By 1808Delaware
2026 opened with both continuity and change as the Board of Education held its organizational and regular meeting on January 12.
Abby Buckerfield was welcomed as the newest board member, joining a group facing a year shaped more by long-term planning than short-term drama. Board members also selected officers for 2026, naming Ted Backus as president and Janelle Gasaway as vice president.
January also brought School Board Appreciation Month, a reminder that effective governance often goes unnoticed precisely because it is working. These meetings set the structure for decisions that will ripple into classrooms, staffing, and facilities over the coming years.
Student Success and Academic Direction
The board took time to recognize Becky Saunders of Rutherford B. Hayes High School for earning the 2026 CEC Teacher of the Year Award, highlighting instructional leadership at a time when expectations on educators continue to rise.
Three students were approved for early graduation, reflecting a system increasingly open to individualized pathways. Administrators also previewed the Hayes Online Program planned for the 2027–2028 school year. The focus was on flexibility rather than replacement, positioning online coursework as an additional option for students whose needs do not always align with traditional schedules. The opportunity is real, but so is the challenge of maintaining rigor and connection if the program is to succeed.
Growth Planning and Long-Term Assets
Updated 10-year enrollment projections showed conservative growth in the near term, with larger increases expected later as housing and population trends continue to develop. The approach suggests caution without complacency, avoiding overbuilding too early while keeping future needs in view.
That long-term mindset was reinforced with the acknowledgment of a 52-acre land donation from Corridor Development and Ryan Homes for future school use. While the impact is not immediate, securing land now preserves options in a district where suitable sites are increasingly scarce.
Financial Picture and What It Signals
The Treasurer’s Report added important context by putting numbers behind the district’s current position. As of November 30, 2025, the General Fund began the month with a balance of $45,408,428, up $3,699,606 from November 2024. Monthly revenue totaled $1,957,419, down $81,922 from the prior year, while expenditures increased by $252,976 to $7,134,348.
Despite higher spending and slightly lower revenue, the district ended November with a General Fund balance of $40,231,499, which is $3,364,708 higher than one year earlier. The numbers point to increased costs being absorbed from a stronger base rather than through short-term fixes.
That context helps explain why the district received both the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the State of Ohio Award for Open and Transparent Government Operations. These recognitions do not eliminate tough decisions ahead, but they suggest a district that knows where it stands financially and is willing to show its work.
The board also approved routine staffing changes, including three retirements, marking a quiet but meaningful transition as experience passes to the next generation.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9, with full agendas and audio recordings available through Delaware City Schools. If this opening meeting is any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a year defined by careful groundwork rather than headlines, a sensible posture for a district planning its next decade.
