The Twinsburg Board of Education met on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Twinsburg Government Center for their regular meeting. Board President Mrs. Crawford opened the session with a reflection on the recent May 7th election results.
Issue 11 Election Results
Mrs. Crawford reported that Issue 11 failed to pass in the May 2025 election, with 34.5% (1,868 residents) voting in favor and 65.5% (3,552 residents) voting against. The election saw a 14% turnout with over 5,400 residents participating.
“While this outcome is not what we hoped for, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who worked so hard on this campaign,” said Mrs. Crawford. She specifically thanked Superintendent Kathi Powers, Business Manager Matt Strickland, Treasurer Julia Rozsnyai, the Blue Ribbon Committee, volunteers, board members, and Twinsburg school staff for their efforts.
The board plans to gather feedback from staff and community members through surveys and forums before determining next steps. “Please make it a priority to participate,” Mrs. Crawford urged. “Your input is vital in helping us shape the path ahead.”
Student Recognitions
The meeting highlighted student achievements across the district. Students of the month were recognized from Willcox Primary School, George G. Dodge Intermediate School, and Twinsburg High School.
Five students from Willcox Primary School were recognized for demonstrating the Willcox pledge through their responsible, respectful, caring, and safe behaviors. They were praised for helping others, showing kindness, and being positive role models.
At Dodge Intermediate School, six students were honored for their various achievements. Teachers celebrated these students’ academic accomplishments, creativity, leadership, and musical talents.
Four Twinsburg High School students were recognized for their contributions. They were honored for their work as media center assistants, academic excellence, mentoring younger students, and volunteering at community events.
Lady Tigers Basketball Team Honored
The board also recognized the Twinsburg High School girls varsity basketball team for their outstanding achievements. The team was celebrated as co-Suburban League national division champions and OHSAA Division 2 district champions, advancing to the regional qualifiers.
Athletic Director Brian Fantone noted that the team was one of the top five academic girls basketball teams in the state, earning a team GPA of 4.0.
“It was truly a joy and a pleasure for me to have a front row seat all season to what these girls did,” said Fantone, adding that all team members will return next year.
Five-Year Financial Forecast
Treasurer Julia Rozsnyai presented the May five-year forecast update, highlighting several challenges facing the district.
Rozsnyai reported that House Bill 33 continued the phase-out of the fair school funding plan, with funds that helped provide additional student support ending in September 2024. She expressed concern about future funding uncertainty for fiscal years 2026-2029, as the fair school funding plan is not funded beyond 2025.
The forecast revealed that expenditures exceed revenues in each fiscal year of the forecast. Rozsnyai noted that under current laws and state funding projections, the district is projecting a negative cash balance in fiscal year 2028 and a very low cash balance for fiscal year 2027.
Mrs. Rozsnyai also highlighted the impact of inflation on district expenses, showing how cost increases for various categories have significantly outpaced the Federal Reserve’s ideal 2% annual inflation rate over the past four years.
Student Fees for 2025-2026
Superintendent Kathi Powers presented information about student fees for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. The board is recommending a $350 increase in tuition for both the Integrated Preschool Program (IPP) and Kindergarten Preparatory Program (KPP), bringing the totals to $2,350 and $2,700 respectively.
A new incentive was introduced for preschool tuition: parents who pay in full by Monday, August 4, 2025, will receive a $100 discount. Academic fees for grades K-12 will remain unchanged from the current school year.
The board is maintaining the 30% rate for pay-to-participate fees, covering 30% of the total cost of programs while the board covers the remaining 70%. A family cap of $500 for pay-to-participate fees will continue for the 2025-2026 school year.
Students eligible for the federal meal program will have academic fees waived and pay-to-participate fees reduced by 50%. The breakfast and lunch prices will remain the same for the 2025-2026 school year, with only milk prices increasing from 50 cents to 75 cents per carton.
Looking Ahead
Several upcoming events were mentioned during the meeting, including:
- Kindergarten registration currently underway
- Senior awards program on Thursday, May 15th
- Senior march on Thursday, May 22nd (date changed from previous plan)
- Commencement for the Class of 2025 on Tuesday, May 27th at E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron
The board also approved first readings of various board policy revisions and accepted a donation of a CNC machine valued at approximately $2,000 from American Industrial Technology for Twinsburg High School.
The next regular meeting of the Twinsburg Board of Education is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Twinsburg Government Center.
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