SALEM — The Salem school board approved a revised five-year forecast in a June 29 special meeting.

Typically, Ohio school districts present and approve a five-year forecast twice each year. However, in the wake of major changes to public school funding in the state, Treasurer Mike Douglas presented the board with a revised forecast projecting a mixed financial future for the district.

The forecast projects annual increases to the district’s end of year cash balance for the three years with a projected final balance for fiscal year 2026 of $9,677,528, an approximately 17% increase from fiscal year 2025’s final balance of $8,238,073. Fiscal year 2026 and 2027 are expected to continue trending upward with projected balances of $11,895,807 and $12,490,248 respectively.

However, the balance is expected to begin a decline in 2028 as expenses begin to outpace revenues with a projected final balance of $11,447,334 which will continue in 2029 with a projected balance of $10,149,630.

The board also hired Alaina Kilpatrick as the district’s new Curriculum Director for 2026-2027 school year effective Aug. 3. Kilpatrick will succeed Superintendent Jamie Kemats, who had been pulling double duty for the district since she was selected to serve as interim superintendent on March 18 following the passing of Sean Kirkland. Kemats was officially hired to the permanent superintendent’s position for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school year in a June 3 special board meeting.

Other matters approved included the hire of Speech Language Pathologist Amanda Fillman effective at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.

In a second special meeting the same day, the board also approved the retire rehire of six staff members: Amie Cochran, William Miller Jr., Todd Stokes, Attila Samu, Ronald Johnson and Mindy Hiltbrand, all of whom retired effective May 29. Under a retire rehire, the employee returns to the district at the first-year salary for their position while remaining eligible to collect their state pension, allowing school districts to retain experienced staff at a lower cost.

The board of education will meet next at 7 p.m. on July 20.