DELAWARE COUNTY — Nelson Mandela once said that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.
Delaware County has dozens of hubs for future world-changers.
The area technically contains 12 school districts, with portions of districts largely located to the north, south, east and west spilling over county lines.
But if you are a Delaware resident, odds are you live in one of four school districts: Big Walnut, Buckeye Valley, Delaware or Olentangy. All four districts (and more) are served by the Delaware Area Career Center.
The easiest way to determine which school district you live in is to enter your address into The Finder, a free tool from the Ohio Department of Taxation.
The tool was designed to help residents determine whether or not their district levies an income tax, but the tool will work for any address in the state of Ohio.
The school district you live in impacts you, whether you have a school-age child in the public school system or not. School district residents elect board members, who oversee district finances and policy. Residents also vote on levies that determine how much of their income and property taxes fund public education.
So if you don’t know much about your local public school system, here’s your crash course:
Buckeye Valley Local Schools
Colors: Brown and gold
Mascot: Barons
Motto: Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Enrollment: 2,242
Size: 206 square miles
Superintendent: Ric Stranges
Buckeye Valley is headquartered at 679 Coover Road in Delaware. The district has two elementary schools, Buckeye Valley West and Buckeye Valley East, as well as Buckeye Valley Middle School and Buckeye Valley High School.
Its school board members include president Mary Kate Pembroke, vice president Troy Jeffrey, Jeni Reely, Donald Dicke and Laura Bain.
The school board meets regularly at Buckeye Valley High School in Baron Hall, typically at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
You can find the year’s board meeting schedule, as well as links to meeting minutes, agendas and a public participation form, on the district’s website.
Big Walnut Local Schools
Colors: Red and gold
Mascot: Golden Eagle
Motto: Inspire and Guide
Enrollment: 4,102
Size: 109 square miles
Superintendent: Ryan McLane.
Big Walnut Local Schools is headquartered at 110 Tippett Court in Sunbury.
Big Walnut has four elementary schools (Big Walnut, General Rosecrans, Hylen Souders and Prairie Run). Students in fourth and fifth grade attend Big Walnut Intermediate School. Older students attend Big Walnut Middle School and Big Walnut High School.
The district also offers preschool at its Early Learning Center, located on Harrison Street.
Big Walnut’s school board is led by board president Stephen Fujii and vice president Molly Snodgrass. Additional board members include Zach Duffey, Angela Graziosi and Jessica Parent.
Regular school board meetings take place at the board of education office at 110 Tippett Court and typically begin at 6:30. For a full list of meeting dates and times, as well as board policies and agendas, visit the district’s website.
Delaware City Schools
Colors: Black and Orange
Mascot: The Pacer
Motto: Achieving Excellence, Honoring Tradition
Enrollment: 5,430
Size: 36 square miles
Superintendent: Keith Pomeroy
Delaware City Schools is headquartered at 74 W. William Street in Delaware.
The district’s board president is Ted Backus and its vice president is Janelle Gasaway. Additional board members include Abby Buckerfield, Melissa Harris and Michael Wiener. Mazie Fitzharris, a senior at Hayes High School, is the student board member.
School board meetings are held on Mondays at 6 p.m. at the Willis Education Center at 74 W. William Street. For a full list of meeting dates, agendas and minutes, visit the district website.
Delaware City Schools consists of five elementary schools (Carlisle, Conger, Schultz, Smith and Woodward). Older learners attend Dempsey Middle School and Hayes High School.
Olentangy Local Schools
Colors: Blue (additional colors vary by school)
Mascot: Bears (Berlin High School) Braves (Olentangy High School) Patriots (Olentangy Liberty High School) Pioneers (Olentangy Orange High School)
Motto: Flourish Here
Enrollment: 23,232
Size: 95 square miles
Superintendent: Todd R. Meyer
Olentangy Schools is headquartered at 7840 Graphics Way in Lewis Center.
Olentangy has a total of 17 elementary schools, six middle schools, four high schools and a preschool. Visit the district’s website for a full list.
The Olentangy school board is led by president Brandon Lester and vice president Libby Wallick. Additional board members include Kevin Daberkow, Kevin O’Brien and Lizett Schreiber.
The board meets at the Olentangy Administrative Office at 7840 Graphics Way in the Berlin Room.
Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m, typically on the first and third Thursday of each month. For a full schedule, as well as meeting records, visit the district’s website.
Delaware Area Career Center
Motto: Empower. Prepare. Inspire. Connect.
Enrollment: 3,691
Superintendent: Jay Poroda
All of Delaware County’s “big four” districts partner with the Delaware Area Career Center to provide hands-on, career technical education for high school students. DACC students still earn a diploma from their home high school.
The career center is located at 4565 Columbus Pike in Delaware.
DACC is a joint vocational school district. Unlike public school districts, its board members are appointed rather than elected. However, board meetings are open to the public.
DACC’s board currently includes president Ted Backus of Delaware City Schools, vice president Brice Clawson of Big Walnut Local School, Susan Kish of the ESC of Central Ohio, Kevin Daberkow of Olentangy Local Schools and Donald Dicke of Buckeye Valley Schools.
All board meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room.
The district has 29 programs of study for high school students and eight adult education programs, according to its website.
