When the stakeholder engagement committee met for the first time in August 2024, they were guided by the committee’s mission statement: To communicate pertinent, district-level information related to Van Buren Schools to stakeholders through a variety of channels. Over the last two years, we have worked toward achieving that mission, and we would like to provide an update on our continued progress.
Focus on Financial Communications
When the strategic plan advisory committee met in August 2025 to review progress made on each of the plan pillars (Learning, Finances, Stakeholder Engagement, Facilities), one of the responses heard for both finances and stakeholder engagement was a desire for more information to be communicated about district finances.
With that guidance, we reached out to five school districts which had been identified as being outstanding communicators of financial information: Chardon Local School District, Mentor Public Schools, Perrysburg Exempted Village School District, New Albany-Plain Local Schools, and Worthington City School District. Meeting virtually with the superintendents, treasurers, and communications coordinators in those districts, we were able to identify areas for improvement and created eight action steps we are using to improve the quality of our financial communications.
In addition to those virtual meetings, we also collected approximately 50 communications materials from schools around the state at the November 2025 Capital Conference. Teaming again with Treasurer Mrs. Cathy Schuller and Superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott, we identified high-quality graphics, designs, and content we would use to more effectively communicate information about our district finances.
All of this research contributed to two of Schuller’s Knight Insights directly related to district finances (“High Performance, Low Cost: A Look at Our District’s Financial Efficiency” published in December 2025 and “Building Financial Resiliency for Van Buren Local School District” published in March 2026) and the addition of “The Knights’ Ledger” to the monthly Knights in the Know email newsletters to convey information about relevant financial topics.
Schuller’s December 2025 Knight Insight was also recognized at the Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA) spring conference as a Mark of Distinction winner in the Special Purpose Publication category in the statewide competition.
The Knights’ Ledger
As previously mentioned, “The Knights’ Ledger” became part of Knights in the Know starting in February 2026. Topics discussed have ranged from five-year forecasts to savings the district has realized through its participation in the Ohio Schools Council (OSC) to how annexation could affect our district. To read all of “The Knights’ Ledger” content, click here to access past editions of Knights in the Know.
If you do not already receive the Knights in the Know email newsletter, click here to sign up so you can always be in the know regarding what is happening in our school district.
Quality Profile
The 2024-2025 Annual Quality Profile highlighted the outstanding work being done in our district, including the progress made on the district strategic plan, the accomplishments in all three buildings (elementary, middle, and high school), six of our outstanding alumni, support we receive from the community-led Van Buren Schools Education Foundation and Forge the Future, and the academic, artistic, and athletic achievements of our students. Profiles were sent to all school district residents, but you can also view the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 profiles here.
Knight Insights
The goal of the Knight Insights is to give district residents and others interested in our district information going beyond what might appear in a social media post. These full-length articles dive deeply into the outstanding people and programs in our school district.
In addition to the two financial-related Knight Insights already mentioned, sixteen others were published during the 2025-2026 school year. Featuring people like our new school psychologist Mr. Ryan Borger and Director of Technology Mrs. Sheryl O’Shea and topics like the state report card results and achievements of the strategic plan committees, these insights help everyone stay informed about district happenings. Click here to read all Knight Insights published during the 2025-2026 school year.
More Communications Opportunities
The communications opportunities do not stop with the resources already mentioned, though. We also offer the Knightly News (print newsletter), social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and Joust About Careers (podcast focusing on the career experiences of VB graduates). Click here to access these and other communications options.
While we have improved our communications, we know our work is not complete. We will continue working toward our mission so that through many mediums we can provide the information that will help everyone see the quality work being done in the Van Buren Local School District.
Check out what else is happening at the Van Buren Local School District:
Improvement Project Update: HS Chiller Replacement
2025-2026 Athletics Review: Championship Moments…Unforgettable Milestones
2025-2026 Fine Arts Review: Sights and Sounds of Creative Excellence