PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
TIGHT CASH FLOW … A chart from the Swanton Local School District’s financial forecast shows its projected days cash on hand to decline from 102 in 2022 to 20 by 2030.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Swanton Local School District Board of Education got a look at the current five-year forecast at its meeting Wednesday evening, which shows a future of declining funds.
Board Treasurer Sheila Horseman reported that the district is currently deficit spending and is projected to continue to do so through 2030, with the gap between revenues and expenditures expected to more than double by that point.
That gap is projected to reduce the district’s cash balance from an estimated $2.99 million at the end of the current fiscal year to roughly $1 million in 2030, which will reduce the district’s calendar days cash on hand from 68 to 20. For comparison, the district had 102 days of cash on hand in 2022.
Of the money the district is projected to spend this fiscal year – which totals just under $17.54 million, 74 percent goes to personnel costs and 19 percent to purchased services, with the remaining 7 percent including “all other expenditures.” Projected revenues are expected to be just over $17.2 million, leaving a deficit of more than $317,000.
About 37 percent of the district’s revenue comes from state funding, while local taxes make up 58 percent, and 6 percent comes from other sources.
Of the local taxes – which total almost $9.94 million, approximately $7.37 million comes from property taxes and could be affected by the push for property tax relief or elimination in the state. That represents roughly 43 percent of the district’s total funding.
The report also indicated that district enrollment has dropped from 1,141 in 2021 to 1,088 in 2025 and is projected to drop to 999 by 2030. Meanwhile, the cost per student is projected to climb from 2021’s $12,737 to more than $19,093 over the same time.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Superintendent Chris Lake reported that the distinguished alumni to be honored this school year have been selected.
Class of 2002 graduate Abby Kolodziejczyk is the director of the Defiance County United Way, overseeing operations including the backpack buddies food program, personal hygiene pantries in the schools, and fundraising. Kolodziejczyk was also recognized as part of a 4 under 40 award program.
Class of 1994 graduate Benjamin Lang is a corporate attorney and partner at Jones Day Law. He currently lives in Japan and works with Japanese, European, and U.S. clients “to negotiate billions of dollars worth of cross border transactions with an emphasis in the life science industry.” He is on the board of trustees of the American School in Japan.
Both will attend an induction ceremony on January 30, 2026, with Lang traveling from Japan to be honored.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved the submission of a waiver request for the Ohio Department of Education requirement that students in the seventh and eighth grades “be afforded the opportunity for curricular opportunities” in the Career-Technical Expansion program.
The board approved an agreement with the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center (NWOESC) to provide an in-depth overview of state testing data for the district, including a breakdown of data by subject, historical trends, and item analysis, at a cost of $3,500, to be funded by a grant obtained by district staff.
The board reapproved the substitute bus driver incentive program for the 2025-2026 school year. The program offers a $500 incentive to drivers who successfully complete all training and licensing requirements to drive a school bus and work 40 hours for the district.
The board accepted donations totaling $1,050 for boys soccer, $500 for cheerleading, $130.93 for the high school, $1,250 for athletic enrichment funds, $1,140 for volleyball team meals, $5,000 for the baseball/softball complex dugouts, $40 for baseball, $50 for boys soccer, $5,000 for the baseball/softball complex, $2,500 for football headsets, and $157 for athletics.
The board approved a slate of personnel changes, including the addition of NWOESC substitute teachers, bus drivers, and athletic workers.
It was reported that the Ohio Middle Level Association recognized fifth- and sixth-grade literacy teacher Angela Nowak with a regional award after Nowak was nominated last year. She will be presented with the award at the OMLA conference in November.
Swanton High School Principal Anthony Menna reported that Jostens recognized the work of Kim Floyd with a National Yearbook Program of Excellence award.
Menna reported that the booster club has announced they will donate 100 reimbursements for student tickets every semester for economically disadvantaged students.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Local School District Board of Education is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15 at 108 N. Main Street.