OMEA - Ohio

🎵 OMEA President’s Office Hours ("Common Time")! 🗣️✨
T O D A Y!!!!
We are excited to announce a new initiative designed to bring our community closer together. President’s Office Hours is an open, informal space—an hour to talk, listen, and connect!
Whether you want to drop by just to chat, check-in, share your recent victories, or talk through challenges and concerns, we want to hear from you.
📅 When: First Sunday of every month at 7:00 PM--Beginning in September.
🚀 Next Opportunity: Sunday, October 4th
🔗 Join via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/auv-aeiv-fya
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW—we look forward to connecting with you! 🎶

🎵 OMEA President’s Office Hours ("Common Time")! 🗣️✨
We are excited to continue our new initiative designed to bring our community closer together. President’s Office Hours is an open, informal space—an hour to talk, listen, and connect!
Whether you want to drop by just to chat, check-in, share your recent victories, or talk through challenges and concerns, we want to hear from you.
📅 When: First Sunday of every month at 7:00 PM
🚀 Next Up: Sunday, September 4th
🔗 Join via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/auv-aeiv-fya
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW—we look forward to connecting with you! 🎶

🎵 OMEA President’s Office Hours ("Common Time")! 🗣️✨
T H I S S U N D A Y!!!!
We are excited to announce a new initiative designed to bring our community closer together. President’s Office Hours is an open, informal space—an hour to talk, listen, and connect!
Whether you want to drop by just to chat, check-in, share your recent victories, or talk through challenges and concerns, we want to hear from you.
📅 When: First Sunday of every month at 7:00 PM--Beginning in September.
🚀 Next Opportunity: Sunday, October 4th
🔗 Join via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/auv-aeiv-fya
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW—we look forward to connecting with you! 🎶

Many Ohioans are frustrated by rising property-tax bills. That concern deserves to be heard—but promises to reduce or eliminate property taxes should come with a clear answer: How will Ohio replace the funding schools and communities rely on?

School districts received about 63% of Ohio's real property-tax revenue in 2024. Yet current proposals have not produced a detailed, agreed-upon plan to replace all the revenue that could be lost.

This is bigger than any one local levy. Ask candidates and state leaders what stable, fair funding system they would put in its place—and how they would protect students’ access to music and arts. Also stay informed about local school budgets and levy choices: those decisions can affect programs students experience now.

Tax relief and a well-rounded education should both be part of the conversation.

Sources: Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Tax Year 2024 Real-Property Tax Data [1]; Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Property Tax Revenue Supplemental Payment (HB 186) [2]; Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Property Tax Millage Floors for School Districts [3].

Links:
[1] Ohio Legislative Service Commission data https://ohiohouse.gov/assets/press-releases/138107/files/32363.pdf )
[2] Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: HB 186 supplemental payments (https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Finance-and-Funding/School-Payment-Reports/State-Funding-For-Schools/Traditional-School-Districts/Property-Tax-Revenue-Guarantee )
[3] Ohio Legislative Service Commission: Property-tax millage floors https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/assets/organizations/legislative-service-commission/files/property-tax-millage-floors-for-school-districts.pdf )

📘 Now available - the Fall 2026 Edition of the TRIAD! 👀
We are excited to announce that the Fall issue of the TRIAD is now available through the OMEA website!
Articles include:
- Rethinking Creative Listening: Sparking Imagination During First Grade Listening
- Leveling Up: Takeaways from the 2026 Modern Band Summit
- Using Educational Neuroscience to inform Secondary Choral Strategies (You May Already Be Using Them!)
-The Sounds Strategies Collection including Classroom Management tools, advocacy tools, and much, much more!
🔎Check it out today at www.omea-ohio.org

Ohio’s school-funding debate is also a conversation about what students get to learn.

A September 2026 report estimates that Ohio’s budget provides about $2.75 billion less over two years than full implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan would provide (Cleveland.com). Ohio’s share of the formula’s calculated base cost is projected to fall to about 32% in FY 2027—a measure of the state/local split, not the state’s share of all school spending (NBC4).

When districts face financial pressure, music and arts programs can be vulnerable to cuts in staffing, instruments, transportation, and performance opportunities. Students shouldn’t have to lose access to a well-rounded education because of funding gaps.

Arts parents, music and arts teachers, and community members: speak up. Contact your school board and state legislators, attend public meetings, and ask how your district will protect music and arts learning for every student. Share what these programs make possible in your community.

🎉 OMEA at the 2026 NFHS Performing Arts Conference! 🎶

Last week OMEA President-Elect Brandon DuVall and Executive Director Jay Wardeska represented OMEA at the annual National Federation of State High School Associations () Performing Arts Conference.

As an associate member of NFHS, OMEA'’s music educators and students have a voice on the national stage:
Leadership in Action: President-Elect Brandon DuVall serves as a member of the NFHS Music Committee, working alongside national leaders to support interscholastic music activities.
Executive Director Jay Wardeska took the stage as a presenter alongside Lynn Tuttle (Executive Director, American String Teachers Association) and Anne Fennell (Senior Director of Education, Music for All), sharing valuable perspectives on national music advocacy and education standards.

Why NFHS Association Membership Matters for OMEA Members
Being affiliated with NFHS brings invaluable national resources, advocacy, and professional growth directly back to Ohio including: direct input on national policies, guidelines, and safety standards affecting performing arts; access to specialized courses, webinars, and leadership conferences tailored for arts administrators and music directors; strategic partnerships with national organizations to address nationwide challenges in music education; expanded opportunities and resources designed to highlight and celebrate student achievement across interscholastic activities.

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