STEM expands at TCS despite funding threats

TIFFIN — Even as Tiffin City Schools looks ahead to expanding its middle school curriculum with new programming, district leaders are bracing for significant financial headwinds stemming from recent state tax legislation. During the Feb. 23 Board of Education meeting, officials celebrated the approval of the 2026-27 Tiffin Middle School curriculum guide. The updated offerings are highlighted by the full implementation of the Project Lead the Way program, made possible by $45,000 in grant funding. The initiative is designed to proactively meet state career-tech education requirements by introducing younger students to high-demand fields. Under the new curriculum, sixth graders will explore Design and Modeling, seventh graders will take on Medical Detectives and eighth graders will dive into Computer Science for Innovators and Makers. Looming financial hurdles The board spent a significant portion of the meeting analyzing the potential fallout from several new Ohio House Bills — specifically HB 129, 186, 309 and 335. Treasurer Anne Spence presented a five-year financial forecast detailing how these measures will collectively restrict the district's ability to capture revenue growth from property reevaluations. Under the new rules, the district will be severely limited in the types of levies it can propose and will lose the ability to ask for new emergency or substitute levies unless it falls into a state of fiscal emergency. Board members expressed particular frustration with HB 309. The legislation grants county budget commissioners the authority to unilaterally reduce voter-approved levies "if it's reasonable and prudent to avoid unnecessary and excessive collections," Spence said. Board member Larry Kisabeth voiced his frustration directly, stating, "I don't understand how that works in a democratic society when our voters voted in. It's hard enough for us to pass a levy." Despite the legislative hurdles, the district's immediate financial health remains stable. Thanks to the community's recent approval of an earned income tax levy, local resources currently make up 50.7% of the district's budget, projecting a positive cash balance through fiscal year 2030. However, Spence noted a growing disparity: estimated expenditures are rising at 3.9% annually, while revenue is only growing at an estimated 1.57%. Looking ahead to legal action The mounting friction between local school boards and state policymakers may soon come to a head in the courtroom. At the close of the meeting, the board discussed the possibility of joining an ongoing lawsuit against the state regarding its funding plans. Characterizing the potential litigation as a vital move, board member Dr. Joanna Beres stated: "I think that it's an important, it's one of the ways that we can try to fight for our kids." The board indicated it is actively seeking community input on the matter, "hopefully hearing from any of our area folks, the people that we represent, their thoughts and their feelings on us engaging in that," said board member Dr. Meagan McBride. When a formal vote regarding the district joining the lawsuit has not been determined. The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. March 23 in the Tiffin Middle School Cafetorium.