CORTLAND — The Lakeview Local School District spends 45% less per pupil than the average school district in Ohio, according to Treasurer Terry Armstrong.

He reviewed the district’s finances at a recent school board meeting.

Armstrong, who began as the district treasurer in August, said “the district has one of the lowest per pupil spending in the region and state of Ohio while students, staff and the school community continue to achieve at a high level.”

The district’s recent state report card had a four-star rating with officials and administrators crediting the dedicated staff and students for its performance. Five stars is the highest rating given by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

In addition, Lakeview spends 24% less per pupil than similar-sized school districts. Armstrong said the district continues “to be very fiscally responsible” with spending.

He said Lakeview, as well as most other school districts, have been receiving less funding from the state, with districts having to rely more on local property taxes, which could be eliminated if a ballot initiative is approved by voters in 2026.

He said the district’s funding is 54% from local taxes and 41% from state sources. The remaining 5% comes from other sources.

Armstrong said the state is providing less funds per pupil for public schools while providing more funds per pupil for private and charter schools.

“Despite getting less funds from the state, we continue to watch spending and be fiscally responsible,” he said.

Armstrong said a state budget bill signed into law this summer included a change in the fiscal forecast, moving the former five-year forecast from a November filing to an August filing. The May filing was moved to February.

He said the state has deducted $173,910 from the funding of College Credit Plus programs.

Armstrong said the Lakeview district, which has 1,452 students, receives $4,252 per student from the state, while state education funding to nonpublic school students is $6,166 per student for K-8 students and $8,408 per student in grades 9-12

Armstrong said the state share of educating students is now lower than it was in 1995 when the landmark DeRolph case deemed the state school funding formula as unconstitutional.

Armstrong said he will continue to update the capital spending plan, curriculum expense budget and staffing budgets to meet the needs of the district while working within the school’s available funds.

He said he will maximize grant funding to meet district needs wherever possible and continue to monitor changes in state law and how it would impact the school district.

In other business at the September meeting, the board:

• Accepted the retirement resignations of three teachers who will retire at the end of the school year: John Terbovich and Craig Mild, both effective May 22, and Jennifer Welshhans, effective June 1.

• Approved the high school choir trip to perform Feb. 12-16 in Atlanta.

• Approved fifth-grade trip to Camp Fitch in North Springfield, Pa.. Nov. 19-21 and eighth-grade Washington, D. C trip March 25- 27.

• Approved an agreement with Hubbard schools for sharing a French teacher. Hubard pays $11,000 for the French teacher for remote instruction.

• Approved a revision to an agreement with Amersco for LED and RTU lighting project upgrades from $380,914 to $403,914. Officials said costs are being paid by a $200,000 grant. The LED roof units are completed.

• Recognized students who took part in 4H programs at the Trumbull County Fair.

• Approved the district participating in a multi-district litigation, which is a federal lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court seeking to recover the costs of supporting students impacted by Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat and YouTube.

• Were informed a Care Crew of adult volunteers is at the elementary school’s front entrance helping students as they come into the building in the morning and leave in the afternoon.