CAMPAIGN ISSUE #3

Township & School District Cooperation

A strong community and strong school district go hand-in-hand, and their ability to work congruently and effectively is essential for the continued development and progress of the community. As your Township Trustee, I will be an intermediary between the township and the Howland Local School District, ensuring both parties are working closely for the benefit of students, families, and residents.

Through open dialogue with city officials, school board members, as well as students, teachers, and faculty from all levels, I have developed a detailed plan that strengthens the connection between the township and the Howland Local School District. Using the resulting rhetoric and building off success stories from similar cases across Ohio, this plan is designed to build stronger partnerships that support collaboration, growth, and the long-term success of our community.

How do we do that?

  • We partner with the school district to provide School Resource Officers, improve traffic flow around schools, and make sure crosswalks, lighting, and signage keep children safe.

  • By coordinating on grants and infrastructure projects—like sidewalks, road improvements, and Safe Routes to School plans—trustees help secure state and federal funding that benefits both the community and the schools.

  • We can work with the school district so that gyms, fields, and community spaces are available for both school and public use. This creates more opportunities without extra taxpayer cost.

  • When new development comes to town, we negotiate agreements to make sure our schools continue to receive the resources they need to serve every student.

How do we know it will work?

How do we know these strategies will truly strengthen accountability and ensure dependable service for Howland families? The answer is simple: they’ve already been proven. Communities across Ohio have successfully used these very approaches to build stronger, more reliable relationships with their utility providers.

  • West Chester Township took action to improve student safety at Lakota West High School through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, and education. West Chester Township and its partners are working to ensure safer travel for students and motorists, and the new SRO has built positive relationships between students and law enforcement throughout the district.

  • The City of Bay Village completed a School Travel Plan in 2019 to identify and address safety concerns around K–8 schools. This included conducting safety walk audits, gathering community input, and bringing together public and private stakeholders. The initiative, which received ODOT funding in 2020 and was completed in 2023, demonstrates how local communities and school districts can use ODOT’s SRTS grants—tied to a School Travel Plan—to make tangible safety enhancements, such as improved crosswalks and safer intersections.

  • Akron Public Schools partnered with the city and the Ohio School Facilities Commission to transform several district schools into Community Learning Centers. These operate as schools during the day and open their doors as community centers in the evenings and on weekends. This shared-use model maximizes valuable infrastructure—providing students with quality learning environments while giving local residents access to educational, recreational, and civic spaces all within their neighborhood.

What does it all mean?

These structures create predictable touchpoints, shared project lists, and written agreements, turning good intentions into accountable partnerships. If Howland expands its SRO collaboration and pairs it with an SRTS plan, a joint-use template, and a standing TIF-compensation policy, the township and schools can reinforce each other’s priorities—supporting student safety, neighborhood vitality, and long-term community success.