NEW OLD FACES … Konnor Hawkins (left) and Kaeden Peper (right) were approved by the Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education as its new IT support specialist and director of technology at the board’s most recent meeting. Peper had been serving as an IT support specialist since March of 2022, while Hawkins had been an IT intern for the last 14 months.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education again heard updates on its financial standing with the goals of the state legislature during its meeting Wednesday evening.
CFO Leland Hays said the district’s attempt to move from a traditional income tax levy to an earned income tax levy, along with the expiration of the 5.31 mill property tax levy last year after voters repeatedly turned down a replacement levy, actually puts the district in line with what seem to be the legislature’s goals for changes to school funding across the state.
The change from traditional to earned income will eliminate the district’s tax burden on those on fixed retirement incomes, among others.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Hays reported general fund revenue was at $18.29 million, up 1.5 percent from fiscal year 2024, even with a 3.91 percent decline in revenues from property taxes. He said some of the tax losses were offset by pipeline taxes plus a 0.53 percent increase in state funding.
“We’re still reviewing the impact of the final budget and line-item vetoes. School funding always brings both opportunities and challenges, so we’ll continue to analyze how it affects our local planning.”
New district Superintendent Douglas Ford said in the days before the board meeting. “Like many rural districts, we’re watching closely to ensure our needs are understood and supported at the state level.”
Ford pointed out that the Ohio House of Representatives overrode Governor Mike DeWine’s line-item veto that would have eliminated the ability of local governments, including school districts, from putting replacement property tax levies and some emergency operating levies on the ballot.
He said it limits districts to looking at local income taxes to fund local revenues, which is one of the reasons why the board voted to pursue a 1.25 percent earned income tax levy, which he called “the most important issue on the horizon for our district.”
“This levy is absolutely vital to maintaining our operating revenue,” Ford said. “Last fall, our community made the decision not to continue a longstanding property tax that had supported our schools for years.”
“As a result, this earned income tax is now the primary tool we have to sustain the quality of education our students and families deserve. This, along with the position our state legislators have taken on moving toward not allowing school districts to utilize new property taxes to fund our local schools, make this 1.25 percent earned income tax vital to funding, operating, and maintaining our school district.”
In the days following the meeting, Board President Jackie Chiesa pointed out that developing community support for the levy was paramount.
Chiesa said chief among the methods that would ensure success was buy-in from the community, which could only occur through the board listening to and finding ways to work with the community, part of the reason for the goal to shift from the traditional income tax levy to the earned income tax levy.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved a slate of personnel changes, including new contracts and resignations as well as salary revisions.
Among them were the resignation of district food service employee Sue Starr; the resignation of high school girls bowling head coach Jerry Donaldson and his hiring as head coach of the high school boys bowling team; the hiring of Justin Reckner as head coach, and Amy Spieth, Heather Williams-Jute, and Ronald Zdunczyk as assistant coaches for the high school track and field team; and the hiring of Jeff Wolford as head coach, and Mallory Rayfield, Kyle McCarley, and Kevin Hintz as assistant coaches for the middle school track and field team.
The board approved an outside contract with athletic trainer Corey Lee for the 2025-2026 school year at a cost of $9,000.
The board approved a payment in lieu of transportation for one family. The board approved its 2025-2026 gifted services plan. The board accepted donations from the Delta Eagles in the amounts of $2,500 for emergency funds and $218 for Delta Middle School.
The next regular meeting of the Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, at the Delta High School auditorium, located at 605 Taylor Street in Delta.