(File Photo) Ewing School Principal Hannah Frazier speaks about the potential partnerships with the Ohio Valley Education Service Center.

The Board of Directors for Ewing School, which is offered through the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities, voted Tuesday to table any final decisions about partnerships with the OVESC (Ohio Valley Educational Service Center) and the termination of services.

After an extensive meeting with detailed discussions between the board, community members, and faculty, the board went into executive session and examined agenda items which were discussed and decided late Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Tiffany Neill said they passed the resolution of tax which is scheduled to be brought to the Washington County Commission for approval today. Once approved, the levy would be placed on the ballot for the May election.

“Our board decided to table the conservation around discontinuing school services,” said Neill. “We have arranged meetings with all of the superintendents in all of the districts here.”

Neill said they tabled those decisions but did pass the reorganization of the Early Intervention Department and the 2026 Fiscal Year Budget.

“We feel that we need to make sure we rule out all options first before making any decision yet,” she said. “This is a very thoughtful process and we want to explore every avenue.”

During the meeting Tuesday night, there were concerns raised from a member of the community and faculty about approving the partnership with the ESC and discontinuing services.

“Can I ask what other partnerships you guys have explored,” asked community member Mandie Morris. “I’m asking if we can pause the vote.”

Morris asked to what extent the board had gone with researching other partnership opportunities and if they would pause making any permanent decisions until more research had been conducted.

“I want to be clear that I’m not here to oppose the ESC getting involved with Ewing and I understand the financial challenges facing the county,” she said.

Morris had concerns about final decisions based on research she conducted on her own time.

Ewing School Principal Hannah Frazier said she didn’t want the focus of Ewing to get lost in the changes or approved partnerships.

“I don’t want to work for a split district, I want to work for the kids,” she said. “If there’s a possibility to figure something else out, we could table this.”

Board President Jenna Phillips read an anonymous letter into the record which stated a request for a pause on the decision.

“There are people on this board that are making phone calls and are spending hours researching, looking, emailing, and calling,” said Phillips. “Every idea you’ve (Morris) mentioned or anything you have said has already been done by somebody on the board.”

Phillips said their team has gone at length to research and ask other counties what they’re doing for school services during a time where funding is down.

Phillips said in some cases they don’t hear back from potential partners or those partners are also unable to help at this time.

“Yes, everything that you’re asking us, we are thinking of and we have thought of or are looking for those same answers,” said Phillips.

The school provides programs for students with disabilities ages 6-22. There are four half-day preschool classes and one full-day kindergarten class for ages 3-6. All classrooms are open four days per week, according to the Ewing School website.

According to Neill, the school serves around 80 individuals and 700 within WCBDD, based on 2024 reports.

For more information visit https://lorao7.sg-host.com/ewingschool/ or https://www.wcbdd.org/