A tax funding program to award scholarships to help fund all-day kindergarten tuition was announced at the April 17 Board of Education meeting.
“We are excited to announce the launch of the Nordonia Hills Scholarship Granting Organization – NordoniaSGO for short,” Board President Chad Lahrmer said. “The mission of NordoniaSGO is to primarily award scholarships for students in all-day kindergarten.”
The SGO, which has 501c3 status, will prioritize granting scholarships to low-income students.
Tuition will be paid for by community donations which will be credited back to donors by state tax credits.
The SGO utilizes a tax law created in 2021 and used mostly by private schools.
The law allows dollar-to-dollar tax credits between $750 and $1,500, depending on marriage status, according to Lahrmer.
“As of today, Nordonia is the first and only public school in Ohio to utilize this SGO concept,” Larhmer said.
Here’s how the program works:
- A donation to Nordonia HillsSGO up to $750 per single taxpayer or $1,500 per married couple,
- The SGO sends a confirmation/thank you letter to the donor,
- A copy of the letter must be attached to the 2023 state tax return, and
- The taxpayer will receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,500 credit on their Ohio return, up to the lesser of the person’s Ohio tax liability (line 13 on Ohio Form IT1040).
“This is not a tax deduction. This is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit”, Lahrmer stressed. “The state is essentially reimbursing the taxpayer for their donation to NordoniaSGO”.
“Because the donation to NordoniaSGO is credited back to the taxpayer on their tax return we are essentially getting the State to fund our all-day kindergarten,” Larhmer said.
The ultimate goal is to collect enough funds to cover the full cost of all-kindergarten tuition for all Nordonia students, Lahrmer said.
Nordonia collected $337,000 in all-day kindergarten tuition for the 2021/22 school year.
According to Lahrmer’s figures, if 450 people donated $750 to the NordoniaSGO an entire year of all-day kindergarten tuition would be State funded.
“The school also collected approximately $220,000 in consumable fees and another $80,000 in other academic-related fees,” Lahrmer said.
Lahrmer hopes NordoniaSGO will also be able to fund the additional fees, he said.
To fund tuition and additional fees, the SGO would need 850 donors, he added.
“As of today, NordoniaSGO is one of only 48 SGOs currently certified by the state,” he said. “NordoniaSGO is the first and only public school SGO to receive certification.”
We have already received $4,500 in donations and another $10,000 has been pledged, Lahrmer said.
Lahrmer and his wife, Leslie, made the initial donation.
The SGO has the potential to provide significant funding to the district on an annual basis, Lahrmer added.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Clark called the SGO “huge.”
“This is huge and it’s just so impressive,” Superintendent Dr. Joe Clark said about the SGO.
For additional information or to download scholarship applications visit the NordoniaSGO Facebook page.
Legislation:
- Consent Items passed.
- Resolution to Approve Student Handbooks for the 2023-24 School Year, passed.
- A resolution to approve the 2023-24 School Calendar, passed.
- A resolution to approve the Roof Replacement Project, passed.
- A resolution entering into an Agreement with Worner Roofing Company at Nordonia Middle School, passed.
- A resolution to approve the Replacement Project Agreement with Worner Roofing Company at Northfield Elementary School, passed.
- A resolution to enter into a Roof Replacement Project Agreement with TeamCraft Roofing, Inc. at Northfield Elementary School, passed.
- A Resolution to Approve the Roof Replacement Project Agreement with TeamCraft Roofing, Inc. at Rushwood Elementary School, passed.
- A Resolution to approve Pay to Participate Fees for Extra/Co-Curricular Activities for the 2023-2024 School Year
- Students who qualify for the free lunch program will pay 50 percent of the fee charge. Students who qualify for the reduced lunch program will be 75 percent of the fee charged.
- NHS Athletics – $280
- Middle School Athletics – $140.
- Lee Eaton Band – $18
- Lee Eaton Choir – $18
- Grade 7-8 Choir Half Year – $24 Grade 7-8 Choir Full Year – $48 Grade 7-8 Band – $78
- Grade 7 Jazz Band Half Year – $35 Grade 7 Jazz Band Full Year – $69 Grade 8 Jazz Band Half Year – $35 Grade 8 Jazz Band Full Year – $69, passed 4-1. Board member Matthew Kearney voted “no.”
- A resolution to Approve Student Academic Consumable Fees for Nordonia High School for the 2023-24 school year, passed 4-1. Board member Matthew Kearney voted “no.”
- A resolution to Approve Contracts with Summit Education Service Center for 2023-24, passed.
- A Resolution to Approve School Building Lease Agreement with Summit Educational Service Center for 2023-24, passed.
- A resolution to Approve the Textbook for the existing chemistry course for the 2023-24 school year: Chemistry-An Atom Focused Approach by Gilbert, Kirss, Bretz, and Foster, passed.
- A Resolution to Approve Contract with Lora Hoffstetter and Counseling Associates, LLC effective for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year, passed.
- A resolution to Approve the Contract with Lora Hoffstetter and Counseling Associates, LLC effective for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year, passed.
- A resolution to Approve a Lease Agreement with HP Integrated Financial Solutions, passed.
- A resolution to Approve Purchase Service Contracts, passed.
- A resolution to approve Personnel Items, passed.
- A motion to Approve the Re-Employment of Certified Staff, passed.
- A motion to Approve New Contracts for the 2023-24 School Year, passed.
- A resolution to Approve the Non-Renewal of Staff, passed.
- A resolution to Approve Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Appropriation Adjustments, passed.
- A resolution to approve Fund Transfers, passed.
- A motion to enter into EXECUTIVE SESSION
- To discuss the employment of personnel, passed.
The next Regular meeting of the Board will be 7 p.m. May 15 at Northfield Elementary School, 9374 Olde Eight Road.
