TWINSBURG, Ohio – Twinsburg City School District’s Issue 11 failed to gain voter approval in Tuesday’s special election, with nearly two-thirds of voters rejecting the measure. The Board of Education addressed the results and several other significant items during their regular meeting on May 7, 2025.
According to Board President Mrs. Crawford, the election saw a 14% turnout with 5,400 residents casting ballots. Only 34.5% (1,868 voters) supported Issue 11, while 65.5% (3,552 voters) opposed it.
“We will take the time to pause, reflect, and regroup,” Crawford told attendees. The board plans to gather community feedback through surveys and public forums before determining their next steps.
Financial Outlook Raises Concerns
The election results arrived as Treasurer Julia Rozsnyai presented a sobering five-year financial forecast. Rozsnyai warned board members that under current projections, the district faces a negative cash balance by fiscal year 2028.
Several factors contribute to this outlook, including the continuing phase-out of the fair school funding plan and the end of supplemental student support funds in September 2024. Rozsnyai also highlighted the impact of inflation on district expenses, which have significantly outpaced the Federal Reserve’s 2% target in recent years.
“Our expenses will still exceed our revenues in each fiscal year of the forecast,” Rozsnyai explained. Her presentation showed that while the district received a boost from the $6.2 million levy passed in November 2023, long-term financial challenges remain.
Student Fees Set for 2025-2026
Superintendent Kathi Powers presented the board’s recommendations for student fees for the upcoming academic year. The district will implement a $350 increase for preschool programs, bringing tuition to $2,350 for the Integrated Preschool Program and $2,700 for the Kindergarten Preparatory Program.
To incentivize early payment, parents who pay preschool tuition in full by August 4, 2025, will receive a $100 discount. Academic fees for K-12 students will remain unchanged from current rates.
The district will maintain its 30% structure for pay-to-participate fees, meaning families cover 30% of program costs while the board subsidizes the remaining 70%. The family cap for these fees will continue at $500 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Students eligible for the federal meal program will receive academic fee waivers and a 50% reduction in pay-to-participate fees. Breakfast and lunch prices will remain stable, though milk prices will increase from 50 to 75 cents per carton.
Student and Athletic Achievements Celebrated
Despite the financial challenges, the meeting highlighted numerous student accomplishments across the district. Students of the month from Willcox Primary School, George G. Dodge Intermediate School, and Twinsburg High School were recognized for academic excellence and positive contributions to their school communities.
The board gave special recognition to the Lady Tigers varsity basketball team, celebrating their achievements as co-Suburban League national division champions and OHSAA Division 2 district champions. Athletic Director Brian Fantone noted that the team was among the top five academic girls basketball teams in Ohio with an impressive 4.0 team GPA.
“Every single one of these girls standing up here right now is back again next year,” Fantone announced, generating excitement for the upcoming season.
Looking Ahead
Several important dates were highlighted during the meeting:
- Kindergarten registration is currently open
- Senior awards program: Thursday, May 15
- Senior march: Thursday, May 22
- Class of 2025 commencement: Tuesday, May 27 at E.J. Thomas Hall, University of Akron
The board also accepted a donation of a CNC machine valued at approximately $2,000 from American Industrial Technology for Twinsburg High School’s Project Lead the Way courses.
The next Twinsburg Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Twinsburg Government Center.
