Meeting Summary: Benjamin Logan "Let’s Talk School" – District Goals and
Community Discussion Highlights
The final Let’s Talk School community meeting of the 2024–2025 school year was held on
Thursday evening at the United Church of Christ in Rushsylvania. This marked the fifth such
event hosted by the Benjamin Logan School Board and Administration, with previous meetings
held in Belle Center, West Mansfield, East Liberty, and Zanesfield.

District Goals for the 2024–2025 School Year
The meeting began with a comprehensive discussion of the district's five strategic goals for the
2024–2025 academic year:
1. Achieve a 4.5 or Higher Overall Rating on the Ohio School Report Card
The Ohio School Report Card uses a 1–5 star rating system to evaluate district
performance. Benjamin Logan received a 4.5-star rating based on the results of the
2023–2024 state assessments. These results were reviewed and discussed during the
meeting. The outcome of the current 2024–2025 assessments will not be released by
the Ohio Department of Education until August 2025.
2. Operate Within Financial Means by Ending FY 2025 with Revenues Exceeding
Expenditures
The district aims to end the fiscal year—June 30, 2025—with a balanced budget where
revenues surpass expenditures. Achieving this target would be a significant milestone,
marking the first time in more than a decade that the district has successfully closed a
fiscal year in the black.
3. Ensure 100% of Teachers and Administrators Are Trained in the Science of
Reading by June 30, 2025
The district remains committed to implementing research-based literacy instruction
practices aligned with the Science of Reading. The goal is for every educator in the
district—teachers and administrators alike—to complete this training by the end of the
school year.
4. Maximize Student Learning Time by Increasing “Time on Task”
To boost student achievement, the district is working to reduce school-wide interruptions
and structure the instructional day to allow for as much uninterrupted, engaged learning
time as possible.
5. Maintain Consistent, Transparent Communication with the Community
Efforts like the Let’s Talk School series are part of an ongoing initiative to increase

community engagement and keep the public informed, particularly in areas such as
school finance and academic planning.

Understanding School Finances
The district reviewed key components of school funding to help community members better
understand how Benjamin Logan operates financially:
● Permanent Improvement (PI) Fund: This fund is designated for purchases with a
useful life of five years or more. Examples include technology (computers),
transportation (school buses), and major building maintenance (roofing, windows,
doors).
● General Fund: This is the primary operating fund and supports the majority of the
district’s day-to-day expenses, including employee salaries and benefits, curriculum
materials, utilities, and contracted services.

Revenue sources for the district are divided approximately as follows:
● 60% from state-level funding
● 40% from local property tax collections

Attendees were informed that several school funding bills are currently under consideration in
the Ohio state legislature. These pending decisions will ultimately determine the level of funding
Benjamin Logan receives over the next two years and are expected to significantly affect the
district's actual expenditures and financial planning.

Main Discussion Topic: The Impact of School Vouchers on Public
Education
A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing concerns about school vouchers
and their financial and operational impact on Benjamin Logan and other public school districts.
A feature article from the April 13 edition of the Columbus Dispatch titled “School Vouchers”
was shared and reviewed with attendees.
Key points discussed include:

● Voucher Amounts:
Families earning just under $145,000 annually for a family of four qualify to receive:
○ $6,166 per student in grades K–8
○ $8,408 per student in grades 9–12
Families with higher incomes receive reduced voucher amounts on a sliding
scale based on family income.

● Statewide Spending:
The State of Ohio currently allocates just under $1 billion annually to support private
school vouchers.
● Public Concerns:
While attendees acknowledged the importance of parental choice in selecting
educational pathways for their children, many expressed concern that such large sums
of public money being redirected to private schools significantly impact public school
resources.
● Accountability Differences:
The discussion also addressed the discrepancy in accountability measures:
○ Public schools are subject to state-mandated testing and financial audits.
○ Private schools, on the other hand, are not held to these same requirements,
unless they enroll students receiving state-funded vouchers—those students
must participate in standardized assessments.

These differences were viewed by many as a matter of fairness, with several attendees noting
that public schools are being held to higher standards while receiving fewer resources due to
the expansion of voucher programs.