OSBA Today

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 bill...

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-b...

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 requirin...

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...

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 da...

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 c...

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...

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 Scot...

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...

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 managem...

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, f...

November is Military Family Appreciation Month, and in this episode of OSBA’s Leading the Way podcast, host Scott Gerfen sits down with Pete LuPiba, Ohio’s Purple Star school liaison, to explore how schools across the Buckeye State are supporting military-connected students and families. LuPiba shares the story behind the Purple Star Schools Program — a first-of-its-kind initiative that started in...

Artificial intelligence is already shaping how students learn, search and create. But how can schools use AI responsibly — and effectively? In this episode of Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen sits down with Kathryn Cerminara, senior manager of sales at Lincoln Learning Solutions, to break down how AI is being used in Ohio classrooms, what makes Ohio a leader in K-12 AI policy, and how school boa...

Advocacy is one of the most powerful ways school board members can make a difference — not just in their districts, but across the state and nation. In this episode of Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen talks with Jocelyn Spencer Rhynard of Dayton City Schools and Bill Ferguson Jr. of Hamilton County ESC and Great Oaks Career Campuses. Fresh off their trip to Washington, D.C., for the Consortium o...

In this episode of Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen examines the Ohio General Assembly’s push to change the state’s property tax system — and the consequences it could have for schools, students and communities. Guests Dr. Howard Fleeter of the Ohio Education Policy Institute and Nicole Piscitani from OSBA’s Legislative Services team explain why property taxes have long been a cornerstone of sch...

In this episode of Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen sits down with John Ondo, OSBA’s media consultant, and Josh Gallagan, digital design instructor at Delaware Area Career Center. Together, they explore why media is the language of today — and how schools can use it to connect with their communities, inspire students and tell their unique stories. From using smartphones as powerful storytelling...

In this episode, OSBA Senior Transportation Consultant Doug Palmer joins us to explore why selecting the most senior bus driver isn’t always the best move when hiring a transportation manager. Palmer shares insights on what school districts should look for in leadership roles within the transportation department and how strategic hiring can impact safety, efficiency and staff morale. Thanks to our...

In this episode of the Leading the Way podcast, host Scott Gerfen discusses the profound implications of House Bill 335 on Ohio's students. The bill could strip up to $2 billion in funding from public schools, affecting teacher employment, class sizes, extracurricular programs and more. Legislative experts Jennifer Hogue and Nicole Piscitani break down the bill's provisions, its current...

n this episode, OSBA's Scott Gerfen interviews Tom Fladung, managing partner of Hennes Communications and a national expert in crisis communication. They discuss the challenges that school leaders face with the spread of misinformation and fake news and how it impacts public institutions, especially schools. Fladung shares real-world examples, the importance of maintaining a steady communicat...

In this episode of OSBA's Leading the Way, host Scott Gerfen welcomes Will Schwartz of Pappas and Associates — a trusted education policy expert — to discuss Ohio's next two-year state budget. With lawmakers back at the Statehouse and the budget having cleared the Ohio House, Will breaks down the key players involved and the potential impacts on education funding.🎙️ What you’ll learn: •...

Join OSBA's Scott Gerfen on the Leading the Way podcast as he tackles the vital process of evaluating superintendents and treasurers with OSBA board and management services consultants Kristi Robbins and Teri Morgan . Discover the significance of aligning evaluations with strategic plans, understanding key performance standards and effectively handling difficult conversations. Also, learn mor...

In this episode, OSBA's Scott Gerfen and OSBA Director of Legislative Services Jennifer Hogue discuss Ohio's $61 billion budget, which has passed the House and now heads to the Senate. The conversation covers significant changes to district cash balances, the impact on school funding and student services, and the property tax relief efforts. Thank you to our sponsor, Pappas & Associa...

A strong partnership between a school board and superintendent is key to a district’s success — but how do leaders build and maintain that trust? In this episode of Leading the Way , OSBA’s Scott Gerfen is joined by Dr. David Axner , executive director of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, and Cheryl Ryan , director of OSBA's board and management services, to discuss best pract...

In this episode of OSBA’s Leading the Way Podcast, host Scott Gerfen sits down with Doug Palmer , OSBA’s Senior Transportation Consultant, to discuss the latest in school transportation policy and funding. 🏫 Key Topics: ✔️ Funding for school transportation in Ohio’s latest budget ✔️ The ongoing bus driver shortage and its impact on districts ✔️ Strategies districts are using to recruit and retain...

In this episode of Leading the Way, we sit down with OSBA Legislative Consultant Malania Birney to break down Gov. Mike DeWine’s final two-year budget and what it means for K-12 education. School board members and education leaders won’t want to miss this critical discussion on the budget process, key funding changes and legislative updates shaping the future of public education. This episode is s...