In the fall of 2025, the Rocky River City School District Board of Education formally adopted a Legislative Platform to guide our advocacy efforts and communicate the priorities that matter most to our students, staff, families, and community. As we look ahead to the upcoming legislative session and the important policy discussions that will continue throughout the fall, these positions remain key priorities for both the Board of Education and district leadership. We are committed to working collaboratively with our state legislators and education partners to advocate for policies that support strong public schools, preserve local decision-making, ensure fiscal stability, and provide every student with access to a caring, exceptional, and competitive educational experience.
As we head into the summer months and look ahead toward the eventual lame-duck session, our Board wanted to share the key pillars of our RRCSD Legislative Platform. We hope these priorities provide district-level context regarding the issues that impact our ability to deliver a caring, exceptional, and competitive education.
Here are specific items we are sharing heading into the next several months of legislation:
Property Tax Reform & Financial Predictability
We support policy measures that increase property tax relief—such as expanding homestead exemptions for senior citizens and implementing “circuit breakers” based on income—provided that these measures do not diminish existing or future funding for K-12 education. However, as close to 80% of our general operating revenue comes from local property tax revenues, attempts to cap cash reserves, restrict local taxation, or allow the reduction, appeal, or diversion of voter-approved tax revenues and inside millage put our district at serious risk, particularly given how little we receive in state funding. Local fiscal stability is essential for our long-term planning.
We are hopeful that the provisions of House Bill 479 will help clarify the property tax reform package passed last fall, and we are pleased to see that the legislation provides targeted tax relief to homeowners while reimbursing schools and local governments for forgone revenue. At the same time, we remain concerned about pending reforms, including HB 504, given that the impact of recently enacted legislation has yet to be fully understood.
Strong and Equitable State Funding
We remain advocates for a fully implemented and consistently funded Fair School Funding Plan that reflects the true operational costs and unique needs of public school students.
Voucher Accountability and Public Dollars
As public funds are increasingly utilized for nonpublic education, we firmly oppose the expansion of voucher programs that divert state dollars away from public schools. We believe that any private institution accepting public tuition dollars should be held to the same academic, financial, operational, and reporting standards that public schools proudly meet every day.
We are encouraged by the introduction of and hearings related to House Bill 715 and welcome the opportunity to share specific data and examples that may be helpful in advancing that legislation.
Ending Unfunded Mandates
New state compliance requirements can strain local classrooms and budgets. We urge that any future legislative mandates be paired with full and adequate funding so local resources are not stretched beyond their capacity. We will be planning carefully given the provisions of Senate Bill 19 and will be happy to share information regarding the increased operating costs associated with implementing the requirements of that legislation.
Preserving Local Governance
We strongly support the rights of locally elected boards of education to make curriculum, operational, and educational programming decisions with the direct input of local staff, parents, and community members. We are concerned about the growing number of bills that mandate specific curriculum and course requirements for local school districts, including the inclusion of the Success Sequence in SB 156.
We are also concerned about the provision in SB 311 regarding the disposition of unused property. RRCSD currently maintains the Wooster School property as an unused school facility and leases the building to the Cleveland Clinic, providing a stable revenue stream for the district. Rocky River is a landlocked community with virtually no remaining opportunities for future development. As we explore a long-term master facilities plan, being required to dispose of unused property would significantly limit our ability to meet future facility needs and ensure that students continue learning in state-of-the-art educational environments. In the immediate term, it would also require the district to terminate a lease agreement that currently provides reliable revenue to support our educational mission.
It is critically important for our community to remain engaged in the state legislative issues that directly impact Rocky River City Schools. Through ongoing advocacy and continued engagement with legislators, educational organizations, and community partners, we can help advance policies that support local control, provide adequate and sustainable funding, and strengthen the educational experiences of our students, staff, and families. Public education is strongest when communities work together to make their voices heard.
Thank you for your continued partnership, engagement, and advocacy on behalf of Rocky River City Schools and the students we are privileged to serve.
With Pirate Pride,
The Rocky River Board of Education
Adham Schirg, Superintendent, RRCS
With Pirate Pride 