CAMPBELL Changes to the Ohio state budget are now letting teachers retire two years earlier than previously allowed, resulting in an influx of Campbell City teachers up for retirement in the near future.

"No cuts are being made," Matthew Bowen, superintendent of Campbell City Schools, said regarding the Deficit Reduction Spending Plan that he stated the district is obligated to complete.

Bowen stated that the school district had lost state funding of almost $600,000 annually due to some of the decisions of the previous legislature and assembly. 

In Ohio, teachers previously needed 34 years of service in the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) to receive unreduced retirement benefits. As of December 16, 2025, the requirement is now 32 years of service to receive full benefits. This, according to Bowen, is allowing Campbell City Schools to reevaluate their forecast of savings to operate successfully. 

"We're going to be okay," Bowen said. "We're going to be able to accomplish this through the benefit of having so many teachers so close to retirement that we are really focusing on attrition and reorganizing."

The Deficit Reduction Spending Plan projects over $1.5 million in Campbell City Schools savings by the end of fiscal year (September 30) 2028, Bowen said.

Bowen also said that he hopes that Campbell, as well as other school districts, can get some form of relief in the upcoming operating budget plans.