More than eighty community members packed Olmsted Falls Middle School Media Center for last night’s Olmsted Falls City School (OFCS) District’s State of the Schools presentation. This community event - which highlighted the district’s top priorities, goals and direction for the future - was also streamed live on the district’s official Facebook page and has been viewed by nearly 2,000 people.
The State of the Schools event is a unique opportunity for top district leaders and community residents to come together and discuss the current highlights, challenges and future direction of the district,” said Superintendent James Lloyd, Ed.D. “We really enjoy interacting with our community and sharing our story with them.”
The evening included updates on the district’s progress of implementing the Strategic Plan as well as how students are using various pathways to explore different career options. Students from the OFCS/Polaris Career Center’s Project Lead the Way partnership led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Emily Dales shared details of the district’s finances since the passage of the zero additional taxes combined bond and permanent improvement issue last fall.
“We are pleased to have an opportunity to share directly with our community the latest information regarding our district successes, goals and challenges,” said Lloyd. “Keeping our residents informed helps keep our schools strong and protects the great value we provide to the community.”
The financial highlights included a review of the district’s Five-Year Financial Forecast that shows the district is in good financial shape. “The new bond and permanent improvement dollars are very important in protecting and stretching our general fund resources,” explained Dales. “Money from the bond and permanent improvement levy can only be spent on facilities and maintenance, lending protection to the dollars budgeted for the day-to-day teaching and learning operations and allowing us to maintain excellence in our classrooms.”
Dales also acknowledged the emphasis the district places on financial transparency. “The Financial Prospectus published last spring and the growing District Finance Committee made up of community residents with professional financial background have both helped in building transparency regarding our district’s finances. This is all part of our promise to keep our schools strong.”
Video coverage of the OFCS State of the Schools presentation can be viewed on the district’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/olmstedfallsschools/.
This annual State of the Schools event is held to provide an honest look at the current picture of the district’s academic, financial and facility areas as well as goals for the future. Any resident with questions regarding this year’s OFCS State of the Schools event is encouraged to contact the district office at 440-427-6000 or email info@ofcs.net.