• In January, YS Schools joined a growing list of school districts that signed onto a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Ohio’s expanded EdChoice voucher system, which allows state tax dollars to follow students to private schools that face fewer regulations than public districts. The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by Vouchers Hurt Ohio, a coalition representing about half of the state’s school districts; the lawsuit contends that public funds should not be used to subsidize private school tuition. The case advanced in June when Judge Jaiza Page issued a summary judgment declaring the EdChoice program unconstitutional, citing Ohio’s constitutional mandate to fund a “thorough and efficient system of common schools” and its historical rejection of directing public money to religious schools. Judge Page’s ruling was stayed, allowing the EdChoice program to continue operating as Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost appealed the ruling; the lawsuit is currently before the Ohio Court of Appeals and is expected to land before the Ohio Supreme Court.
• In January and February, the school board approved two censures against board member Amy Magnus related to explicit language directed at Superintendent Terri Holden and the sharing of confidential legal correspondence on social media. The initial censure followed a public apology from Magnus.
• In March, Superintendent Terri Holden announced her retirement effective May 2026, concluding seven years leading the district through pandemic disruptions, strategic planning and the launch of its facilities upgrade project. The school board unanimously accepted her notice, expressing gratitude, and approved a succession plan naming Megan Winston, then principal of Mills Lawn Elementary, as interim assistant superintendent and eventual superintendent.
• At an April meeting, the school board reviewed potential federal and state funding impacts, including a U.S. Department of Education Title VI compliance certification required to continue receiving federal aid. The mandate — which was tied to a letter asserting that diversity, equity and
inclusion efforts may violate civil rights law — placed the district in a difficult position; as Holden pointed out, signing the certification would maintain federal funding, but she held concerns that were “professional, moral and ethical about what message the certification sends.” Board members also discussed Ohio House Bill 96 — the state’s then-pending budget bill — which altered school funding formulas, expanded private school vouchers and proposed limits on district cash reserves, raising concerns about long-term fiscal stability and planning.
• In May, district leaders pushed back against HB 96, warning that the proposed state budget would deepen inequities in public school funding. As the Ohio Senate began hearings, district leaders urged Sen. Kyle Koehler, of Ohio District 10, serving Clark, Clinton and Greene counties, to oppose provisions underfunding schools and capping operating fund carryover at 30%. They argued that the bill would discourage responsible saving and likely force more frequent property tax levies.
Two groundbreaking celebrations were held Friday, Feb. 14, a the campuses of Mills Lawn and McKinney/YS High School. Pictured putting shovels to soil, from left: John Gudgel, school board member Dorothée Bouquet, school board President Rebecca Potter, Mills Lawn Principal Megan Winston, Superintendent Terri Holden, Treasurer Jacob McGrath, Operations Director Jeff Eyrich, school board member Amy Bailey and McKinney/YSHS Principal Jack Hatert. (Photo by Lauren "Chuck" Shows)
• As the 2024–25 school year neared its end, the school board used its May 8 meeting to recognize a wave of retirements and introduce new district leaders. Retiring educators and staff included Nancy Bussey, Jody Chick, Julie Cosler, Linnea Denman, Dee Ann Holly, Jane Jako and Shawna Welch, with longtime teacher and School Forest adviser John Day also entering retirement but planning to return next year. The board also welcomed incoming Mills Lawn Principal Becca Huber and new special education supervisor Joseph Bachman.
• Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio’s two-year state budget June 30 and issued 67 line-item vetoes that shielded Yellow Springs Schools and other districts from sweeping funding changes. School leaders welcomed the vetoes, but noted that lawmakers could still attempt overrides. In July, school board members drafted a joint statement urging state lawmakers not to override DeWine’s vetoes of school-related budget provisions.
• The Mills Lawn PTO expanded its annual back-to-school supply drive this summer, continuing to provide free supplies for families in need and adding a bulk-order option for elementary families. For the first time, donated supplies also supported students at the middle school.
• Sean Herbert took on the role of athletic director for Yellow Springs Schools in August, bringing more than a decade of experience as an educator and coach. Herbert outlined plans to strengthen feeder programs, expand community engagement — including a new senior VIP pass — and build middle school athletics.
• In September, the school board discussed renaming McKinney Middle School and YS High School to YS Middle and High School, citing the unified 7–12 — soon 5–12 — East Enon Road campus and a single state identifier number with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The board ultimately voted in October to approve the name change, while preserving the legacy of Ed McKinney, for whom the middle school was named, by naming the school’s upcoming new grades 5–8 wing in his honor.
• John Gudgel was honored in October for 45 years of service to YS Schools, recognized by district leaders for a career spanning roles as teacher, counselor, principal and coach, as well as being a Class of 1975 alumnus. His colleagues lauded his legacy of warm mentorship and quiet advocacy, noting his influence on generations of students and families throughout the community.
• Live daily broadcasts returned to Mills Lawn Elementary in September with the revival of Bulldog News, airing each school morning for the first time since 2020. Led by STEM teacher Megan Bachman, who applied for grant funding to update the program’s equipment, rotating teams of sixth graders serve as anchors and technical crew, delivering important news to their fellow students.
