Tiffin City Schools Board advances fiscal leadership transition, approves financial forecast and student investments

[TIFFIN, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2026] - The Tiffin City Schools Board of Education took action Monday evening on the district’s financial leadership and long-term planning while also approving investments in student mental health, technology and school safety.

Fiscal leadership transition

The Board approved the hiring of Victoria Fritz as fiscal support specialist, with plans for her to transition into the district treasurer position after completing the remaining state certification requirements.

Superintendent Greg Williamson said Fritz has completed the necessary coursework and will work with the district while preparing for the state-mandated exam.

Jennifer Hedrick will continue serving as interim treasurer during the transition. Hedrick is the CFO and treasurer of North Central Ohio Educational Service Center and serves Tiffin City Schools through a shared-service agreement. Tiffin City Schools was also her first district as a school treasurer.

The Board approved a revised agreement allowing Hedrick to continue in the role until Fritz is eligible to become treasurer.

“I think she’s going to do a great job,” Hedrick said.

Financial outlook

The Board also approved Tiffin City Schools’ August financial forecast, submitted under Ohio’s three-year forecast requirements.

The district ended fiscal year 2026 with a general fund cash balance of approximately $14.36 million, about $1.35 million higher than projected in its previous five-year forecast. Actual revenue finished within 1% of the previous projection, while total expenditures and other financing uses finished approximately 4.4% below forecast.

The new forecast also shows that the district still has work to do to bring annual revenues and expenditures into balance. Under current assumptions, the cash balance is projected to decline to approximately $12.29 million in June 2027, $10.92 million in June 2028 and $8.06 million in June 2029.

The district’s recently approved 0.75% earned income tax provides significant support to that outlook. The forecast projects approximately $2.43 million in income-tax revenue in fiscal year 2027, $3.87 million in 2028 and $3.52 million in 2029.

If all other assumptions remained the same without that revenue, the district would exhaust its cash reserves during fiscal year 2029. The income tax does not eliminate the projected operating imbalance, but it provides more time and flexibility to address the district’s long-term financial health while protecting programs and services for students.

Board member Victor Perez thanked the community for its support, noting that the district would face a much more difficult financial position without the income tax.

The forecast also depends on factors outside the district’s direct control. State funding for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 will depend on Ohio’s next biennial budget, while future federal funding and potential changes to Ohio’s tax laws remain uncertain.

“What we can control is how we manage our resources,” Williamson said following the meeting. “We are developing a fiscal health plan that looks closely at our expenses and how we operate. We are going to be responsible with taxpayer dollars, but we are also going to keep students first. Finding that balance is the work in front of us.”

The August 2026 financial forecast and its assumptions are available here.

Student and district investments

The Board approved a $90,000 contract with Wellness Counseling Solutions to continue providing school-based mental health services and a roughly $56,000 purchase of approximately 200 Chromebooks and accompanying licenses to begin replacing devices nearing the end of their useful life.

The Board also approved Lightspeed, which provides internet filtering and student-safety monitoring on district-issued devices and alerts designated staff to potential concerns.

Other actions included approval of Title IX professional development, the PowerSchool Engage communication platform, 2026-27 bus stops and more than $13,400 in donations and in-kind support from community partners.

Business Director Greg DeVore also updated the Board on summer facility work, including improvements to the Tiffin Middle School cafeteria and gym, completion of a multiyear boiler project, roof work at Columbian High School and paving, painting and maintenance projects throughout the district.

“The work Mr. DeVore and his staff accomplished this summer is something our community should be proud of,” Williamson said. “Tiffin Middle School looks tremendous, and that is a reflection of a team that worked extremely hard behind the scenes to have our buildings ready for students. We appreciate what they do for our schools every day.”