State puts Ravenna Schools in 'fiscal caution'

Ravenna City Schools' financial concerns now have registered with the State of Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has placed Ravenna City Schools under a status of "fiscal caution," the district announced this week.

After examining the district's May 2024 five-year forecast, state officials said the declaration is based on projected deficits of $3,143,154 in Fiscal Year 2025, and $7,010,642 in fiscal year 2026.

According to the Ohio Auditor of State's office, fiscal caution is the initial category for a school district that is in financial distress. If financial issues deepen, a district could be declared to be in fiscal watch and finally fiscal emergency.

The fiscal caution designation requires the district to create and submit a plan for expenditure reductions, which became effective on June 22.

In an effort to address the financial situation, the district has tried three times to pass a levy. In March, Ravenna voters rejected a 6.9-mill, five-year levy that would have generated $2.7 million annually for the district.

Additionally, the district has implemented several expenditure reductions, including the recently announced change to busing policies.

For the 2024-25 school year, the district will no longer transport high school students, and has increased the walking distance to a half mile for grades K-8.

Other cost-saving measures include:

● Reduction in force of seven teachers.

● The district won't replace 16 teachers who retired or resigned.

● Reduction in force of three classified positions.

● Cut one administrative position.

● Cut extracurricular activities, resulting in fewer supervisory positions.

The district says it will continue to look for other ways to reduce the deficit including examining its servicecontracts for savings opportunities and the possible consolidation of buildings in the coming years.

"We are also hopeful that the levy scheduled for the November, 2024 ballot will be successful," the district said in a media release.

Ravenna Superintendent Laura Hebert and recently hired Treasurer Kristen Plageman did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking additional comment.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.