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As we begin a new chapter for the Youngstown City School District, we want to start with an important message of partnership, transparency, and shared responsibility.
First, we are excited to officially welcome Dr. Michael Rock as the Treasurer of Youngstown City School District. Dr. Rock brings deep experience, steady leadership, and a strong commitment to fiscal integrity. At a time when public education funding is becoming increasingly complex, his expertise strengthens our district and reinforces our promise to be thoughtful, responsible stewards of public dollars.
Together, as Superintendent and Treasurer, we see our work as inseparable. Academic progress and financial stewardship must move in lockstep. That partnership is essential to Defending the Y—protecting opportunities for our scholars today while ensuring sustainability for generations to come.
Recent changes to Ohio property tax law will affect school districts across the state beginning in 2026. While these changes are technical in nature, their implications are real for communities like Youngstown. We believe our families, staff, and taxpayers deserve clarity about what is changing and how we are responding—together.
The Big Picture: What’s Changing in Ohio
Ohio passed several property tax-related bills in late 2025 that collectively reshape how local school funding works. While each bill addresses a different aspect of taxation, taken together they do three important things:
- They limit how quickly school revenue can grow, even as costs rise.
- They shift more authority to county-level decision-making, particularly through budget commissions.
- They increase tax relief for homeowners, while attempting to hold schools harmless from direct revenue loss.
These changes were largely designed to address concerns about rising property values and tax bills. However, for school districts—especially urban districts already operating with lean budgets—they introduce new constraints and require even more disciplined long-term planning.
What This Means for Youngstown City Schools
Youngstown City Schools already operates in a highly accountable environment. We budget conservatively, plan years ahead, and make intentional choices about staffing, programming, and investments. The new legislation reinforces the importance of that approach.
For our district, this means:
Being even more precise in forecasting revenue and expenditures
- Maintaining strong communication with county officials and our Board of Education
- Continuing to align every dollar with student impact, not tradition or convenience
It also means ensuring that financial decisions never drift away from our instructional mission. Fiscal responsibility is not about cutting for the sake of cutting—it is about protecting what matters most.
Stewardship as a Shared Value
As Superintendent and Treasurer, we share a simple belief:
Every dollar entrusted to this district represents a child, a classroom, and a community expectation.
Dr. Rock’s arrival strengthens our ability to uphold that belief. Together, we are committed to:
- Stability in long-term financial planning
- Transparency in how funds are managed
- Accountability to our Board and community
- Advocacy for funding systems that recognize the realities of districts like Youngstown
Moving Forward — Defending the Y
These legislative changes do not alter who we are or what we stand for.
We will continue to:
- Invest in high-quality teaching and learning
- Support and retain strong educators and staff
- Maintain safe, welcoming schools
- Protect the district’s financial health with integrity and discipline
Defending the Y means defending opportunity. It means honoring the trust our community places in us. And it means leading—together—with clarity, courage, and care.
We are proud to serve this district side by side and grateful for the continued partnership of our community as we move forward.
Defend the Y.
Jeremy J. Batchelor, Superintendent
Dr. Michael Rock, Treasurer
Youngstown City School District
“One Vision. One Youngstown.”
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