At the May 20, 2024, Special Meeting, the Board of Education took the first step to place a five-year, 1-mill Permanent Improvement (PI) Levy on the November 2024 ballot. The Board anticipates taking action at the June 24, 2024, Regular Meeting to place it on the ballot.

PI Levy Facts:

● PI funds can be used for items such as school buses, repairs to roofs and parking lots, boilers, safety and security upgrades, classroom furniture, technology upgrades and improvements, wireless upgrades, etc., that have a life span of five years or more.

● Revenue from a PI Levy cannot be used for salaries, benefits, or the school district's day-to-day operations.

● Kenston is 1 of only 13% of school districts in Ohio that DOES NOT have some type of PI or Maintenance Levy.

● The levy would cost $2.92/month for each $100,000 of valuation.

● The levy would generate approximately $1.2 million per year.

We thank you for your continued support of our schools and we will continue providing information as the Board of Education progresses with this process.

At the May Regular Board Meeting, the Kenston Board of Education approved the five-year forecast for the General Fund, giving a long-term view of the district’s finances. The Treasurer annually submits the forecast to the Ohio Department of Education in October and May and makes updates during the year as information changes. The five-year forecast reflects conservative projections based on historical trends and assumptions for the future known at a moment in time and presents a snapshot financial report.

The primary purpose of the forecast:

• A planning tool for the district’s Board of Education and administration to use to identify and prepare for future district funding issues in support of its mission and vision.
• A key tool in meeting the district’s priority of respecting taxpayers' investments by providing responsible management of resources as we continue our commitment to student success.
• To serve as a basis for determining the Treasurer’s ability to certify that funds are available when entering into contracts.
• As information changes, the forecast will be updated.
• To provide a method for the Ohio Department of Education and the Auditor of State to identify districts headed toward financial difficulties.

Highlights of May 2024 5-Year Forecast:

• The rightsizing savings of approximately $1.3 million have been incorporated into the forecast.
• The six-year reappraisal revenues have been incorporated into the forecast.
• KEA contract negotiations have been incorporated into the forecast.
• The EPC incentive program savings have been incorporated into the forecast.
• Projected to get 14 individuals who would take the incentive, but only 10 chose to take it.
• This difference of 4 individuals is factored into the forecast for FY26 as well as an additional 1 individual – all through attrition – as we chose not to RIF any teaching staff this year through the rightsizing program.

2024 Five-Year Forecast (May Update)

The five-year forecast projects an ending cash balance of:

• $8.8 million (FY 2024) on June 30, 2024,
• $8.7 million (FY 2025) on June 30, 2025,
• $8.7 million (FY 26) on June 30, 2026,
• $7.7 million (FY 27) on June 30, 2027, and
• $5.9 million (FY 28) on June 30, 2028.

Please contact Seth Cales, Treasurer, with any questions.

Kenston High School Principal, Mr. Tom Gabram, shared at the May 13, 2024, Board of Education meeting, the following update about the awards and recognitions for the Kenston High School Art Department.



Three Kenston High School Art students were awarded prestigious honors at the state and national level. These awards recognize outstanding student effort and creative design in the visual arts.

• Top 25 in the 53rd Annual Ohio Governor's Art Show was awarded to Erin McFadden and Constance Ragsdale. This is an outstanding accomplishment to be selected out of 5,000 student entries from high schools across Ohio.

At the May 13, 2024, Board of Education meeting, Kenston Alumni Association President Drew Tewksbury shared an update with the Board of Education. The Alumni Association was started in 2017. With the assistance of Kenston graduates, Matt English, Katy McGrath, and Jennifer Miller along with former Board member, Neysa Gaskins, the Alumni Association secured 501c3 status. The Alumni Association is a non-profit volunteer organization whose purpose is to support the Kenston Schools and celebrate the spirit and tradition of the Auburn, Bainbridge, and Kenston Schools coordinating alumni relations by serving as a liaison between alumni and the district.

The Alumni Association is excited to share that it has a home in the Gardiner Center. This room at the Gardiner Center will allow them to create and house an Alumni Museum with archives and memorabilia. They are actively seeking Kenston memorabilia donations from alumni.

This Spring, the Alumni Association provided a $3,600 scholarship to a high school student for the Kenston Field Experience (KFE) through the Friedman Scholarship Fund. This scholarship honors the life and legacy of Kenston alumni Kari Friedman. The KFE trip was a life-changing experience for Kari Friedman, and her family created this scholarship to allow this experience for another student.

Every year at graduation, the Alumni Association honors Legacy students. Legacy Students is a tradition that recognizes the children of graduates from Auburn, Bainbridge, and Kenston Schools during Commencement. This year, there were 42 legacy graduates honored with eight families having three generations of Kenston Graduates. Congratulations to the legacy students and all students on their graduation.