• YS Schools reviewed its annual State of the Schools in the fall, reporting that the district earned a 4.5-star rating on the Ohio Schools Report Card, with strong marks in growth, graduation and gap closing. The district received weaker results in early literacy, as well as the state’s newly scored college, career and workforce readiness measure. District leaders criticized the new metric’s timing and criteria while outlining steps already underway to improve future scores.
After 21 years working for the district, longtime Mills Lawn music teacher JoFrannye Reichert, pictured at center, is set to retire this month. Assistant Superintendent Megan Winston, left, and Superintendent Terri Holden gave Reichert her due accolades at the Thursday, Dec. 11 school board meeting. (Photo courtesy of Yellow Springs Schools)
• In a late October work session, district leaders warned that a slate of state bills advancing in Columbus could further strain local school funding. House Bills 186, 335, 129 and 309, they said, would restrict key property tax tools as state support continues to lag inflation, and the Fair School Funding Plan remains underfunded. Treasurer Jacob McGrath and Superintendent Holden urged residents to contact legislators, cautioning that schools could face more frequent levies or cuts to district services.
• In November, the school board moved to sharpen its focus on state and federal legislation, approving a second legislative liaison amid a surge of bills affecting schools. Superintendent Holden outlined dozens of Ohio proposals and potential impacts from the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
• In December, YS Schools announced the launch of a voluntary capital campaign to support locally funded elements of the district’s ongoing facilities upgrades at Mills Lawn and the middle and high school campus. Superintendent Holden said the campaign was prompted by construction-related aspects not covered by state or levy funding. The campaign focuses on enhancements such as auditorium seating and equipment, with optional naming opportunities.
• The YS school board closed the year by recognizing the retirement of longtime and beloved Mills Lawn music teacher JoFrannye Reichert, following a performance by the YS High School choir. Reichert retired after 21 years with the district, during which she was a champion of cross-curricular music education and community performances, including flash mobs and all-school musicals.
Antioch College
• In January, the News reported that the Higher Learning Commission had assigned Antioch College a financial distress designation two months prior, citing a 2023 audit that raised concerns about declining net assets and the college’s ability to continue as a going concern. Antioch President Jane Fernandes said the designation was expected and reflected ongoing financial challenges the college had begun addressing through staff reductions and its Social Enterprise and Enrollment Plan. In May, the HLC lifted the designation, affirming Antioch’s accreditation while identifying enrollment, revenue diversification and long-term financial monitoring as areas requiring continued attention ahead of a 2026 reaccreditation review.
• In mid-February, Antioch College’s Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom held a Global Racial and Social Justice Summit titled “Another World is Possible.” The four-day event brought together students, scholars, artists and activists for more than 30 workshops, panels, screenings and performances addressing anti-racism, nonviolence, education equity, community organizing and transgender rights. Center Director Queen Meccasia Zabriskie said the summit aimed to build collective strategies for social change through shared research, art and activism.
Antioch College's 2025 Commencement (Photo by Reilly Dixon)
• In May, Antioch hosted alumnus Niko Kowell as part of its “Conversations with Social Entrepreneurs” series. Kowell discussed founding Narwhal Divers, which creates affirming, safer scuba diving spaces for trans and queer communities while educating the broader dive industry.
• After the U.S. Department of Labor moved in late May to suspend the national Job Corps program, Antioch College intervened locally, offering housing, jobs and academic pathways to 11 displaced students. The college enrolled the students in a summer bridge program, integrating them into campus life amid national uncertainty over the future of Job Corps.
• Antioch College marked multiple milestones at its June 21 commencement, graduating a class of 15 as the school celebrated 15 years since its reopening and its 175th anniversary. Civil rights leader William Barber II delivered the address, drawing historical resonance with Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke at Antioch in 1965.
• Muse Machine’s Summer Institute for Educators was held in Yellow Springs for the first time in July, with the Foundry Theater at Antioch College hosting the four-day program focused on folk arts and storytelling. Dozens of regional educators explored music, movement and narrative as classroom tools through hands-on workshops led by local artists.
Esmerelda Herrera, Scott Lankford, Gianna Brockington-Walker and Dwannell Bunting, Jr., are among the 11 newcomers to Antioch College, which enrolled and housed those displaced by the tenuous Job Corps program — a vocational education agency that the U.S. Department of Labor has sought to cut. (Photo by Reilly Dixon)
• Antioch College began the 2025–2026 academic year with 115 degree-seeking students, down slightly from last fall, though the incoming class nearly doubled to 42.
The Antioch School
In April, The Antioch School replaced its annual gala with a Spring Community Celebration, which marked the successful purchase of 5.3 acres to permanently house its Forest Kindergarten program. The land purchase was made possible by more than 70 donors; the celebration honored the late Peggy Erskine, whose early gift helped secure the property for outdoor education in perpetuity.
Dr. Lori Varlotta took office as the 23rd president of Antioch University in August. In a recent interview with the News, she discussed her visit to the village and potential future plans for the Midwest campus at 900 Dayton St. (Submitted photo)
Antioch University
In August, Lori Varlotta began her tenure as president of Antioch University by meeting with local and regional leaders and outlining potential new directions for the Antioch Midwest campus. She discussed possible partnerships, including expanded health and wellness programming and shared use of campus space, and described the university’s role in the Coalition for the Common Good. Varlotta also signaled interest in exploring renewed academic pathways with Antioch College.
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