Facilities, funding remain the focus in 2025

As we approach 2025, Huron City Schools (HCSD) remains committed to prioritizing facilities and school funding to ensure the success of our students. Our goal is to provide all students with a safe and welcoming school environment that fosters learning and growth. A key component of achieving this goal is maintaining facilities that are conducive to education. However, our aging school buildings present challenges for daily operations and make it increasingly difficult to implement cost-effective capital improvement projects. Since the summer, the Community Facility Committee has been working diligently to review previous assessments conducted by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) and the Board's architectural firm, Architectural Vision Group, Ltd. (AVG). Both the OFCC assessment and AVG's validation concluded that renovation costs are comparable to those of new construction. As a result, both organizations recommend new construction as a viable solution. The committee is also exploring a hybrid approach that combines renovation and new construction to address the district's facility needs in a cost-effective manner. Their goal is to develop solutions that will meet the district's needs for the next 35 to 45 years. The committee plans to reconvene in mid-January and share its findings with the Board and community by spring 2025. Any significant facility improvement project will require financial support from the community. We recognize the impact of Erie County's recent property revaluation, which has resulted in additional taxes being collected. To maintain transparency, the district has published a whitepaper outlining HCSD's financial strategy. This document highlights the strategic allocation of resources to advance the district's mission and vision while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The whitepaper is available on the Treasurer's page of the district website at [https://bit.ly/HCS-Treasurer]. To provide context, Ohio House Bill 920, passed in 1976, established reduction factors to calculate effective tax rates. These factors reduce the assessed millage of voted levies when property values increase, ensuring stable revenue. Additionally, Senate Bill 221, passed in 1977, set a 20-mill floor for school districts in Ohio. Before the 2024 property revaluation, HCSD's reduced millage was already at this 20-mill floor. Although the district's voted millage is 60.90, collections are assessed at the reduction factor of 20 mills. Huron City Schools remains committed to fiscal stewardship and is carefully considering the allocation of additional funds to best serve our students, families, and community. As we begin receiving 2025 collections, we will continue to uphold our strong financial responsibility. Our mission, Engage, Equip & Empower every student to reach their full potential, continues to guide all that we do. Together, we ensure a safe learning environment, deliver high-quality education and experiences, maximize district resources, and serve with compassion and integrity. Huron City Schools exists to serve the students, families, and community of Huron, building upon a proud tradition of excellence. #OneHuron James J. Tatman, Ed.D Huron Schools superintendent