Hopewell Health: Warren Local Schools BOE approves grant for clinic

Photo by Kristen Hainkel Warren Local Schools Treasurer Melcie Wells compares the percentage of cash the district has versus their expenses. Wells said Warren typically has around 30-35%, while other districts in the county have up to 60%. She said the reason that occurs is because the district believes in investing its money back into the district to improve programming or add new buildings.
VINCENT — Warren Local Schools Board of Education approved a $1.3 million grant agreement for their upcoming health clinic during its regular session Wednesday evening.
The grant is awarded through Appalachian Children’s Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for children’s health care in Ohio’s Appalachian region.
A grant of $1,381,118 was awarded to the district’s School Based Health Center as a part of the Appalachian Community Grant Program announced by Gov. Mike Dewine in March. It will be run in tandem with Hopewell Health Centers. The board approved the agreement unanimously as a part of the treasurer’s business.
Superintendent Kyle Newton said Hopewell will be the health care provider that works with the school, but also be separate. Services provided will include primary care, lab facilities, and behavioral health.
Board member Stacey Greenup asked, what if a student gets sick at school and sees the school nurse for a sore throat? Would it be possible for them to get referred to the clinic for a strep test?
Newton said yes, with parent permission.
“So, if parents want to participate like that, we’ll make sure that parents’ paperwork is out there up front. But it will be parent driven, not school district driven.”
Newton said architect Fanning Howey will design the building and layout for the clinic, which will be located beside Building Six. Construction is expected to start in fall 2024.
Another project Newton said he is looking forward to is the Archery Building. He said the district has over 100 students interested in the program between fourth and 12th grades. He thought building a separate building would save gym space for other uses.
Newton said money for the project is funded from previous completed projects. The board approved a $36,240 proposal for design services from Swiss Valley Associates for the building.
The board also approved a $210,712 bid from McKee Paving for paving on campus. Newton said the project will take place in the second week of June.
“There may be some walking involved, just so you guys know, to get to the gym. Because you might have to go around something,” he said.
District Treasurer Melcie Wells also presented the five-year forecast during the meeting. She said the figures are based on two district funds: general fund and emergency levy fund. She also factored in the failure of the levy in March’s election. Wells said the board hopes to add the levy onto a ballot, but timing is still in the works.
In the current fiscal year, the district has brought in $25,277,798 in revenue and $24,573,414 in expenses, leaving a $704,384 surplus. However, this is expected to become lower in the coming years, due to salaries being paid from the general fund, instead of ESSER funds, and the failure of the levy.
If no changes are made to the budget, the difference between revenue and expenses will be $62,800 at the end of 2025 fiscal year. It changes to a deficit of $1,487,876 in 2026, $3,022,974 in 2027 and $3,617,850 in 2028.
“This forecast demonstrates how crucial our emergency levy renewal is to our school district,” Wells said in the report. “Without the passage of the levy, the district will have to look at expenditure reductions in the future to eliminate deficit spending.”
The board approved hiring two assistant principals during the meeting: Megan Bost for the elementary school and Chad Porter for the high school. Both will be hired for two-year positions effective Aug. 1
Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com