Week in Review 7-20-26

Week in Review > Week in Review 7-20-26

Posted by Buckeye Association of School Administrators on July 20th, 2026

FY26-27 BUDGET

While state coffers benefitted from larger than forecast tax collections in FY26, the state’s bottom line also was helped by underspending. According to the monthly financial report for June from the Office of Budget and Management (OBM), FY26 General Revenue Fund disbursements were below estimates by $778 million or 1.7 percent. A large chunk of that underspending is attributable to Medicaid, which saw FY26 GRF expenditures come in $450 million or 2 percent below estimates.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

The Controlling Board Monday unanimously approved the release of $1 million in emergency funds to address a high-profile child abuse case in Vinton County that led to the removal of 16 children from a Hamden home and the adult members of the household arrested and charged with felony child abuse. Joel Potts, the chief government and external affairs officer for the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), called the situation “unprecedented,” and explained to the board that the $1 million requested will go solely to the placement and support of the 16 children. He told the panel that the children are safe, and while he cannot answer all questions on the case as it is an ongoing investigation, they are being cared for and receiving treatment. He expects more services will be needed to address the traumas the children have gone through, some of which they will be dealing with for life.

EDUCATION

The State Board of Education (SBOE) Monday unanimously adopted the Pearson’s Foundations of Classroom Support assessment as the specified test required to add “Elementary and Secondary Education Act Qualified” to an educational aide permit. Prior to the vote, board member Karen Lloyd asked if the test would be revisited, given assessment statistics are proprietary. In response, Interim Superintendent Jason Wagner assured board members Pearson would return before the board periodically to review data and any recommended changes to assessment cut scores.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday he was appointing Senate Judiciary Chair Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) to the Ninth District Court of Appeals effective Monday, Aug. 3, succeeding former Judge Donna Carr who retired. Manning will serve the remainder of the unfinished term and must run for election in November to remain in that position. Manning, who is term-limited in the Senate, had been running for the House District 52 seat to succeed his mother, House Speaker Pro Tempore Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville). She is also term-limited in the House and is running for his Senate District 13 seat, which she previously held from 2011 to 2018.

Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) has been elected to serve as treasurer of the National Conference of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) and appointed to serve as chair of the Pari-Mutuel Committee, his office announced.

GOVERNOR

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday that his administration’s Legislative Director Giles Allen has stepped down effective immediately to pursue opportunities in the private sector. Allen served in that role since August 2023 and was the longest-serving legislative director in DeWine’s administration. He had been on the administration’s legislative affairs team since January 2019 and previously worked at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office under DeWine, including as an assistant attorney general after Allen received his law degree from Capital University Law School. He first began working for DeWine as his personal aide in the 2010 campaign for attorney general.

Gov. DeWine on Monday ordered flags lowered through sunset on Saturday, July 18, in remembrance of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who died over the weekend.

The governor signed the following bill:

HB455 (Manning-Bird) regarding the operation of schools and the Department of Education and Workforce, regarding appointments to the State Board of Education, regarding age and schooling certificate requirements and work hours for a person under 16 years of age, and to eliminate obsolete provisions of education law. It becomes effective in 90 days.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Midway through the month, the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) Thursday update on cyclosporiasis cases showed there have been 458 identified so far in July. Past cases that were subsequently identified made the June total climb to 777, far above the 171 known earlier this month. The number of known cases from Jan. 1 to May 31 also increased from six to 11. There have been 1,246 cases identified by ODH so far this year compared to 52 from Jan. 1 to July 16, 2025. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite after consuming food or water that contains it. Diarrhea is one of the usual symptoms. The ODH dashboard is available HERE.

OHIO STATE FAIR

The Ohio Expo Center (OEC) plans to seal a time capsule in celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial during the upcoming Ohio State Fair scheduled to kick off Wednesday, July 29 and close Sunday, Aug. 9. In partnership with the Ohio History Connection and America 250-Ohio, the State Fair will seal the time capsule on Tuesday, Aug. 4, during the fair’s 50 Year Club Meeting. The capsule will not be opened again until 2076, the year that will mark the nation’s 300th anniversary. It will contain a book with information highlighting each of Ohio’s 88 counties, as well as items that reflect contemporary traditions and trends of the state and society, such as Ohio professional sports team jerseys, Crocs with jibbitz, a Stanely cup covered in stickers, modern technology, currency, an American flag flown over the Ohio Statehouse, a 2025 minted penny and more, according to OEC.

In addition to the capsule sealing, the State Fair will host patriotic activities and colonial games alongside Freedom 250’s Freedom Truck Mobile Museum, which will be open as a free exhibit to fairgoers. Throughout the fair, the mobile museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The State Fair will also feature additional America 250 themed activities and opportunities, including the following:

– A daily flag raising and national anthem performance presented by members of the All-Ohio State Fair Band, All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir and Scouting America.

– Free celebration buttons that read “I Celebrated America 250 at the Ohio State Fair” will be available to fairgoers to pick up at any information booth throughout the fair, among other activities.

The Ohio Expositions Commission (OEC) announced that the K-pop performance “Honmoon Princesses: A Tribute to Demon Hunters” would not be taking the stage and instead would be replaced by “TUSK: The Classic Tribute to Fleetwood Mac.”