These fees are not unprecedented for Barberton — the district ran a pay-to-participate program back in 2012, charging $125 per sport or activity. But the stakes today are higher. In 2012, the district wasn't operating under state fiscal oversight. In 2026, it is.

Superintendent Jason Ondrus was direct in his letter to families: these fees exist because the alternative is no sports or band at all. The district's financial situation has deteriorated to the point where extracurriculars — legally considered optional under Ohio law — are at risk of being cut outright to satisfy state fiscal emergency requirements.

We understand that adding any financial obligation to our families is an unwelcome burden. This policy was not entered into lightly.Jason Ondrus, Superintendent

How Barberton's Financial Crisis Unfolded

• 2012 — First pay-to-participate policy
• Earlier 2026 — District eliminates 87 positions
• 2026 — District warns pay-to-play may be necessary
• 2026 — $7 million in operating cuts completed
• Fall 2026 — Pay-to-participate policy takes effect
• Sept. 1, 2026 — Fall fees due for all student participants

The pressure on Barberton didn't appear overnight. The district is caught between two funding realities: 60% of its budget flows from the State of Ohio, and 40% comes from local tax revenue. When state allocations shrink — as they have — the gap falls directly on the district's books. Barberton's voters previously rejected a tax levy proposal that school leaders said could have helped stabilize finances.

Now the district is navigating both a fiscal emergency designation and recommendations from a performance audit by the Ohio Auditor of State's Office. Those aren't just internal reviews — they carry legal weight. Under fiscal emergency, the state looks hard at what districts are required to provide and what they aren't. Athletics and marching band fall firmly in the 'not required' column.

We're a district that's reliant about 60% of our budget is reliant on the State of Ohio, and then 40% is reliant on our local tax revenue. So, you can imagine, any reductions from the State of Ohio will drastically impact our district, and that's what we're facing right nowJason Ondrus, Superintendent

Barberton's Pay-to-Participate Fees: 2012 vs. 2026

Where Barberton's Budget Comes From

How Well Do You Know School Funding in Ohio?

Four questions. The answers may surprise you.

When Barberton last ran a pay-to-participate program in 2012, what was the per-sport fee?

• $75 per sport — Lower than reality. In 2012, Barberton charged $125 per sport — actually more than the $100 high school fee being set for 2026–2027.
• $100 per sport — Close, but not quite. The 2026–2027 high school fee is $100 — the 2012 fee was actually $125. The district deliberately went lower this time to account for families' financial pressures.
• $125 per sport — Correct. Barberton charged $125 per sport or activity in 2012. The new 2026–2027 fees — $100 for high school, $50 for middle school — are actually lower, a deliberate choice by district leaders.
• $150 per sport — Higher than reality. The 2012 fee was $125. The new fees are set below that level, a fact Superintendent Ondrus highlighted as a recognition of the financial strain families are under.

Approximately what share of Barberton's school budget comes from the State of Ohio?

• About 30% — Much lower than the real number. Barberton relies on the state for about 60% of its budget — meaning Columbus budget decisions hit Barberton twice as hard as this answer suggests.
• About 40% — That is actually Barberton's local tax revenue share. The state covers roughly 60% — making state funding reductions the single biggest driver of the district's fiscal emergency.
• About 60% — Correct. Superintendent Ondrus told News 5 that 60% of Barberton's budget flows from the State of Ohio. That dependency is why state-level funding changes hit Barberton so hard and so fast.
• About 80% — Higher than reality. The state covers about 60%, with local tax revenue making up the other 40%. But 60% is still a high degree of state dependency — enough that any state cut triggers a local crisis.

Before the pay-to-participate announcement, how many Barberton school district positions had already been eliminated?

• Around 30 positions — The actual number is nearly three times higher. Barberton eliminated 87 positions in an earlier round of cuts — a significant workforce reduction before any fees were imposed on families.
• Around 87 positions — Correct. Superintendent Ondrus told News 5 that 87 jobs had already been cut before the pay-to-participate policy was announced — part of the effort to reduce spending while preserving student programs.
• Around 120 positions — Higher than what was reported. Barberton cut 87 positions. The district also reduced operating expenses by approximately $7 million before turning to student activity fees.
• Around 50 positions — The real number is higher — 87 positions were eliminated. That scale of workforce reduction, combined with $7 million in operating cuts, shows how deep the district's budget crisis runs.

Under Ohio fiscal emergency rules, what happens to extracurricular programs like sports and marching band?

• The state funds them directly to protect students — The opposite is true. Under fiscal emergency, the state examines what districts are legally required to provide — and extracurriculars are not on that list. They become targets for elimination, not protection.
• They are protected because of their academic value — Not under Ohio fiscal emergency rules. Ondrus said clearly that extracurriculars 'are items that are not required' — meaning the state could compel the district to cut them to balance its books.
• They are classified as optional and can be cut — Correct. Superintendent Ondrus warned that the state will examine 'what is required and what is not' — and extracurriculars fall firmly in the 'not required' category under Ohio law, leaving them vulnerable to elimination.
• Levy revenue automatically covers them — Barberton's voters actually rejected a tax levy proposal that could have helped stabilize the district's finances. Without that revenue, the district has had to find other ways to preserve programs like sports and band.

