Clarity, Commitment, and Looking Ahead

Dr. Andy Hatton, Superintendent, Findlay City Schools

 

Over the past year, the Findlay City Schools community has confronted a series of difficult but necessary decisions. Following the failure of our November 2024 levy, our fourth since 2020, we were left with no alternative but to reduce our operating budget by $6 million for the 2025–26 school year.

 

Among the most challenging of these reductions was the decision to eliminate high school transportation and implement a two-mile walk zone for students in grades K–8, which aligns with the state’s minimum requirements for school district transportation. These changes, along with numerous others, were not made lightly. They were essential to preserving the quality of our classroom instruction and academic programming while living within our financial means.

Despite these hard choices, our commitment to supporting students remains steadfast. We continue to:

• Provide busing for K–8 students who live beyond the two-mile radius.
• Maintain transportation services for special education students whose Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) require busing and/or those who receive grant-funded preschool transportation.
• Review and monitor safe walking routes to ensure all students who walk to school can do so as safely as possible.

 

Thanks to the strong support of our community, we passed a much-needed operating levy in May 2025. This marks a critical turning point for our district. However, it's important to note that full collection of these new funds will not begin for another 18 months. While we await the collection of these local funds, we still have uncertainty in our other funding sources. We are currently analyzing our state funding projections and await updates regarding federal allocations. These financial details are crucial to understanding our path forward.

Transportation remains a top priority. Once we are confident that our operating budget is stabilized, we will evaluate how and when we can redesign busing services, with the goal of doing so as soon as possible.

 

We are grateful for the continued partnership of our families and the trust you've placed in us. As always, we remain committed to transparency, collaboration, and providing timely updates as we plan for the future of Findlay City Schools.

 

School years are full of non-stop energy, events, and excitement. Summer is often a time to rest and recharge. I’m hopeful our staff and students are finding time to read a good book, relax a bit, and do things that bring them joy. I certainly hope this is the case for everyone in Trojan Country as we look forward to the first day of school on August 14!

 

Gratitude | May 2025

As another school year has come and gone, I’m filled with a profound sense of gratitude. Residents of Findlay, your recent support for our students and our future has been nothing short of inspiring. I saw on behalf of our students and staff, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

We recognize the trust you’ve placed in us, and we are deeply committed to being responsible stewards of your investment. We are working to enhance transparency and provide accessible information about how your tax dollars are being utilized to directly benefit our students. We understand the importance of accountability and are dedicated to earning and maintaining your confidence.

The reductions resulting from November’s levy will make the start of the coming school year a difficult one, but looking ahead, the passage of this levy unlocks tremendous potential for our students. In the coming years we will be able to attract and retain talented educators, invest in meaningful educational resources, and enhance vital educational programming. This investment will impact our students - the next generation of leaders, innovators, and engaged citizens who will contribute to our city’s continued growth and prosperity. 

The 153rd Findlay City Schools commencement was a perfect reminder of why we do what we do. It takes full community effort to support the growth of its children. Together, we are sending highly prepared students directly into the workforce, into honorable military service, and all over the country to further their education at some of the nation’s best universities. 

The energy and optimism surrounding the end of our school year has been palpable, and it underscores the strength of Trojan Country. Together, we are building a brighter future for Findlay, one student at a time. As summer begins, I encourage everyone to take pride in what we have accomplished together and to look forward with anticipation to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

Thank you again, Findlay, for your incredible support. Findlay City Schools is honored to serve this community and we are eager to continue working in partnership to ensure a successful future for all our students.

Remembering Who We Are | January 2025

For well over 100 years, Findlay City Schools has served this great community. We are the collective story of over 40,000 alumni who have influenced and impacted our community, our state, and our country with pride and passion. Even with such a rich history spanning generations, I continue to believe we have an even brighter future ahead. 

Currently serving over 5,000 students in preschool through high school on ten different campuses, we are Trojan Country. We are not just in the business of preparing students for “the workforce,” but rather we endeavor to ensure each student is ready for life. We equip students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to pursue a career they love, with a willingness to contribute. 

We produce engaged, innovative, service-minded graduates. Beginning with our intentional focus on early literacy in our primary schools, to a rigorous high school curriculum, our teaching staff cultivates learning experiences that build a strong foundation of content knowledge and the ability to think critically. We work every day to prepare students for their future, not our past. 

We aim to excel. In the past two years, our staff and students have earned 4.5 and 4 stars respectively on the state report card. While we have exceeded state standards, we continue our aim to exceed Findlay standards.

We believe in opportunities for all of our students. Each year, thousands of students participate in almost 20 different athletic options, more than 25 unique performing arts options, and nearly 40 clubs at the high school alone. These aren’t just programs; they’re pathways to unlocking individual potential. We know that when students find unique places to shine, they thrive.

We are a top employer in the city of Findlay. It takes over 900 teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, school psychologists, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, nurses, custodians, administrators, secretaries, interpreters, intervention specialists, maintenance experts, security staff, behavior experts, coaches, and substitutes, to serve our students every day. We do not see this work as a “job,” but rather a calling. 

We are an incredible community. We have a proud past and a bright future. We are Trojan Country. We are Trojan True. We are Findlay City Schools.