Dover Schools BOE approves financial forecast

Dover Schools BOE approves financial forecast
Ed Massery

The Dover City Schools Board of Education approved the latest financial forecast.

                        

The Dover City Schools Board of Education approved the latest financial forecast. Despite the challenges faced throughout the pandemic, Dover City Schools has a solid short-term financial outlook.

“CARES Act funding has had a significant impact on our short-term budget,” treasurer Kathryn Brugger said. “These one-time monies have allowed us to boost our learning-recovery efforts and maintain day-to-day operations. Unfortunately, this funding is not a continual revenue stream.”

Additionally, the new Fair School Funding Plan significantly changes how k-12 school district funding is calculated. However, the new plan is capped, meaning Dover City Schools will not realize the full amount of funding available.

Although the forecast is stable in the near future, district officials indicated there could be challenges ahead.

“Thanks to sound financial decision-making, we have stretched our dollars twice as long as promised since the operating levy the community supported in 2008,” superintendent Karie McCrate said. “However, without an additional influx of sustainable revenue or reductions in our budget, we will face some budgetary challenges in the long term.”

Dover City Schools is releasing its annual financial prospectus at the end of this month. The prospectus will be mailed to all residents and provides an in-depth look at the district’s finances.

“Having adequate financial resources is critical to our mission of preparing students to be college and career ready,” Brugger said. “Being transparent about our budget and the challenges we face is an important part of telling our financial story.”

The financial prospectus will highlight how Dover schools rate among other Ohio and local schools, how the district is funded, and the district’s top priorities for the short and long term.

McCrate said, “I’m proud of how our administration and board of education has stayed focused on stretching our dollars to help students reach their full potential.”


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