Superintendent’s Corner

Hudson Explorer School Community: On average, in the state of Ohio, 60-70% of a resident’s local taxes go to that school district, and we understand that we are on the higher end of that number in Hudson. We know these numbers, and we accept the full responsibility that it brings. We welcome the relationship between spending and achievement and accept that as part of our careers as educators.  

From a report card standpoint – our most publicized measurement point – and from a social development and student opportunity standpoint, Hudson City Schools rivals nearly every district in our state. We continuously assess the reasons why we achieve, so that we may continue on that road. But we also reflect on areas of additional support, improvement, and how that can happen.  

It is important to be very transparent about how our money is being spent. In the 2024 report card, Hudson City Schools is shown to dedicate 72.1% of our operating budget to classroom instruction. That ranks us at #11 out of 104 comparable districts, with #1 representing the largest percentage of funding dedicated to classroom instruction. In this same conversation, there is also a responsibility and a knowledge that a strong school district can positively impact the wealth of its residents. The research on the impact a school district can have on house demand, resale value, market perception and price premium is readily available for any interested resident. For instance, a study reported by The New York Times revealed that a 5% improvement in school test scores can lead to a 2.5% increase in home values. Similarly, the National Bureau of Economic Research found that every additional dollar spent on public schools results in a $20 increase in home values. This data underscores the financial benefits of investing in quality education, benefiting both schools and local homeowners. 

As taxpayers, when we look at our yearly tax allotment, the percentages of where our taxes are going is important, and we look for wonderful production from that funded entity, whether it is a school, a city, a county or a state.  

I am writing on this subject this month for two reasons:  

1) To express our thankfulness for this community’s support, which most recently included the passage of the operating levy in fall 2023; and

 2) To share that we take the responsibility of student opportunity and performance seriously, and we are driven to continue to offer our students the path to succeed. While I often write of our staff and student accomplishments, what I see most in our wonderful district is the desire to always improve, grow and make sure our community understands both our programming and our finances.