Treasurer shares district’s five-year financial forecast
From state-qualifying student achievements to new classroom behavior strategies, Riverside officials used Monday’s Feb. 17 Board of Education meeting to outline how the district is preparing students for success while strengthening support for teachers.
Middle School/High School Principal Kelly Kauffman reported continued success for Riverside’s Business Professionals of America chapter, noting that 30 Riverside/Ohio Hi-Point students qualified for BPA state competition following strong regional performances.
The BPA state competition is scheduled for Feb. 23–24, continuing what Kauffman described as a long-standing tradition of excellence within the program.
Kauffman also updated the board on Power Pace Interviews, a professional development experience held Feb. 17 for advanced business students.
Students participated in three to five mock interviews each, receiving direct feedback from local business leaders and government officials. Job and Family Services staff provided supplemental coaching on interview etiquette and soft skills.
According to Kauffman, volunteers specifically commented on the high caliber of student skills and professional presentation, highlighting the effectiveness of the program.
Elementary Principal Bryce Hodge reported that the district’s elementary staff recently completed an intensive, seven-hour “Day 1” professional development training focused on immediate behavior management tools and strategies.
Hodge said the session marks the beginning of a deliberate, three-phase rollout designed to provide staff with a robust toolkit for fostering positive student behaviors.
Unlike one-off workshops, Hodge said the initiative is built for long-term success and he shared some additonal information and insights about the training with the board.
-
Immediate impact: Staff spent seven hours acquiring practical ideas and intervention strategies they were able to begin implementing in classrooms this week.
-
Strategic growth: The initiative continues with a second session in April and a final session in August, focusing on advanced strategies and concrete plans to carry these tools into the new school year.
-
A culture of care: The external presenter noted he was impressed by staff engagement, citing a “positive vibe” in the building and the obvious care educators show for their students.
“Our goal isn’t just to talk about behavior management, but to give our teachers more tools and strategies to help every student succeed,” Hodge said. “Seeing the staff lean into this with such a positive attitude shows exactly where their hearts are—with our kids.”
Treasurer Ronnie Fitchpatrick presented Riverside’s five-year financial forecast, which projects relatively flat revenues alongside steadily rising expenditures through fiscal year 2030. Total revenues are expected to remain near $10.3 million annually, while costs continue to climb due to salaries, benefits, special education services, and broader inflationary pressures.
As a result, the district is projected to move from near balance in FY26 into growing annual deficits in subsequent years. Without corrective action, those deficits are expected to increase each year of the forecast period.
The unreserved general fund balance is forecast to decline from approximately $2.85 million in FY26 to about $669,000 by FY30, underscoring the need for long-term financial planning to maintain financial stability.
The board approved multiple personnel actions, including resignations, new hires, and supplemental contracts for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years.
Approved items included:
-
Resignations of Samantha Matteson, school nurse, and Angie Longmire, Title I reading teacher, effective at the end of the 2025–26 school year.
-
Employment of Kylee Purtee and Alyssa Ehressman as intervention specialists for the 2026–27 school year, pending state requirements.
-
Employment of Robin Fitchpatrick as district nurse beginning March 24.
-
Approval of supplemental coaching contracts for spring, fall, and extracurricular athletic programs.
The board also approved Rod Yoder’s contract as athletic director for the 2026–27 school year.
In additional business, the board approved the 2026–27 district calendar, updated acceptable use, internet safety, and Chromebook policies, and renewed membership with the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Board members also accepted a $31,899.50 grant from the Mary Rutan Foundation, which will be used for locker room renovations.
The treasurer’s report included approval of January financial reports and invoices totaling $1,368,782, along with acceptance of the district’s updated financial forecast and assumptions.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 17 in the district library.
