Key Takeaways:
-- Academic & Student Support: Expanded to six AP classes (with 89.58% of students earning a 3 or higher on AP exams), launched a 6th–12th grade Spanish pathway, and brought support services (speech and psychologist) in-house to increase services while being fiscally responsible.
-- Financial Oversight: Earned a clean state audit, established a cash balance policy, improved financial transparency with the community, and secured $601,915 in local, safety, and federal grants.
-- Facilities Upgrades: Completed key campus improvements, including high school chiller, gym air conditioning, and greenhouse renovations while working toward a broader master campus plan.
-- Stakeholder Engagement: Increased focus on financial communications.
The Van Buren Local Schools Strategic Plan Advisory Team met on Wednesday, August 5, to review the annual report from the 2025-2026 school year and plan for the 2026-2027 school year.
The focus of the meeting was the progress made over the last year in each of the strategies (Learning, Finances, Stakeholder Engagement, Facilities) identified as essential to accomplishing the district’s vision: Build a culture of learning that enables all students to achieve and grow.
Director of Teaching and Learning Mrs. Cassie Schaffer, after reviewing the history of the current strategic plan which took effect in 2020-2021, led the discussion of the Learning strategy. She focused on the addition of three AP classes last year (bringing the total offered to six) and noted that 89.58% of AP students earned at least a 3 out of 5 on their AP exams at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Earning a 3, 4, or 5 allows for the opportunity to earn college credit at Ohio public universities and may qualify students for credit at private colleges. Schaffer also shared the foreign language progression giving students the opportunity to start taking exploratory Spanish classes in sixth grade, earn CCP credit for Spanish III and IV, and finish the program with Spanish V.
Director of Student Services Mrs. Bridgett Bunn also shared how the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is being utilized to support the growth of all students (read the Knight Insight titled “High-Quality Instruction + Support = Student Success” to learn more about MTSS). Finally, Bunn discussed how we have been able to bring support services such as school psychologist and speech-language pathologist back under district control to increase services while being fiscally responsible.
Treasurer Mrs. Cathy Schuller led the discussion of the Finances strategy, focusing on the financial impacts of five Ohio House bills, the clean audit her department achieved (read the VB News article titled “School District Passes State Audit” to learn more), the new cash balance policy, the focus on reducing expenses to become more efficient, and our district applying for and receiving $601,915 in local, safety, and federal grants.
For the Stakeholder Engagement strategy, Schuller, Communications Coordinator Mr. Brian Bratt, and Superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott reviewed their joint efforts to improve financial communications. Their efforts focused on developing action steps after having conversations with five schools known for effective communication (read the Knight Insight titled “Strengthening Connections Through Communications” to learn more). Bratt wrapped up the discussion of the strategy with a timeline showing the evolution of district communications from August 2023 to present.
Maintenance and Facilities Supervisor Mr. Casey Morman and Inkrott presented the Facilities update, focusing on the improvements made in the district in the last year and other priorities, including replacing the 23-year-old chiller that services the high school building (read the improvement project update “HS Chiller Replacement” to learn more), adding air conditioning to the high school gymnasium, updating the high school locker rooms, renovating the high school greenhouse, improving Verizon cell service on campus, and improving lighting, carpeting, and restroom facilities in select locations throughout the district. They also discussed the removal of the old electronic sign and the forthcoming addition of a new digital sign in front of the middle school. Finally, they discussed the work the Facilities Committee has completed regarding a master campus plan.
Following each report, table groups met to identify strengths, growth opportunities, and how the district could be looking ahead in each of the strategy areas. Dr. Inkrott will be taking all of the feedback received at the meeting to the Board of Education, strategic plan subcommittees, and district employees so they can explore implementation options.
Subcommittees will continue meeting frequently throughout the 2026-2027 school year to make progress on the strategic plan, and the Strategic Plan Advisory Team will meet again in August 2027 for the next annual review.
Community member Ryan Schroeder appreciated the progress toward goals he has seen over the last year, saying, “Planning is great, but seeing the progress is what makes me feel excited about the direction our school district is going.” Brittni Gladysz, another community member, said, “I feel more equipped to talk to others in the community about all of the positive work being done in our district.”
Advisory team members attending the meeting included Abby Allen, Anna Anderson, Jenn Barrett, Brian Beining, Bryan Crissman, Danielle Doxsey, Laura Ebright, Brittni Gladysz, Adam Greer, Bill Griffith, Michael Leifheit, Ed May, Gene Meyer, Michael Newcomer, Tammy Routson, Holli Sattler, Ryan Schroeder, and Phoxay Sumney.
If community members are interested in learning more about the Strategic Plan, please contact Dr. Inkrott at jinkrott@vbschools.net or 419-299-3578 x101.
Check out what else is happening at the Van Buren Local School District:
Archer Receives HFCU Teacher Appreciation Grant
Strengthening Connections Through Communication