BERGHOLZ — The Edison Local Board of Education discussed positive marks on the Ohio State Report Card and numbers for future funding during the Sept. 17 regular session.

Leaders broke down the figures from the latest state report card, which gave the district schools an overall rating of 3.5 out of five stars with Stanton Elementary, John Gregg Elementary and Edison Junior-Senior High School making the grade. During the session at John Gregg in Bergholz, officials learned the district showed gains in progress and college, career, and military readiness.

“Edison Local schools received an overall rating of 3.5 out of five stars on the state report card, the same as last year. The district earned four stars in the areas of achievement, graduation and college, career, workforce and military readiness, showing strong progress in these key measures,” said Superintendent Bill Beattie. “We also recognize that there is work to be done and we are committed to making those improvements. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for their continued effort and commitment to our schools.”

Beattie added that 80 percent of students met the readiness component, meaning they were prepared for the next chapter post-high school. More scores included four stars overall, as well as for achievement (those who scored proficient or higher), while Stanton showed substantial gains in progress with four stars for growth over the past year. Additionally, EHS and Stanton led the way with five stars each for gap closing (the reduction in educational gaps for student groups) with John Gregg earning four stars and Edison Junior High receiving three.

“We’re looking at the trend data to see how schools performed in years past and go deeper to address any issues,” Beattie noted.

In other matters, the board approved the latest financial forecast and permanent appropriations to carry on operations.

“We have to do a four-year forecast, which is the current year and three upcoming years. It was approved because the new filing deadline is now Oct. 15,” said district Treasurer Amanda Gump.

Gump said the district expected to have total revenue of more than $24.1 million and total expenses exceeding $22.6 million during Fiscal Year 2026, closing at an estimated $1.4 million in the black. That trend is expected to continue at least through FY ’27, which shows an estimated $1.87 million surplus and FY ’28 with more than $6.8 million in the coffers. She cited a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision upholding the taxable value of the natural gas Rover Pipeline, which spans 18 counties, to be nearly $3.7 billion for the 2019 tax year. The pipeline company had been in an ongoing legal battle in an attempt to reduce its 2019 property tax valuation by $2 billion, but lost the recent appeal.

“The county auditor calculates the interest earnings and $6.2 million is what is owed to the school district,” she commented. “It will help offset the funds (lost from) the Sammis Plant.”

The closure of the Energy Harbor W.H. Sammis Plant facility in Stratton impacted the district’s pocketbook by an estimated $2 million beginning in 2024, but leaders are looking to the Rover Pipeline funding to cushion the blow.

“The Ohio Department of Taxation determined that they have to make payments and we’ll see more coming, but that one-time lump sum will definitely help,” Gump said.

Still, the district could see a $1.03 million deficit in FY ’29 in a future projection and Gump said state legislators were looking to reduce the 20-mil floor for levies.

The board also accepted a wide range of personnel matters, including the resignations of John Gregg Elementary physical education teacher Kari Byers for retirement in January and John Gregg custodian Eric Harris; the resignation of David Long as junior high girls basketball coach; the hiring of Charles Taylor as custodian at EHS; certified substitutes Karrie Bielski, Demitrius Briggs, Emmy Buck, Danielle DaGrava, Charles Haggerty, Ryder Kindberg-Colabelli, Shaun Moore, Casey Mozingo, Stevie Roberts, Lisa Taris and Jack Wilkinson; supplemental contracts for Emily Waggoner and Joann Stagani, career-tech education; Taylor Wickham, resident educator mentor; Jeremy Matics, junior high girls’ basketball; Bethany Cera, athletic trainer; Ryan Sronce, junior high boys’ basketball; Brennan Scott, volunteer boys’ basketball; and Ethan Waggoner, junior high wrestling; Carissa Griffith as a chaperone for FFA and Chuck Cline as a chaperone for the FFA Equine Team to attend Arabian Horse judging in Tulsa, Okla., in October.

Among other business, officials:

• Heard a report from district Director of Special Education Christina Henderson on her first year in the role, as well as her plans for students in the district. Henderson discussed a preschool summer program to help children with autism retain skills they gained through the year; a summer work experience at Kroger; and hopes to get the school store back up and running soon at EHS;

• Approved the salvage of eight buses;

• Approved an interagency and transition agreement with Jefferson County Family Children First, CAC Head Start and Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disability for the 2025-2026 school year;

• Approved a school liaison contract with Jefferson County Juvenile Court for the current school year;

• Approved overnight field trips for the EHS FFA to Tulsa, Okla., on Oct. 22-26 for Arabian Horse judging and to Indianapolis on Oct. 29-Nov. 1 for the National FFA Convention;

• Set the next regular session for 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Stanton.