LISBON — Ohio Speaker’s Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is a big proponent of school vouchers. That has left many local school administrations weighing the impact his advocacy for the voucher system expansion would have on public schools.

Lisbon Superintendent Joe Siefke is one such school official.

“I am not really sure how [Huffman] created this scenario where they feel like the state funding is ‘unsustainable.’ That’s the word he used,” Siefke said during Thursday’s regular BOE meeting. “This funding that we’ve kind of phased in on and that people have worked on for years, somehow it’s not what it’s what he thinks we need and it’s concerning. I know the treasurers are not too excited about the direction we are going.”

The expansion would allow more K-12 students to be eligible for vouchers to attend private schools. Opponents of the voucher system — also known as the EdChoice Scholarship program through the Ohio Department of Education — say it is taking taxpayer dollars away from public school districts. Specifically, it allows for more than $1 billion in new taxpayer money to be put toward the voucher program expansion.

Opponents of the voucher system — also known as the EdChoice Scholarship program through the Ohio Department of Education — say it is taking taxpayer dollars away from public school districts.

Huffman suggested that state lawmakers would no longer public schools through the Fair School Funding Plan — expected to cost $2 billion and would be phased in over six years. DeWine’s budget proposal recommends the final two years of a public school full fair funding formula with $12.4 billion in funding to state schools in fiscal year 2026 and another $12.6 billion in 2027.

The Ohio House Finance Committee began meetings last week to consider and potentially criticize the executive budget proposal. A discussion is expected Thursday to likely pick apart education provisions included in it.

In other matters, Lisbon BOE tackled several personnel items including the hiring of coaches for the upcoming spring sports season. The board approved supplemental contracts for varsity boys and girls track co coaches Seth Davis and Derek Joy, assistant varsity girls and boys track coach Janet Lane, junior high girls track coach Meredith Dingey, junior high boys track coach Jon Burnell, varsity baseball coach Doug Andric, assistant varsity baseball coach Tyler Sweeney, varsity softball coach Devyn Wilson and assistant varsity softball coach Chris Flory.

“All of the track coaches are teachers which is nice,” Siefke said. “And the four that aren’t, our baseball and softball coaches, are veterans who have been with the programs for a while and do a great job with the kids.”

The board also accepted the resignation of longtime teacher Dan Votaw, effective May 23, 2025. Votaw has been a teacher in the Lisbon school district for 40 years. He has been an active member of the Lisbon Teachers’ Union and coached football at various levels on-and-off for a dozen years. He served as the Leetonia levy chairman from 2007 to 2010 and was elected to the Leetonia school board for two four-year terms from 2015 to 2023.

Shamya Hunt was given a one-year limited classified contract as a cafeteria worker and Stephanie Myers was contracted for athletic training services for the 2025 spring sports Season at a cost of $1,000. Other supplemental contracts were approved for the spring musical workers Domic Meter (music director), Paul Dahman (drama director), Madeleine Schreffler (assistant drama director), and Kari Beil (volunteer).

Siefke pointed out that the next time the board meets there will be only one week left in the third nine weeks, and the focus is shifting to the end of the school year and 2025-26. The board approved the school calendar for 2025-26 school year and set the dates, times and locations of spring several events — Spongebob “Squarepants, The Musical” (April 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. and April 6 at 3 p.m.), Junior/Senior Prom (May 2, 7 p.m. to 2 p.m.) at The Barn at Firestone Farms in Columbiana, Parade of Fashions (May 2, 5:30-6:30 p.m.) in the high school gymnasium, After Prom (May 3, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) at Kennywood) and graduation May 25 at 3 p.m. ) in the high school gymnasium.

The board also:

— Approved the treasurer recommends approval of the financial report as written and payment of bills in the amount of $1,1041,629.

— Authorized participation in the Inter District Open Enrollment for 2025-2026 school year.

— Approved a one-year maintenance contract with AstroTurf at a cost of $3,900.

— Adopted the Special Education Model Policies and Procedures that were released by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in December 2024.

— Approved the following summer maintenance projects contractor The Ohio Floor Company to redo high school gym floors at a cost of $4,230 for the main and $2,960 for the auxiliary.

— Approved a $100 stipend to each for Madison Daughtery, Ashley Wallace and Leah DeSalvo for completing three Gifted Professional Development hours.

— Approved the following athletic event workers and pay for the OHSAA Girls and Boys Basketball Tournament Games at David Anderson High School: Kyle Bing (site manager) $275 per game, Keith Edenfield (team host) $75 per game, Lisa McCoy ( ticket manager), $50 per game and Deb Ford (ticket taker) $150). The OHSAA will reimburse all costs.

— Set next month’s meeting for March 13 at 5 p.m.

selverd@mojonews.com