FHSD Board of Education Recap for June 2023

A graphic with books, a megaphone and apple that reads "Board Recap, June 28, 2023, Regular Meeting."

Forest Hills School District is utilizing these “breakdowns” as a way to communicate specific action taken at regular Board of Education meetings throughout the year. The Board of Education met on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Mercer Elementary School to discuss a variety of topics relevant to students, staff and the community.

The official agenda and related attachments for this meeting can be found on the FHSD BoardDocs page here. You can watch a full recording of the meeting on YouTube here.

Executive Session

The Board of Education entered an executive session near the beginning of the meeting to review negotiations or bargaining sessions with employees concerning compensation and other terms and conditions of employment. The Board approved multiple contracts with employee bargaining groups, which are detailed below as part of the human resources report.

Superintendent Update

Forest Hills School District Superintendent Larry Hook used his portion of the Board Meeting to welcome Mr. Andy Jados and Mr. Chris Barker to FHSD. Mr. Jados was approved at the June meeting as the new principal of Turpin High School and Mr. Barker was approved as the new assistant principal of Maddux Elementary School.

The superintendent also presented a motion to approve Forest Hills School District's continued membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for the 2023-2024 school year, which the Board approved.

Board Action

The Board of Education often reviews and votes on a variety of actions that impact different departments throughout the school district. Typically, the action items presented by department representatives are voted on together as part of the “consent agenda.” For specific information about any of the following items, you can find the meeting agenda and attachments here.

The following items in the consent agenda were approved by the Board of Education.

Business Operations

8.1 Certification of Standards Governing Types of Food and Beverages Sold on School Premises
- As of July 2011, Ohio Revised Code 3313.814 requires each school district board of education and each chartered nonpublic school governing authority to adopt and enforce nutrition standards governing the types of food and beverages that may be sold on the premises of its school and specifying the time and place each type of food or beverage may be sold.
- The report presented to the Board of Education outlines how FHSD is in compliance with Ohio Revised Code 3313.814.
8.2 Lunchroom Prices - School Year 2023-2024
- This item approves meal prices for the 2023-2024 school year. There is no change from the previous year. You can find the prices here.
8.3 Payment in Lieu of Transportation
- This resolution approves a payment in lieu of transportation for listed private schools when FHSD determines that it is impractical to transport students for the 2023-2024 school year and beyond.

Human Resources

9.1 Human Resources Report
- The report covers a variety of topics including retirements, resignations and appointments of different staff members. You can view the report here.
- Included in the report are the following collective bargaining agreements. Click the contract name to read the approved agreement.
  - FHTA Master Contract
  - OAPSE 177 Master Contract
  - OAPSE 273 Master Contract

Teaching and Learning/Curriculum

10.1 PK-6 and 7-12 FHSD Student-Parent Handbooks for 2023-2024
- This item approves the PK-6 and 7-12 Student-Parent Handbooks. You can read the PK-6 handbook here and the 7-12 handbook here.
10.2 Revised High School Fee Schedule 2023-2024
- The original fee schedule was approved by the Board in May. The district is offering Pre-ACT to ninth and tenth grade students at both Anderson High School and Turpin High School for a fee of $17.00. The revision to include 10th grade students was added.
10.3 Wellness Course of Study Grades K-8
- This item approves the Wellness Course of Study as presented to the Board. This course of study has been on review in the Teaching and Learning Department since the May 17, 2023 Board of Education meeting. You can view the course of study here.
10.4 Preschool Course of Study
- This item approves the Preschool Course of Study as presented to the Board. This course of study has been on review in the Teaching and Learning Department since the May 17, 2023 Board of Education meeting. You can view the course of study here.
10.5 Overnight Field Trip Requests
- This item approves various overnight field trip requests made by Anderson High School.
10.6 Foreign Exchange Student - Anderson High School
- This item approves the enrollment of a foreign exchange student for the 2023-2024 school year. The student will be sponsored by ISE (International Student Exchange).

