What happens when a bill about school psychologists suddenly becomes the vehicle for some of the most debated education proposals at the Statehouse?

That's just one example of the fast-moving legislative action that unfolded before the Ohio General Assembly recessed for the summer.

In this episode, OSBA's Jennifer Hogue, Nicole Piscitani and Malania Birney unpack the major education bills now awaiting action from Gov. Mike DeWine, including Senate Bill 276, House Bill 455 and Senate Bill 19.

The conversation explores new sports mobility legislation, the Success Sequence graduation requirement, math achievement initiatives, capital budget investments and property tax changes. The team also shares what districts should expect when lawmakers return to Columbus after the November election, and why now is the time to strengthen relationships with legislators back home.

Whether you're a board member, superintendent, treasurer or education advocate, this episode provides a good look at the legislation that could affect your district in the months ahead.

00:00 Introduction: The legislature's summer send-off

01:05 Senate Bill 276 takes an unexpected turn

02:15 Sports mobility legislation explained

04:05 The Success Sequence requirement

04:55 Transportation and testing provisions

06:20 What's next for Senate Bill 276?

06:55 House Bill 455 deregulation bill

08:45 Senate Bill 19 and math achievement

10:55 Academic interventions and curriculum requirements

12:05 Diagnostics and accelerated learning pathways

14:15 Additional education provisions added to Senate Bill 19

15:45 Capital budget investments for schools

17:15 House Bill 479 and facilities funding updates

17:55 Property tax legislation: What passed and what didn't

21:45 Looking ahead to lame duck

24:00 Why districts should engage legislators now

25:05 Closing thoughts

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

What role do school levies play in supporting public education?

In this episode of Report to the Office, host Mary Cleveland welcomes community advocate Tracey Artis for a conversation about school funding, community involvement and the importance of staying informed.

Together, they discuss:
• How school levies affect local communities
• The relationship between public schools and community well-being
• Why informed civic participation matters
• Ways residents can become involved with their local schools
• The importance of accountability and transparency in public education

This episode offers valuable perspective for parents, community members, school leaders and anyone interested in understanding the connection between strong schools and strong communities.

#PublicEducation #SchoolFunding #CommunityEngagement #SchoolBoards #OSBA

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

Can a state require every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments?

Federal courts are currently answering that question in different ways, and the disagreement could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

In this episode of Legal Ledger Sidebar, OSBA attorneys Sara Clark and Jennie Hardin break down recent court decisions from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas involving laws requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. They explain how the Supreme Court's decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton changed the legal framework for church-state cases, why courts are now focused on "history and tradition," and how two courts reviewing nearly identical issues reached opposite conclusions.

The discussion also explores:
• The end of the Lemon test.
• The role of Stone v. Graham in modern court decisions.
• What lawyers mean by a "circuit split."
• Whether the U.S. Supreme Court could eventually weigh in.
• Why Ohio school leaders should pay attention, even though Ohio does not currently have a similar law.

Legal Ledger Sidebar is a podcast from the Ohio School Boards Association that examines legal developments affecting public education and school governance.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

Conflict is unavoidable in school leadership, but how leaders respond to it can shape the culture and effectiveness of an entire district.

In this episode of the OSBA Forum, host Mark Bobo talks with Sara Clark and Kristi Robbins about the challenges school boards and district leaders face regarding conflict, communication and governance. 

The conversation explores:

•  Why conflict is increasing in some districts. 
•  Leadership transitions and board dynamics. 
•  Communication breakdowns and difficult conversations. 
•  Emotional intelligence in governance. 
•  Community expectations and political pressures. 
•  Strategies for strengthening trust and professionalism. 

The OSBA Forum features conversations on the issues impacting Ohio’s public schools and the leaders who serve them.

00:00 Introduction
 00:22 Conflict Isn’t Always Negative
 00:47 Meet Sara Clark and Kristi Robbins
 01:19 Why Conflict Is Increasing in School Districts
 01:43 New Board Members and Leadership Transitions
 02:06 Roles, Communication and Difficult Conversations
 02:40 Budget Challenges and Community Pressure
 03:05 Political Polarization and Board Dynamics
 03:38 Emotional Intelligence During Conflict
 04:25 Early Warning Signs of Governance Problems
 05:12 Building Trust Within Leadership Teams
 06:04 Productive Communication Strategies
 07:01 Managing Public Pressure and Expectations
 08:10 Advice for Board Members Facing Conflict
 09:02 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Governance

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

Property taxes, levies, millage and school funding can be confusing, but they affect every community.

In this episode of Report to the Office, OSBA President Mary Cleveland talks with Princeton City Schools Treasurer Christine Poetter about how school districts are funded, why local taxpayers are being asked to carry more of the load, and how those dollars support students, staff, buildings and daily operations.

