District Newsletter: 08/06/2026

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year Lions!

Click image to view video

Bexley Students & Families Meet Dr. Nowak This Week
It was a beautiful evening in Bexley when many from our community came out to the Cassingham Elementary playground to meet Superintendent Dr. Katie Nowak and enjoy free scoops of Johnson's Ice Cream. Thank you to everyone who attended!

 

New Administrators Fill Top District Roles

Following staff retirements and departures, we welcome three new administrators to serve in top district roles. Please join us in welcoming them to Bexley! 

Michael Aurin, Director of Safety, Facilities & Operations

As the former principal of Dublin Jerome High School, Mr. Aurin oversaw more than 2,100 students and managed 150 staff members. He has 25 years of experience in public education and is a skilled leader who has performed at a high level to ensure safe, efficient, and well-maintained learning environments in his buildings. He has experience in building operations, school safety, staff supervision, and facilities planning, where he had a lead role in the $28 million, 60,000-square-foot expansion of Dublin Jerome High School. Mr. Aurin replaces Dr. Harley Williams, who recently retired.

Dillan Shumaker, Director of Technology

Mr. Shumaker previously served as Director of Technology for London City Schools, where he led the district’s technology program since 2014. He also served as the IT director for Catholic Central School in Springfield prior to taking the helm at London and taught technology and graphic design at the same school. Mr. Shumaker replaces Brad Pettit, who departed the district after last school year.

Josh DeVoll, Director of Athletics

Mr. DeVoll joins Bexley after serving as athletic director at Granville Village Exempted Schools, where he served for six years. His career began in Newark City Schools, where he coached football and basketball and taught at the high school. He went on to serve as athletic director at Westerville South High School. Mr. DeVoll received the State Athletic Director of the Year Award in 2023, from the Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the State Award of Merit in 2024, from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He also is a certified athletic administrator. Mr. DeVoll replaces Eli Goldberger, who retired earlier this year.

Please Take Note of Guidelines When Visiting Bexley School Buildings

Visitor safety guidelines for all Bexley schools for the coming school year are the same as the past two school years.

• Visitors are not permitted to go to other areas or enter classrooms other than what was stated upon arrival and recorded when they sign in at the Cassingham security entrance, or at the Maryland or Montrose school offices.

• Visitors are not permitted to stop by a classroom without a scheduled appointment.

• It is important to the school district’s safety plan that all visitors exit the school building promptly after a scheduled meeting or after dropping off something for your child at a building office.

Latest District Financial Forecast Predicts Continuing Positive Cash Balance for Day-to-Day Operations

Bexley Schools’ latest financial forecast that predicts five years of projected revenue, expenditures, and cash on hand, shows a surplus of cash on hand well within the district’s cash-balance policy for the next three years. This was expected with receipts from the district’s 2024 incremental operational levy now being collected.

In projecting out further, though, Treasurer/CFO Kyle Smith points out that deficit spending is expected by Fiscal Years 2030 and 2031, when the annual, incremental tax increases end and tax percentages from that operational levy flatten. While FY 2030, 2031 and 2032 still are predicted to have a positive cash-on-hand balance, the number of cash-positive days in FY 2032 decreases to 57 days.

The Board’s cash-reserve policy, which Mr. Smith referred to in his presentation to the Board of Education yesterday evening, addresses the district’s operating cash on hand. Specifically, Board policy calls on the Treasurer and Superintendent to alert the Board if a forecast projects less than 70 days of operating cash within the first four years.

In his presentation, Mr. Smith repeatedly referred to the district’s strong cash-balance policy as critically important to the schools’ finances.

“The importance of having a cash balance policy is to weather the storms of variances in collections,” Treasurer Smith said about recent delays in income tax revenue sent to the district. The district also has seen significant variances in property tax collections in the past year. For example, July 2026 revenues are down by nearly $8 million from July 2025 due to timing factors. “Again, highlighting why it's important to have cash on hand at the end of the fiscal year to weather this delay,” he said.

For the first time since state law changed, Mr. Smith was required to present a forecast in August, rather than in November. He explained that there are some challenges in preparing a forecast months earlier than in the past, including that there is less data, including payroll, to review in order to predict trends. Additionally, property tax receipts for this calendar year are incomplete, as the district has not yet received all second-half payments.

You may review Bexley Schools’ August 2026 financial forecast and Mr. Smith’s Board presentation slides online.

New Faculty & Staff Welcomed This Week During Annual Staff Orientation Event

Pictured, from left: Jessica Price, Regan Detwiler; Eric Comeras; Shawn Komara; Katie Bucco; Pearl Chan; Olivia Zuzek; Elyse Naylor; Josh DeVoll; Christa Canestraro; Dr. Katie Nowak; Heather Swan; Dillan Shumaker; Lindsay Cotton; Chloe Michaels; Brittany Sparks; Dr. Jamie Stewart; Dawson Varuola; Kristin Lin; Mitch McCune; John Osinski; and Mike Aurin.