Teaching and Learning/Student Services

11.1 Hamilton County Educational Service Center-Head Start MOU 2023-2024
- This item approves a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the roles of responsibilities of FHSD and HCESC in the latter’s delivery of services to students in the Head Start early learning preschool at Mercer Elementary. Up to 16 children ages 3-5 who qualify for services due to low income will receive services between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.
11.2 Hamilton County Educational Service Center Service Agreement 2023-2024
- This item approves an agreement between FHSD and HCESC for the latter to provide a variety of professional services during the 2023-2024 school year. FHSD agrees to pay $1,817,618.90 for services including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language, psychology and more.
11.3 Hamilton County Educational Service Center Community School Partnership Agreement 2023-2024
- This item approves an agreement for HCESC to provide the services of a Community/School Partnership Specialist in the total amount of $53,285 for the 2023-2024 school year.
11.4 Healthcare Process Consulting, Inc. Service Agreement 2023-2024
- FHSD participates in the Ohio Medicaid Schools Program. As a participant in the program, the district will be reimbursed for the treatment of Medicaid-eligible students. Billable services include occupational therapy, speech therapy, school psychological services and nursing services. The district will contract with Healthcare Process Consulting, Inc. for assistance with billing, training, and compliance at the cost of $23,000.
11.5 Resolution to Contract with Clermont County Education Services Center - CEC North 2023-2024
- This resolution approves the placement (per IEP) of a special education student at CCESC for the 2023-2024 school year at the cost of $90,959.
11.6 Resolution to Contract with Clermont County Education Services Center - CEC South 2023-2024
- This resolution approves the placement (per IEP) of a special education student at CCESC for the 2023-2024 school year at the cost of $39,729.
11.7 Special Instructional Services - Clermont County Educational Service Center 2023-2024
- This item approves an agreement between FHSD and CCESC for the latter to provide direct services, per the IEPs, to our students who are deaf/hearing impaired. The rate of services per the agreement is $590.00 per day of service ($295/half-day).
11.8 Resolution to Contract with Ohio Valley Voices 2023-2024
- This resolution allows FHSD to contract with Ohio Valley Voices to support the placement of two special education students for the 2023-2024 school year at the cost of $38,500 per student.
11.9 Resolution to Contract with Youth Villages 2023-2024
- This resolution allows FHSD to contract with Youth Villages to support the out-of-state residential placement of a special education student with multiple disabilities for services at the cost of $33,516.

Technology

12.1 Hamilton Clermont Cooperative (HCC) Contract
- This item approves the annual contract for services with Hamilton Clermont Cooperative(HCC) for the period July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 in the amount of $243,417.59. This pays for network and software services provided through HCC.

Treasurer

13.1 2023-2024 Temporary Appropriations
- The 2023-2024 temporary appropriations will serve as an interim measure to operate the district until the Board of Education adopts a complete permanent appropriations measure for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The district is required to adopt temporary appropriations for the fiscal year by July 1, 2023 and that the permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2023 must be adopted no later than October 1, 2023.
13.2 Treasurer’s Report
- Treasurer Alana Cropper’s report, which you can find here, provided information on the following items:
  - Donations
  - Statement of Board Accounts
  - General Fund Receipts
  - General Fund Expenditures by Function
  - General Fund Expenditures by Object
  - Monthly Bank Statement
  - Final Permanent Appropriations
  - Amendments to Permanent Appropriations
  - Approval of Certification of Funds
  - Closing Student Activity Fund
  - Travel Allowance
  - Board Service Fund

Board Discussion

The Policy Committee met on April 17, 2023, to discuss NEOLA policy updates from Volume 41 No 2 and provided a report to the full Board during the June meeting. To find a list of policies that were brought to the Board for a first reading, click here.

Approved Minutes

The Board of Education approved minutes for the following meetings, which you can view by clicking the link associated with each meeting. After clicking the appropriate link, you will need to then click “View Minutes” under Agenda Item Details, next to the category titled “Minutes.”