WESTON—Leaders of Otsego Local Schools, which serves Weston, say a $30,000 grant the district received from Meta does not mean the district has taken a position on data centers, and that it had no promise of Meta money when it campaigned for its recent income tax measure, the Sentinel-Tribune reported.
Responding to Social Media Claims
Superintendent Kevin O’Shea addressed the board at its August 31 meeting, responding to accusations on social media about the levy and Meta funding, according to the newspaper. O’Shea said that during last spring’s levy campaign the district had no commitment of any money from Meta or from the Weston solar facility.
O’Shea acknowledged there has been talk about development moving into the district, but said no money has been confirmed, the Sentinel-Tribune reported. He noted that Meta is located mainly in the Eastwood district, which receives the tax revenue, and said he and district Treasurer Steve Carroll have no definite information about any Meta development within Otsego’s boundaries. For now, he said, nothing is guaranteed.
O’Shea said he has been receiving emails pulling him into a debate over whether the district supports data centers, and that he has made no statements to that effect, according to the newspaper. Board President Brad Anderson said the board, the superintendent, the treasurer and the district as a whole have no public opinion on data centers. Anderson added that the district takes seriously its responsibility for taxpayer money and for its students, and will look for every opportunity to better support them.
What the Grant Paid For
According to the Sentinel-Tribune, Otsego received the $30,000 grant in spring 2026 as one of 11 recipients in Meta’s community action grant program. The money was used to replace outdated classroom smart boards with interactive Clevertouch displays, letting the district replace all of them at once. O’Shea said such grants generally ranged from $30,000 to $50,000, the newspaper reported. Other recipients included Eastwood Schools, Bowling Green Middle School and Bowling Green State University.
Township Moratoriums
The discussion comes as data centers have drawn attention across Wood County. Meta’s data center is an $800 million facility in Middleton Township, according to BG Independent News.
In March, BG Independent News reported that seven of the county’s 19 townships had adopted temporary moratoriums on data center development and eight more had discussed doing so, in response to resident concerns and unanswered questions about the facilities’ impact. Weston Township, which surrounds the village, was among the seven. “We just don’t want to see it coming to the township,” Weston Township Trustee Randy Tolles told the outlet. The report did not say how long Weston Township’s moratorium would last.
Sources: Sentinel-Tribune · BG Independent News