Dover schools invite public input on their future
DOVER – Local school officials are seeking community input as they develop a plan for the future of the city’s schools.
They call it the Dover Together2030 Initiative. A community roundtable event is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Education offices at 228 West 6th Street. It’s a chance for community members to share their thoughts directly with officials.
There is also a survey on the district’s website and at Dovertogether.com .
Superintendent Karie McCrate says the Together2030 Initiative is a broad look at the next five years, looking at teaching and learning, special programs, school facilities and more.
“Our schools belong to this community, and the best plans are the ones we build together,” said McCrate. “Whether you have a child in our classrooms, work in our schools, or are an invested resident, we want to hear from you. Every response helps shape where we go next.”
McCrate says the broad look toward the district’s future is running parallel to the facility planning process that began last year.
At that time, school officials and community members discussed potentially building a new middle school or adding onto existing buildings. The construction would be funded by a school-board approved millage shift that would result in a property tax increase of $154 per year per $100,000 of property value. That has been tied up in court, but it could go into effect next year.
In the meantime, the district has spent about $1.8 million over the past three years to buy properties around Dover Middle School, including the former East of Chicago Pizza and Pro-Print businesses and several houses. “It would make sense that that would be the place we would look at when it came time to replace some of our aging facilities,” McCrate said.
McCrate says an announcement on facility plans will follow the Together 2030 unveiling in January.
PRESS RELEASE FROM DOVER CITY SCHOOLS
Dover City Schools is asking residents, families, staff, and students a simple question: What do you want for the future of our schools?
Community members can share their ideas in two ways: an online survey, open now through Tuesday, Oct. 13, and community roundtable events on Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:00pm, and Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 pm.
The Together2030 initiative brings all of the district planning efforts into one conversation. The result will guide the district’s priorities for teaching and learning, student support systems, extracurricular opportunities, and K-12 school buildings over the next several years.
The work is organized around three commitments: Engage, Innovate, and Unite.
“Our schools belong to this community, and the best plans are the ones we build together,” said Superintendent Karie McCrate. “Whether you have a child in our classrooms, work in our schools, or are an invested resident, we want to hear from you. Every response helps shape where we go next.”
The effort builds on a track record of community-driven planning. The district’s most recent strategic plan was shaped by more than 700 stakeholder responses. In addition, in 2025, an Educational Visioning Process brought students, staff, families, and residents together to identify priorities for Dover’s elementary and middle school buildings, in partnership with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
How to Get Involved
• Take the survey: Visit dovertogether.com by Tuesday, October 13. The survey takes about five minutes.
• Learn more: Find background, updates, and the Together2030 timeline at dovertogether.com.
• Attend a community roundtable event: Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:00, and Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:00 in the Board Offices at 228 West 6th Street. Registration is not required. The district is also holding dedicated sessions with staff and students so every part of the school community is represented. What Next? Community input will shape a Together2030 plan that will be presented to the Dover Board of Education in January 2027. Updates will be shared at dovertogether.com and through district newsletters throughout the process.