Abby Buckerfield, Member, Delaware City Schools Board of Education

06/02/2026

Recently, I submitted written testimony in opposition to Ohio House Bill 504 to the Ohio House Ways & Means Committee.

I submitted testimony because, as a locally elected board member, I have a responsibility to understand and communicate the potential impact state legislation may have on the long-term financial stability of our school district. Decisions made at the Statehouse can directly affect the resources available to support students, maintain facilities, provide transportation, enhance safety, invest in technology, and plan responsibly for the future.

House Bill 504 would allow counties to temporarily reduce property taxes when aggregate property values increase by 15% or more following a reappraisal or triennial update. The bill would phase in valuation increases over three years by reducing a portion of the tax increase in the first two years.

I continue to recognize and empathize with the very real concerns many Ohio homeowners are experiencing related to rising property values and property taxes. These concerns are legitimate, and homeowners deserve transparency, predictability, and thoughtful solutions.

My concerns with HB 504 are not about whether property tax reform should be discussed. Rather, they center on the potential impact this legislation could have on schools, local governments, and long-term financial planning while several recently enacted property tax reforms are still being implemented and evaluated.

Some potential concerns include:
▪️Additional uncertainty while recent property tax reforms are still being implemented and evaluated
▪️Reduced local revenue without replacement funding from the state
▪️Greater long-range financial uncertainty for schools and local governments
▪️Increased difficulty planning for staffing, facilities, transportation, safety improvements, technology, and student programming
▪️Impacts on voter-approved local funding that communities rely on to support local services

According to the Legislative Service Commission, HB 504 could reduce local property tax revenues by up to:
▪️$160 million in Tax Year 2026
▪️$171 million in Tax Year 2027
▪️$150 million in Tax Year 2028

I believe Ohio Legislators should allow recently enacted property tax legislation to be fully implemented and evaluated before making additional structural changes to the property tax system.

School funding in Ohio is already complex, and decisions made at the Statehouse can have significant local impacts on schools, communities, and taxpayers alike.

I have added my written testimony in opposition to HB 504 in the comments, along with links to the recorded committee testimony and the written testimony submitted by the County Auditors' Association of Ohio, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), and the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA).

Reviewing both the written and oral testimony from these organizations helped me better understand the potential long-term impacts of HB 504 and reinforced the importance of sharing my perspective as a locally elected board member. I encourage community members to review the information, listen to the testimony, and draw their own conclusions.

As always, I encourage community members to read proposed legislation, ask questions, and stay engaged in conversations about public education, local governance, and school finance.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent the official position of the district or Delaware City Schools Board of Education.

06/01/2026

I had so much fun volunteering today, visiting with the students and adults that came by for a FREE lunch. This is available weekdays through July 31 for anyone ages 1-18, with adult lunches also available.

Reminder! The FREE summer lunch program starts today at Woodward! Come visit us from 11:30-12:30.

05/31/2026

Reminder - FREE summer lunch program starts MONDAY, June 1. The host location is Woodward Elementary. Free meals are available for everyone ages 1-18. There will also be free adult meals available. Stop in any and every weekday to eat lunch between 11:30-12:30.

Reminder! The FREE summer lunch program begins on Monday at Woodward. All students receive a free meal and a limited number of adult meals will also be available while supplies last. Come join the fun all summer long.

05/26/2026

If you’ve ever considered becoming a bus driver, this is a great opportunity to hear directly from current drivers about what they enjoy most about the job and the relationships they build with students and families. Be sure to stop by Saturday morning and learn more!

I love seeing the many ways our students contribute to Delaware City Schools beyond the classroom. Huge shoutout to the Hayes Cinematics team for creating this great video highlighting the people behind the wheel who help safely start and end each school day for our students. 🧡🖤

The views expressed on this page are my own and do not represent the views of the Delaware City Schools Board of Education or the district administration.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a time to pause, reflect, and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

🌺 The red poppy has long been a symbol of remembrance and sacrifice, inspired by the fields of poppies that grew across battlefields after World War I. Today, it serves as a reminder that freedom is never free. A reminder of the generations of Americans who paid the ultimate price in defense of others.

As we spend time with family and enjoy the freedoms we cherish, may we also remember the fallen, honor their families, and carry forward a spirit of gratitude and service.

We will never forget. ❤️🤍💙

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent the official position of the Delaware City Schools Board of Education.

05/23/2026

Today, the skies held the rain just long enough for a beautiful graduation ceremony at Rutherford B. Hayes High School. 🧑‍🎓 👩‍🎓

Academic achievements were celebrated, families cheered proudly from the stands, and one by one, graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from a staff member, or alumni staff member, of their choice. It was such a meaningful reminder of the relationships, encouragement, and support that help shape our students throughout their journey.

The student speakers each brought their own unique perspective and personal touch to the ceremony, reflecting on memories, growth, challenges, friendships, and the opportunities that lie ahead. Their words captured both the pride and emotion of this important milestone. Once a Pacer, Always a Pacer was a common theme.

