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Washington County’s six public school systems are considering a new structure for providing education services to students with significant disabilities at the Ewing School following increased costs tied to the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ ongoing funding challenges, according to a joint release from district administrators.

The release states that the county’s public school systems have partnered with the WCBDD “for many decades” to provide services for preschool through 12th-grade students with exceptional needs through the Ewing School, with the shared mission of helping students “thrive in the most appropriate learning environment.”

According to the release, the WCBDD placed an operating levy on the ballot in November 2025 to secure additional property tax revenue, but the levy failed. The WCBDD is now placing another operating levy on the ballot in May 2026 at a lower amount than was previously requested, the release said.

In the interim, the release states that the WCBDD is increasing the costs charged to local school systems in order to continue providing school-aged educational services at the Ewing School.

“Therefore, to continue to offer school-aged services to the qualifying students in Washington County through Ewing School, the WCBDD is increasing the costs charged to the public school systems,” the release said.

District administrators said in the release that they have been meeting with officials from the Ewing School, the WCBDD and the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center to explore future options “so that quality educational services can continue to be offered in the least disruptive way and cost-effective for county taxpayers.”

As part of those discussions, the release said all six school systems are hoping to pursue a future partnership with OVESC to provide educational services at the Ewing School building site. Under that model, the school districts would share the building with the WCBDD, which would continue offering its other services at the location.

The Ewing School building is owned by Washington County, and the release said that the districts and OVESC will be collaborating with the Washington County Commission to “possibly secure a building operations plan.”

The release also noted that the county’s school systems have an established partnership with OVESC, which currently provides services at individual district sites and operates the countywide Opportunity School in Marietta.

Contracting with OVESC could also create future cost savings, according to the release. Districts may be able to apply to the state for partial reimbursement of certain high-cost special education services that exceed state thresholds – reimbursement that is “not allowable if the districts continue to contract educational services through the WCBDD,” the release said.

In addition, the release stated that preschool students with exceptional needs who have historically been enrolled at Ewing School will transition back to their home school districts’ preschool classrooms, which already serve some special needs students.

“We recognize that transitions can be confusing and challenging,” the release said. “We are in the beginning phase of this process, and appreciate your patience and support as we work through each and every operational and financial issue.”

The release added that district leaders will work directly with families to navigate the changes and emphasized that the top priority remains providing “the best quality education” while remaining mindful of taxpayer costs.

According to the release, individuals with questions are encouraged to contact their local school district administrators.

Belpre City Schools

* Superintendent Jeffrey Greenley and Treasurer Lance Erlwein – 740-423-9511

Fort Frye Local Schools

*Superintendent Stephanie Starcher – 740-984-2497

*Treasurer Kaitlin Huck – 740-984-8260

Frontier Local Schools

*Superintendent Ryan Caldwell and Treasurer Patty Shreve – 740-865-3473

Marietta City Schools

*Superintendent Mary Schaffer and Treasurer Frank Antill – 740-374-6500

Warren Local Schools

*Superintendent Kyle Newton – 740-678-2366 , ext. 3801

*Treasurer Melcie Wells – 740-678-2366, ext. 3806

Wolf Creek Local Schools

*Superintendent Suellen Coleman and Treasurer Rachel Miller – 740-984-2373