From left, Superintendent Stephanie Starcher and Treasurer Kaitlin Huck organize upcoming meetings prior to the start of the Fort Frye Local Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday where discussion focused on the Ohio Report Card and a $10,000 donation to support additional activities at the high school. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

LOWELL – Fort Frye Local Schools’ Board of Education met Monday, hearing updates on athletic participation and finances and celebrating the district’s highest state report card rating to date.

Additionally, they reviewed a four-year financial forecast that projects continued deficit spending and a likely levy request in 2027.

The meeting opened with recognition of a $10,000 donation coordinated by a team from Hall Financial Advisors.

“We have recently entered into a professional partnership relationship with you guys,” said Hall’s Connor McCreary, appearing alongside colleague Zane Eschbaugh. “Our job is to be a resource for you … any way we can give back to teachers, the administration, the staff and the kids, we’re here to do so.”

Half of the funds will support staff recognition and celebrating the district’s state report card results and the other half will go toward a high school project, according to Superintendent Stephanie Starcher.

Athletic Director Matt Tullius provided an overview of program costs and participation. He said the department’s annual operating budget is about $192,000, not including coaching stipends or transportation, which are covered through other departments and the general fund.

Students are charged $75 per sport, capped at the cost of $150 per student and $300 per family. The district collected about $28,050 in participation fees last school year to help offset travel costs.

“We do get a couple of donations here and there for those families that cannot afford those,” said Tullius.

Tullius said, like many districts, Fort Frye continues to see lower gate receipts since the pandemic, citing the availability of livestreaming and radio broadcasts and the rising cost of attendance for families.

To encourage attendance, Tullius stated that they have received a sponsorship through Domino’s this year to allow all Fort Frye students in grades nine through 12 to attend home events free of charge.

“They cover the cost for all those passes,” he said.

The district also launched a unified strength and conditioning program led by a certified coach, with costs covered by the athletic boosters. Students use an app and QR codes in the weight room to track workouts, attendance and gains, and PE classes have integrated the program. Participation has surged, particularly among female athletes, according to Tullius. He also said roughly 80 students per day are now lifting during three class periods, with additional after-school sessions.

Administrators reported Fort Frye earned its highest overall rating on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s 2024 report card, reflecting 2023-24 performance.

“We definitely have something to celebrate,” Starcher said. “Fort Frye Local Schools got its highest ever rating, which we’re really proud of.”

The presentation emphasized both achievement and progress metrics, graduation rates that remain consistently above 96% and earning the highest ranking of 5 in College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness. Starcher said the district is pushing more students into accelerated coursework in grades three through eight where appropriate and focusing on “moving students up” performance bands to improve the weighted Performance Index.

They also outlined efforts in early literacy and chronic absenteeism, noting that Ohio classifies a student as chronically absent at more than 10% of days missed, excused or unexcused.

“If you’re not in the seat, you’re not there to learn,” Starcher said, crediting guidance counselors, principals and the attendance officer for outreach and home visits.

Treasurer Kaitlin Huck presented the district’s state-required financial forecast, now a four-year lookahead under House Bill 96. The administration projects approximately $500,000 in deficit spending this year, with deficits compounding in out-years if revenue and cost trends hold. Board policy calls for maintaining a cash carryover of at least 25% of annual expenditures (about $4.5 million this year), and the district has previously set aside one-time funds for high school/middle school roof and restroom renovations.

On revenue, the district expects about a 10% increase in property tax collections tied to the county’s reappraisal, though officials noted most of Fort Frye’s local tax base comes from public utilities. Investment earnings have been strong — more than $900,000 last year at yields above 4% — but the forecast assumes lower rates going forward.

On expenses, health insurance remains a major pressure point.

“Over the past four years, we’ve seen an average health insurance premium increase of 14.15%,” Huck said, adding that the Insurance Committee is seeking alternative quotes.

Purchased services — which include special education and other wraparound supports — are also rising with student needs.

Administrators said the district will continue to manage staffing through attrition and reassignment and is preparing for a levy request in two years to protect reserves.

“Based on what we know … we’re likely to need to go for (a levy) about fall ’27,” said Huck.

Officials also flagged uncertainty from ongoing state property tax reform discussions. A broad repeal effort targeting certain property taxes could significantly reduce revenue for schools and other local services.

“If that were to pass, you lose $2.4 million,” Huck said.

Huck said the district plans to compile data explaining what such a reduction would mean for programs.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.