🎓 As caps flew into the air, it marked both the closing of one chapter and the exciting beginning of another.

👏 A sincere thank you to everyone who played a role in making today’s ceremony possible, from the countless hours of organizing and preparation to the setup, coordination, and cleanup that often happen quietly behind the scenes. Events like graduation take an incredible team effort, and our students and families benefited from the care and dedication of so many staff members, volunteers, and supporters.

It was truly an honor to sit on stage representing our community as a member of the Delaware City Schools Board of Education and to celebrate this milestone with the Class of 2026.

Congratulations, graduates. Your community is proud of you, and we cannot wait to see where your future takes you next. 🧡🖤

The views expressed on this page are my own and do not reflect the official views of the Delaware City Schools Board of Education or the district.

05/22/2026

Due to the changing forecast and potentially severe weather for Friday evening, we are postponing graduation to Saturday morning at 9:00am. Graduates and families will receive information to their email. While we are sorry to make this decision, the safety of our students and guests are our top priority.

05/21/2026

As we head into summer, I wanted to help share an important opportunity for families and our community. ☀️🍎

Delaware City Schools will again offer FREE summer lunches for all children ages 1–18 at Woodward Elementary School, June 1 through July 31, Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Programs like this make a real difference for families and students during the summer months, and they are only possible because of dedicated staff members and caring community volunteers.

If you are able, please consider:
🥪 Stopping by for lunch with your children or grandchildren
🤝 Volunteering for a day, a week, or even just an hour this summer
📣 Sharing this information so more families know this resource is available

Supporting students is truly a community effort, and I’m grateful for everyone who helps make programs like this possible.

Volunteer sign-up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49A4AD23A0FEC25-63980902-volunteer #/dcs

Delaware City Schools is proud to offer the FREE summer lunch program at Woodward Elementary from June 1 - July 31. In order to have a successful program, we rely on the help of community volunteers. Would you consider signing up for a day, two or more this summer? Summer Lunch Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49A4AD23A0FEC25-63980902-volunteer #/dcs

05/21/2026

School Funding and Costs - everyone’s favorite topic, right?!?! One thing I think is important to recognize in conversations about school funding is that districts are operating in the same economy families are experiencing at home, just on a much larger scale.

Many homeowners have seen rising electric, water, phone, internet, insurance, and maintenance costs over the past several years. This report shows Delaware City Schools’ projected utility costs increasing nearly 24% in a single year, while general inflation has recently been closer to 2–3%.

Schools still must heat and cool buildings, provide transportation, maintain technology systems, and operate safe learning environments every day for students and staff. These operational realities are also part of the larger statewide conversation about school funding and rising educational costs.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent the official position of the Delaware City Schools Board of Education.

At Monday’s Board of Education meeting, our Facilities Director provided an update on rising utility costs. Like many homeowners, our district is feeling this impact in day-to-day budgeting, but on a much larger scale.

For FY 2025–2026, projected utility costs are expected to increase by $313,612, or 23.9%, compared to last year. We continue to look for ways to manage these costs responsibly, including participating in electricity reduction days and taking additional steps to conserve energy whenever possible. Every effort helps, but even with these strategies, rising utility expenses continue to have a real impact on our budget.

We want our community to know that every dollar counts. Careful financial planning allows us to remain focused on what matters most: supporting students, staff, and strong schools.

05/19/2026

During tonight's Board Meeting, the Legislative Update included Ohio House Bill 420, which is a proposed piece of legislation that could significantly impact how public schools across Ohio are funded, including Delaware City Schools.

One of the biggest concerns is the bill’s impact on continuing levies, which many districts rely on for stable, long-term operational and Permanent Improvement funding approved by local voters, including Delaware City Schools.

For Delaware City Schools:
• No new operating dollars have been passed since 2011
• Prior to the additional PI levy approved in November 2025, the district had operated on the same Permanent Improvement funding structure since 1989
• Continuing levies currently provide important long-range financial stability for operations, facilities, transportation, safety upgrades, technology, and student programming

As it's currently written, House Bill 420 would not affect bond repayment or existing debt obligations. However, it could create significant long-term uncertainty by forcing districts into more frequent levy cycles simply to maintain services already approved by voters.

Some potential concerns include:
• Increased levy frequency
• Greater long-range financial uncertainty
• More operational instability for districts
• Reduced ability to plan multi-year staffing and programming
• Increased strain on local communities and taxpayers

I believe this is an important conversation for our community to understand because school funding in Ohio is already incredibly complex, and legislation like this could have lasting local impacts.

I submitted opponent testimony regarding HB 420 to the Ohio House Ways & Means Committee for the May 20 hearing to express concerns about the long-term fiscal and operational impact this bill could have on Delaware City Schools and other public school districts across Ohio.

As always, I encourage community members to read proposed legislation, ask questions, and stay engaged in conversations about public education and local governance.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent the official position of the district or Delaware City Schools Board of Education.