Award provides $1,000 scholarship for local high school senior
Karen Ballengee, Treasurer for the Manchester Local School District, has been awarded the Chuck Gossett Memorial Scholarship by the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO). Ballengee, who joined the district in 2004, received the scholarship at OASBO’s 60th Annual Workshop and Trade Show in Columbus last week.
The scholarship was established in 2005 in memory of an OASBO Past President, Chuck Gossett, who took a special interest in public policy and advocacy for education and education funding. The scholarship recognizes an OASBO member annually for exemplary service to the organization through contributions of time and expertise on legislative issues and involvement. The award winner receives a $1000 scholarship that is awarded to a local high school senior of the winner’s choosing.
The Manchester district receives a significant amount of funding through local public utility Tangible Personal Property (TPP) tax thanks to a large electricity generation facility in the district. The phase-out of the utility TPP tax has been a major financial threat for many years. Ballengee has been an advocate on behalf of the district through legislative involvement – building relationships with legislators locally, and travelling to Columbus to tell the district’s story.
Ballengee has been a member of the OASBO Legislative Committee for several years, and has recently taken on the role of chairperson.. Under her leadership, the committee has taken on a number of legislative issues affecting members.
Ballengee is a member of many local organizations in Adams County, including the Manchester Women’s Club, the Lion’s Club, and the Adams County Medical Foundation. She is also the fiscal agent for our Adams County Creating Healthy Communities grant. In 2012, she was recognized by the OASBO Foundation for School Business Management as the Outstanding Treasurer of the Year.
“Karen has used her experience and passion for public education to become a very strong advocate legislatively for her school district and for public education as a whole,” said OASBO Executive Director David A. Varda.