Bexley Schools welcomed new staff members during our annual orientation yesterday, which also included staff members who began service last school year, after classes began.

We thank the  members of the greater Bexley community, including Board of Education members, city council members, Bexley Chamber of Commerce, and the Bexley Public Library, who joined us and greeted our new staff during lunch.

> List of Bexley Schools New Faculty & Staff Members

Universal Free Breakfast Program Continues at All Schools

For the fourth straight school year, Bexley Schools will offer free breakfast for all students.

In order for breakfast to be free, a student must select a whole breakfast consisting of one item from three of the four food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk. The following are examples of a whole breakfast that would be free:

• Whole grain muffin, applesauce, tater tots, and milk.

• Cereal bowl, orange juice cup, and milk.

• English muffin sandwich, banana, and tater tots.

Breakfast options vary day to day, but a variety of options are always available, including a hot item, such as a breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito. The schools’ breakfast menu is available online.

Please note that students who select a single food item rather than a whole breakfast will need to pay for that item individually. Members of our Food Services staff are available to help guide students to select items to make a whole, free breakfast.

Breakfast Times by School Building

• Cassingham Complex: 7:45-8:35 a.m.

• Maryland Elementary: 7:45-8:10 a.m.

• Montrose Elementary: 7:45-8:10 a.m.

Bexley’s universal free breakfast program, which began in 2023, was approved by the Board of Education in April 2024 to continue each school year, though Board authorization also requires the program to be reevaluated if the cost is projected to exceed $125,000 in a given year. 

Physical Safety Reminders Are Important to Start the School Year

To reinforce safety guidance shared in the past, we ask parents/guardians to remind their student walkers and bicyclists to do the following to increase their safety:

• Stand five feet back from the curb while waiting to cross the streets.

• Before stepping into a crosswalk, make sure cars are stopped when the “Walk” signal displays.

• Do not cross the street if the countdown indicator is at “3” or lower.

• Follow all bike-riding laws, including that bike-riders who are 16 years old and under must wear a helmet, and bicyclists who ride on the sidewalk must walk their bikes across intersections.

• Electric scooters and bikes should not be used on or around school buildings, including on sidewalks and parking lots.

• Put away any electronic devices that cause distraction while crossing intersections.

• Cross only at intersections with pedestrian crosswalks.

Safety features intended to increase student safety when walking or bike-riding to and from school will continue in Bexley neighborhoods and around school buildings. Additional safety information, including on bicycling and walking to school, is available on Bexley Schools’ website.

The City of Bexley employs the following safety measures:

• By City of Bexley Code, stopping within marked-off areas near the intersections in front of and nearby the Cassingham Complex is forbidden. Drivers are not permitted to drop off or pick up students within the marked yellow-striped zones.

• Traffic lights have a four-second red-light delay before displaying a green light.

• School zone lights are installed and operating on Main Street and yield lights are flashing on Broad Street to alert drivers of upcoming pedestrian crossings.

• The intersection at Broad Street and Cassingham Road does not permit “Right turns on Red” before or after school.

Bexley Athletics Notes & Updates

Season Sport Passes – HomeTown Ticketing

We are excited to introduce new season passes for the 2026–2027 school year! Season passes will be available for purchase through HomeTown Ticketing and are available now. See Season Passes Information This provides an easy and convenient way for families and fans to support our student-athletes all year long.

FinalForms Registration

Parents or guardians of any student interested in participating in a school sport must first register via FinalForms. This will notify coaches of your student’s interest and allow you to receive notifications about the upcoming season. Register your account online

Please be sure to log in and verify that all forms are completed and signed before the appropriate sports season begins.

Required Physicals

All student-athletes must have a current physical on file in order to participate in any sport. Physicals are valid for one year from the exam date. The OHSAA pre-participation physical evaluation form must be used. Access the required form online Please upload the completed physical to FinalForms or submit it to the athletic office.

Pay-to-Participate Fees

Participation fees will be assigned once teams are finalized. Families will receive notification through FinalForms or ParentSquare with payment instructions and payments can be made online or through the athletic office. Fees must be paid prior to the first official contest or by the communicated deadline.

Bexley Schools value educational experiences outside of the classroom. We encourage and welcome all students to engage in activities and believe financial need should not be a barrier to full participation. If your family is in need of support, please contact an administrator or school counselor for additional information.

 

Mark Your Calendar!  The Bexley Education Foundation invites parents/guardians to stop by The Lion for a free small coffee on Thursday., Aug. 13, between 8 and 9:15 a.m.  The Lion is located at 2511 E. Main St.  Join us to celebrate the start of the new school year!