chris Miller - High School Envirothon; Rob Palmer - 7th Grade Football Assistant; Garrett Reinhard - High School Chieftain Leaders Coordinator;Tom Rose - High School Girls Tennis Head; Reagan Standley - Middle School Volleyball Assistant Coach; Andrew Stoner - 8th Grade Football Assistant Coach; Heather Storm - High School Basketball Cheer Head; Jeremiah Vigansky - High School Football Assistant; Dean Whetsel - High School Boys Basketball Assistant
Richard McDaniel as a volunteer coach for high school football;
the cafeteria rates for the '26-'27 school year; the district will offer free breakfast to all students; lunch prices are: High School/Middle School: Lunch – $2.65, Reduced Lunch – 40 cents; Intermediate School/Elementary School: Lunch – $2.40, Reduced Lunch – 40 cents.
The board announced the recipients of the 17 Bellefontaine Board of Education Scholarships. The scholarships, amounts, awardees and institutions of choice are listed below:
Board of Education Academic, $1,000, Jacob Henry, The Ohio State University;
Board of Education Academic, $1,000, Elliett Lang, Miami University;
Board of Education Academic, $1,000, Kaeleigh Flora, University of Kentucky;
Board of Education Academic, $1,000, Claire Brown, Wright State University;
Board of Education Academic, $1,000, Chloe Stolly, The Ohio State University;
BHS Alumni & Friends, $250, Ryann Gatchel, University of Findlay;
Robert L. & Helen E. Ginn Memorial, $500, Patrick Stolly, Bowling Green State University;
Effie Patterson Memorial, $500, Jacob Henry, The Ohio State University;
Pepsi Leadership, $1,250, Kelsie Snapp, The Ohio State University;
Pepsi Leadership, $1,250, Carter Caudill, Ashland University;
Monicha Simpson Memorial, $250, Hayden Maus, Ohio Northern University;
James Stolly Memorial, $500, Chloe Stolly, The Ohio State University;
James Stolly Memorial, $500 Patrick Stolly, Bowling Green State University;
Ronald H. Wisse, $500, Gillian Steele, Bowling Green State University;
Harold & Barbara Marker Academic, $10,000, Caitlin Haley, Miami University;
Harold & Barbara Marker Academic, $7,000, Thessaly Reminder, Miami University; and
Harold & Barbara Marker Academic, $5,000, Lane Howard, Bowling Green State University.
The next board meeting is 2 p.m. Monday, July 27, at the board office.