They also discuss common misconceptions about school district finances, the difference between property tax and income tax levies, why cash balances can be misunderstood, and how community members can stay informed and involved.

Topics include:

• Where school funding comes from.
• Why property tax bills can change.
• How levy dollars reach the classroom.
• The role of the district treasurer.
• Why school funding is a community issue.

Understanding school funding is one way communities can better support students and public education.

00:00 Introduction
00:18 Where do your property taxes go?
00:50 Meet Christine Poetter
02:17 Biggest misconception about school funding
04:02 Main sources of school funding
05:21 Local taxpayers vs. state funding
07:30 Property tax levies vs. income tax levies
11:30 Millage and valuation explained
12:48 Why tax bills can change
15:23 How tax dollars reach the classroom
18:27 Why cash balances can be misunderstood
19:02 Schools are a people business
20:39 Hard financial decisions districts face
23:11 What every Ohio resident should understand
25:33 How community members can stay informed
27:17 Closing remarks

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

Social media gives school board members a direct way to connect with their communities, but it can also create legal, governance and communication challenges if it’s not handled carefully.

In this episode of Leading the Way, OSBA consultants Kristi Robbins and Quinn Maceyko discuss where board members often get tripped up online and how to avoid creating problems for yourself or your board.

The conversation covers:

•  Open Meetings Act concerns 
•  Public records implications 
•  Board unity and communication 
•  Responding to misinformation 
•  Sharing district information appropriately 
•  Why “when in doubt, cut it out” may be the best advice 

Whether you’re an experienced board member or newly elected, this episode offers insight into how social media can impact public trust, transparency and board governance.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

AI is moving fast, and Ohio schools now have a July 1 deadline to have a policy in place.

So what should districts actually be doing right now?

In this Legal Ledger Sidebar, OSBA policy consultant Gamy Narvaez breaks down the steps schools can take now, what matters most in an AI policy and the biggest legal risks to watch.

If your district hasn’t started yet, this is a good place to begin.

00:00 The July 1 AI deadline
00:45 Where districts should start
01:50 What a good AI policy includes
03:00 Start from scratch or use a model?
03:45 FERPA and data privacy risks
05:00 Chatbots and student safety concerns
06:50 AI misuse and deepfakes
08:20 Biggest legal risk right now
09:00 What to do this week

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

What if students weren’t just learners — but problem-solvers?

At Ridgewood Local Schools, a group of senior honors students identified a growing literacy challenge and decided to do something about it. The result: an AI-powered platform that allows students to generate their own stories, read at their level, and build stronger engagement with reading.

In this episode of Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen talks with the students behind the project and their teacher, Lester McCurdy, about how the idea came to life and why it’s gaining national attention.

You’ll hear:

• How the project started from a real classroom need.

• What makes student-created storytelling so effective.

• How the platform supports both students and teachers.

• Why equity and multilingual access were built in from the start.

• What students gained from leading the work.

• Lessons for districts looking to empower student innovation.

The team’s work has already taken them to Washington, D.C., where they met with leaders from government and major tech companies.

This conversation offers a fresh perspective on AI in schools — not as a shortcut, but as a tool for deeper learning, creativity and ownership.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

Strong schools are built on aligned leadership.

In this episode of Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Lolli and Mike Trego from the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council (OLAC) to discuss collaborative leadership and why alignment among school boards, superintendents, principals and teachers is critical to district success.

The conversation explores how leadership teams move from isolated decision-making to shared direction, common goals, and sustainable improvement. Guests share real district examples, warning signs when collaboration breaks down, and practical tools districts can use to strengthen leadership coherence and improve student outcomes.

🎙 This episode is sponsored by Lincoln Learning Solutions, which provides accredited K–12 digital curriculum and supports schools with flexible instructional content and expert professional learning for educators in all learning environments.

Subscribe to Leading the Way for more conversations with education leaders shaping public education across Ohio.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

In this episode of OSBA’s Leading the Way podcast, host Scott Gerfen sits down with OSBA board consultants Kristi Robbins and Teri Morgan — both former school board members — to break down what new members need to know as they step into public service. They discuss:• What to expect during the first 90 days on the board• How to prepare for your first board meeting• Governance vs. day-to-day management• Building strong relationships with fellow board members and the superintendent• Handling community expectations• Staying student-focused in every decisionWhether you're newly elected or simply seeking clarity on your role, this episode offers firsthand lessons, practical tips, and encouragement to start your term with confidence!Thank you to our sponsor: Lincoln Learning Solutions. Learn more: https://www.lincolnlearningsolutions.org.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.