The quiz makes it plain: the mechanics of Ohio school funding are not well understood by most residents — and that gap in public knowledge is part of why districts like Barberton can reach fiscal emergency before families realize what is happening. When 60% of a school district's budget depends on Columbus, decisions made far from Barberton's hallways land directly on its students.

The new pay-to-participate fees are lower than what Barberton charged in 2012 — a deliberate acknowledgment by Superintendent Ondrus that many of the district's families are themselves stretched thin. Ohio's unemployment rate sits at 3.6% as of June 2026, but employment alone doesn't shield families from rising costs. The district set the family cap at $500 per year specifically to prevent any one household from bearing an unbearable share of the shortfall.

What's True About Barberton's Situation

Barberton is charging more for sports than it did in 2012.

Verdict: false

The 2012 fee was $125 per sport or activity. The new high school rate is $100 and the middle school rate is $50 — both lower. The district said it intentionally reduced fees to reflect current family hardships.

The district cut costs significantly before turning to families.

Verdict: true

Barberton reduced operating expenses by approximately $7 million and eliminated 87 positions before implementing the pay-to-participate policy for 2026–2027.

State funding reductions are a major cause of the district's fiscal crisis.

Verdict: true

Superintendent Ondrus stated that 60% of the district's budget depends on state funding. He told News 5 that reductions from the State of Ohio 'will drastically impact our district' — and that is exactly what is happening.

Sports and band are legally protected from budget cuts in Ohio.

Verdict: false

Ohio law classifies extracurriculars as non-required. Under fiscal emergency oversight, the state can require districts to eliminate any program not mandated — including athletics and marching band.

What Barberton Families Need to Do Now

1. Know your student's fee level — High school students (Grades 9–12) pay $100 per sport or marching band. Middle school students (Grades 7–8) pay $50 per sport. The annual per-student cap is $200 for high school and $100 for middle school.
2. Mark the fall deadline — Fall activity fees must be paid by September 1. Missing the deadline could affect your student's ability to participate from the start of the season.
3. Plan ahead for winter and spring seasons — Winter and spring fees are due before each student's first contest or performance — not at the start of the school year. Budget for those separately.
4. Know the family cap — If you have multiple students in Barberton schools, your household will not pay more than $500 per school year total — regardless of how many activities your children participate in.
5. Watch for levy news — Barberton's long-term financial stability depends on state funding and local tax decisions. A levy vote remains on the table as part of the district's path toward recovery. Staying informed is the most powerful thing a community member can do.

What Is Ohio Fiscal Emergency — and What Does It Mean for Barberton?

Ohio's fiscal emergency designation is a formal intervention by the state. When a school district's financial condition deteriorates beyond a certain threshold, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce steps in to oversee how it spends money and balances its budget.

Under fiscal emergency, the state examines every line item for whether it is legally required. Academic instruction is required. Extracurriculars — sports, marching band, clubs — are not. That is why Superintendent Ondrus warned that the district is 'fastly approaching that line' where the state could compel the elimination of those programs entirely.

Barberton is also operating under a separate performance audit conducted by the Ohio Auditor of State's Office. That audit produces recommendations the district is expected to implement as part of its recovery plan. Together, the two oversight processes leave district leaders with limited flexibility — which is why fees that once seemed unlikely are now district policy.

For students in Barberton, the pay-to-participate fees are not just a budget line — they are a test of whether the community can hold together programs that define the school experience for thousands of kids. Marching band. Friday night football. Track meets and swim seasons. These are the things students remember, and the things parents organize their calendars around.

Barberton's situation is a warning signal for every Ohio school district that leans heavily on state funding: when Columbus cuts, local schools bleed. The district that cut 87 jobs, trimmed $7 million in spending, and still needed to ask its families for more is a portrait of what happens when state support erodes faster than communities can respond. Whether the fees hold or whether a future levy changes the equation, the story of Barberton schools in 2026 is a story about what happens when public institutions run out of runway.

Fee Schedule at a Glance

• High School Athletics (Grades 9–12): $100 per sport. Annual student cap: $200.
• Middle School Athletics (Grades 7–8): $50 per sport. Annual student cap: $100.
• Marching Band & Color Guard (Grades 9–12): $100. Counts toward the $200 high school student cap.
• Family Annual Cap: $500 per household per school year — no matter how many students or activities.
• When Fees Are Due: Fall fees: by September 1. Winter and spring fees: before each student's first contest or performance.

Sources & References

• Primary source: News 5 Cleveland — Tessa DiTirro
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Ohio Unemployment Rate: 3.6%, June 2026, Seasonally Adjusted