Poland Local Schools Treasurer Jeanette Medina gives the five-year forecast on Wednesday, which shows deficit spending beginning in 2027. Taking in the information are Board of Education members Larry Warren, left, and Gregg Riddle. Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse

POLAND — The Poland Board of Education heard the latest five-year forecast at its meeting Wednesday and it showed deficit spending as early as 2027.

District treasurer Jeanette Medina said the future is a guess at this point with so many unknowns this year.

“We start deficit spending next year,” she said. “We may have more legislative changes coming, so we just need a plan to stay in balance.”

Medina’s figures show a cash balance at the end of FY 2026 of $11,107,147. That amount of carryover can last 185 days without any revenue. In 2027, the surplus/deficit funds take a $90,628 hit and lessens the number of days to 156. The cash balance is estimated at $11,016,519.

In 2028, Medina showed a deficit of $1,267,579. By 2030, the deficit grows to $2,877,558. By 2030, the district could be down to just 67 days of funds, as long as it still has the levies and they pass by voters.

Medina then took the property taxes away and by 2029, Poland Local School District is looking at just a 30-day balance. In 2030, it goes to negative 48 days, or becomes a district in big trouble.

“We are very dependent on our levies,” she said.

In Poland, Medina showed 62.61% of funding comes from real estate taxes. The state funds come in at 20.27%. With the property tax opponents working to get the issue on the state ballot in November, the future is uncertain, but Medina said it is a conversation that needs to take place.

“I am going to track the forecast monthly and use our actual data,” she said.

Buses are going to play a part in that forecast as there is a need to replace the aging fleet. According to Director of Operations Matt McKenzie, new buses cost approximately $150,000.

“We do have an aging fleet,” he said. “Last year we replaced one. We feel we need more than one this year.”

He said the fleet consists of 22 buses and the worst ones are replaced first, but McKenzie said it may not necessarily be the oldest one.

The board approved a resolution with the Ohio Schools Council Cooperative to advertise and receive bids for the purchase of school bus chassis and bodies during the OSC Spring 2026 Cooperative School Bus and Van Purchasing Program. There is no cost to participate in the program. McKenzie said the hope is to purchase up to four new buses through the program.

UNION SCHOOL DISCUSSION

During the public presentation, resident Lee Galgan spoke about Poland schools wasting funds. He commented on a previous superintendent he claimed wasn’t doing the job for which he was paid. He also mentioned two empty school buildings that are costing the district money.

Galgan focused his comments on Union School, which was a topic of conversation under a presentation made by McKenzie, who opened his presentation with some history on the school.

“Union School was built in 1882,” he said. “It was added onto in 1947 and 1955. It remained an elementary school until 1986 when it was closed for 11 years. It was then re-opened as an elementary until 2021 when it was again closed.”

McKenzie agreed utilities and maintenance can average $100,000 per year. The idea is to sell the building to a single owner and have it developed into upper income condominiums.

Board member Gregg Riddle said in a prior interview the school had a nice fourth floor that could be turned into an up-scale penthouse.

An attempt to put out an RFQ (Request for Quotes) was unsuccessful in 2022. McKenzie said the district will have to follow specific guidelines, such as first offering it to a charter school, before it could go toward condos.

Board President Troy Polis said his one problem with the plan is offering the more than 4 acres of land for $1, along with the building. He felt the land at Union was valuable and should bring a good price. Riddle had stated additional condos could be built on the acreage.

After some discussion on Union, McKenzie revealed a timeline on what needs to happen. First was to follow the law with the charter school offering. The next step is to meet with village officials and work out details such as zoning and a possible replat.

Once the details are worked out, the RFQ could be released. Following that, all submissions would then be reviewed, the Board of Education and Poland Village would have to ratify the RFQs and the property transfer could take place.

In the long run, it would save the district the utility and maintenance fees annually.

The board agreed the next step is to meet with the village.

In other business, the board:

* Approved partnerships with the Stark County College Credit Plus program, the Belmont College Credit Plus program, and the Youngstown State University for School Counseling Internship and Field Experience Placement Program.

* Accepted the following donations: the Interact Club, $100 from GMH Technologies Inc.; $50 each from James Martin, the Rotary Club and Team LLC, and $100 from Jason Tarr Insurance and Financial Services Inc.; and $1,000 from Magic Moments Photography LLC to the Poland High School staff account.