LISBON — The Lisbon school board recently approved the latest revised five-year fiscal forecast for the district, but Treasurer/CFO Jennifer Coldsnow said Thursday the numbers are all wrong.

“This is the best we have right now, but there will be changes. It’s kind of like a shot in the dark right now,” she said.

Previously, the forecast was prepared in October and May, but state legislation approved last year changed the dates to October and February for this school year and then August and February for the next school year. Recent changes in property tax laws in Ohio won’t take effect until next month and the Ohio Department of Taxation has until April 20 to calculate any tax reductions that will impact school districts, according to the forecast report.

“Hopefully by May we’ll have a better forecast,” Coldsnow said.

According to the current numbers, the cash fund balances will gradually decrease over the five years, with an estimated $4.7 million in 2026, $4.5 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028, $3.1 million in 2029 and $1.7 million in 2030.

In other business, the board accepted the retirement of Special Education Supervisor Lynne Beech, effective May 29, with Superintendent Joe Siefke saying it’s with regret and adding, “Lynne’s fantastic at what she does.” Her husband, Andy, is already retired and now she’s going to retire, too. The position will be advertised internally to see if anyone on staff is interested.

The board also accepted the retirement of bus driver Dave Kuhns effective Feb. 28. The board approved a limited contract to Amanda Hulett as bus driver for the remainder of the school year.

Next year’s school calendar was approved, with the first day for students on Aug. 19 and the last day on May 28, 2027. Breaks will include Thanksgiving recess from Nov. 25-27, Christmas break from Dec. 21, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027 and spring break from March 26-April 2, 2027.

Upcoming activities approved included: the spring musical “Mean Girls,” 7 p.m. March 27 and 28, and 3 p.m. March 29, David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School auditorium; Junior Senior Prom, 7 to 11 p.m. May 1, Avion on the Water, Canfield; Parade of Fashions, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 1, DAHS gym, After Prom, sponsored by Junior Class parents, 11:30 p.m. May 1 to 6:30 a.m. May 2, Salem Community Center, Salem; and Graduation, 3 p.m. May 24, DAHS gym.

In other matters, the board: authorized participation in open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year; approved board president TK Hiscox as legislative liaison and board member Jennifer Whitman as student liaison to the Ohio School Boards Association for 2026; approved a one-year maintenance contract with AstroTurf for $3,900, which Seifke said will extend the longevity of the district’s turf; approved the Lisbon Disaster Recovery Plan, which was required by the state related to cyber security; approved Ohio School Boards Association membership dues for $5,067 for 2026; approved an hourly rate of $25 for substitute nurses for the school year; and authorized membership for grades 9-12 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association and adopted OHSAA constitution, bylaws, sports regulations, interpretations and decisions for minimum student eligibility for the 2026-2027 school year.

In personnel matters, the board contracted with Stephanie Myers for athletic training services for the 2026 spring sports season for $800 and contracted with Bill Meek to serve as confidential administrative assistant for the remainder of the school year.

Athletic supplemental contracts approved for spring sports included: varsity boys and girls co-track coaches Seth Davis and Derek Joy; 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; assistant varsity softball coach Chris Flory; baseball volunteers Doug Sturgeon and Brayden Flory and boys basketball volunteer Patrick Rovnak.

Athletic event workers approved for the OHSAA girls basketball sectional and district tournament games at DAHS, to be paid by OHSAA, included: site manager Kyle Bing, $175 per sectional game, $200 per district game; official host Keith Edenfield, $60 per sectional game, $70 per district game; opposing team host Quinn Puskar, $175 per sectional game, $200 per district game; ticket manager Donna Cook, $50 for sectional game, $70 per district game; and ticket taker Deb Ford, $175 per sectional game, $70 per district game.

The board heard reports from McKinley School Principal Dan Kemats, DAHS Principal Keith Edenfield, Athletic Director/DAHS Assistant Principal Kyle Bing and Maintenance Supervisor Roger Tullis, with Tullis reporting the district made it through the big snow storm, with the village helping to clear out the parking off the street near the stadium and high school with a front-end loader. He also said the district made it through the low temperatures without any major heating issues. He said there’s a salt shortage but the district’s supply is okay.

The next school board meeting will be 5 p.m. March 12 at board offices, North Market Street, Lisbon.

mgreier@mojonews.com