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

n this special on-site episode of OSBA’s Leading the Way Podcast, host Scott Gerfen takes you inside the 2025 OSBA Capital Conference & Trade Show, exploring two of the event’s biggest highlights:• The Student Achievement Fair, where students from across Ohio showcase hands-on learning, career pathways and innovation in action.• One of the largest education-related trade shows in the nation, featuring more than 500 exhibitors supporting Ohio’s public schools.Whether you attended the conference or couldn’t be there this year, this episode gives you a front-row seat to the innovation and energy at Ohio’s premier education event.Thank you to our podcast sponsor: Lincoln Learning Solutions!

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