Schools & Education

• Mansfield Taxpayers Pick Up the Tab as Voucher Program Redirects State School Dollars

  The district has cut $8 million, more than 60 staff roles, and a school as state voucher spending tops $1 billion, shifting costs to local property owners.

• JobsOhio Offers Employers Up to $10,000 Per Worker for Technician Training — and Richland County's Manufacturing Base Is Squarely in the Target Zone

  The program pays employers in three installments to train technicians, with five open positions for every qualified tech in Ohio.

• Ohio Ended Fiscal Year 2026 With a $2.4 Billion Surplus. Advocacy Groups Want It Spent on Public Schools.

  Mansfield City Schools, which relies heavily on state aid and faces a $4.5 million deficit, stands to benefit if lawmakers heed calls to redirect remaining surplus funds to public education.

• Ohio Proposal Could Let State Close Struggling Schools — Here's What It Means for Richland County

  No Richland County schools are on the state's 43-school intervention list, but the proposal's framework for closures and charter conversions puts every Ohio district on notice.

• When a Police Department Collects Shoes, the Price Tags Tell a Bigger Story

  The drive is one of several August efforts collecting basics for local kids, underscoring how school expenses are outpacing Mansfield's $42,605 median household income.

• Madison Schools Superintendent Warns Families of Vaping and THC Use in Middle and High Schools

  The Aug. 19 letter to families follows existing handbook policies that already ban vapes and THC on campus, but leaves open what new enforcement steps the district will take.

• North Central State College Nursing Programs Face High-Stakes Accreditation Review — With Little Time Left for Public Input

  The Sept. 1–3 review covers both a new bachelor's nursing program and the existing associate program that graduates about 48 nurses a year for area hospitals.

• Ramaswamy Property Tax Rollback Could Mean Billions in Cuts, Analysis Finds

  A progressive group's analysis says the plan could strip billions from Ohio schools and local services, raising stakes for Richland County budgets already running tight.

• Richland County Foundation Awards $367,505 in Grants, Including $83,000 for K-12 Classroom Programs

  The August grants fund teacher-developed classroom projects, 15 career-technical scholarships and donor-advised gifts to 30 organizations across Richland County.

• Mansfield City Schools secures state funding commitment for new elementary school

  The state would cover up to 96% of costs, but the district has not chosen a site, design, or opening date for the project.

• Lexington's Jackson Durchik sets OCC golf tournament record with opening-round 63

  Durchik's 9-under 63 gives Lexington a four-stroke lead over New Philadelphia heading into the final round Aug. 27 at The Pines Golf Club.

• Madison Comprehensive Rams Prep for 2026 Football and Tennis Seasons