Dear Barberton City Schools community, 

The Ohio Auditor of State has declared Barberton City School District to be in a state of fiscal emergency. This designation is the next step in the state’s fiscal oversight process and follows the District’s previous placement in fiscal caution and fiscal watch. The District’s financial challenges did not result from one single expense or event. Over time, ongoing expenditures have exceeded the revenue available to support them, creating a structural deficit. While the District has already made significant reductions and taken steps to improve its financial position, those actions were not sufficient to fully eliminate the projected deficit and address the District’s cash-flow needs.

In August, the Board of Education formally acknowledged that the District could not develop a sufficient financial recovery plan under fiscal watch to fully address the projected FY27 deficit. Rather than delay the process, the Board requested that the state move forward with fiscal emergency so the District could begin working through the next phase of financial recovery and become eligible to pursue state solvency assistance to address its cash-flow needs.

Fiscal emergency provides a structured process for addressing these financial challenges. A state-appointed Financial Planning and Supervision Commission will work with District leadership to develop and implement a financial recovery plan designed to restore the District to long-term financial stability.

Our schools remain open and operating, and our focus continues to be providing a quality education for Barberton students. The fiscal emergency designation does not, by itself, determine specific staffing, program, or operational changes. Those decisions will be evaluated as the District works with the Commission to develop the recovery plan. We recognize that you will have questions about what this may mean, and we are committed to communicating openly as decisions are made.

Thank you,

Jason Ondrus