Many school board members are also active in booster clubs, PTOs, alumni associations and other organizations that support their schools. But when does volunteer service begin to overlap with board responsibilities?

In this episode of Leading the Way, OSBA board consultants Teri Morgan and Quinn Maceyko discuss how board members can stay involved while maintaining strong governance. They explore common situations, the importance of public perception and best practices for avoiding governance challenges while continuing to support students and schools.

Whether you're considering a leadership role in a booster organization or simply want to better understand your responsibilities as a board member, this episode offers timely guidance for governing effectively.

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

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.