The decision by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to return $5 billion in dividends to the state’s business community is welcome news to Niles City Schools, which will receive $325,000.

That is a needed financial boost for the district, which has been in state-declared fiscal emergency since February 2019.

The BWC voted Monday to return the dividends “to ease COVID-19’s continued impact on the state’s business community and workforce.”

Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen informed the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission of the dividend amount during Friday afternoon’s meeting.

The commission oversees the district’s spending and efforts to earn release from fiscal emergency.

21 News was informed by BWC that the district has discretion on how it chooses to allocate the funds.

“While we encourage investment in workplace safety, the district is free to use the money any way it wants,” Tony Gottschlich, a bureau media spokesperson, told 21 News.

“Governor DeWine feels the same way,” Gottschlich said.

“That’s good for us since we would prefer to put it in the general fund instead of returning it to the workers’ compensation fund,” Thigpen said.

While the district has been making progress in rectifying its finances, it still has several major hurdles to overcome before the state can release it from fiscal emergency.

Nita Hendryx, fiscal supervisor, told the commission that one major requirement is completion of a capital assets inventory that will likely require the hiring of a specialist.

“Capital assets are always tough (and) that’s going to be the worst part,” Hendryx said. “They might have to hire an outside source because they don’t have the time and expertise to do it."

Hendryx said the state generally does not release school districts from fiscal emergency until the end of the current fiscal year, which would be June 2021.