Board Meeting Recap for November 2024
Forest Hills School District is utilizing these articles as a way to communicate specific action taken at regular Board of Education meetings throughout the year. The Board of Education met on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 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.
Special Recognitions
Several Maddux Elementary School students attended the meeting to read their individual responses to a school-wide writing exercise about gratitude. Chloe J., Jane W., Miles H. and Holden E. did an outstanding job speaking in front of the Board and the audience, and they were provided certificates by Forest Hills School District recognizing their hard work.
The Forest Hills Foundation for Education thanked the community for their support of the Denim and Diamonds fundraiser party. More than $38,000 were raised through the live auction and ‘raise the paddle’ that evening, with additional funds raised through a silent auction, Bengals raffle and more. The Foundation is still collecting donations and additional funds continue to be raised, but at this time the annual fundraiser is expected to bring in more than $110,000 to support students in FHSD.
You can learn more about FHFE and how to support the organization by visiting its website at https://fhfe.org/
Superintendent Update
Superintendent Larry Hook discussed efforts throughout the district to honor and recognize Veterans Day. Each school organized individual programs or lessons related to the day to pay respect to those who have served or are serving in the United States military. FHSD’s School Resource Officers Jeremy Dwyer and Ryan Wolf also recorded a read-along video that was shown across all elementary schools. You can click here to watch their reading of America's White Table by Margot Theis Raven. The story helps younger readers learn about the significance of an empty table setting that is reserved to honor service members who are missing in action (MIA) or prisoners of war (POW).
The superintendent also provided an update on the recent SPARK Night hosted by the Anderson High School science department. The event is hosted at each high school on a rotating basis, and this year Anderson science students created interactive displays, impressive experiments and engaging projects to encourage elementary students to get interested in STEM. The district also hopes the event will inspire students to create projects for the annual Science and Innovation Fair that takes place in January. You can find a registration form and additional details in this article on the district website. Students should register their projects for approval by December 6.
Superintendent Hook also celebrated the recent announcement of U.S. News and World Report rankings for middle and elementary schools. Nagel Middle School is ranked among the top 7% of all middle schools in Ohio, and all six elementary schools were ranked in the top 9% of schools in Ohio. You can read more about the achievement and ranking criteria in this article on the district website.
In addition to recognizing these impressive rankings, Superintendent Hook acknowledged the hard work of FHSD’s teachers, support staff and other employees who play a major role in the education of students each day.
Treasurer Update
Forest Hills School District Treasurer Alana Cropper presented the November 2024 Five-Year Forecast Financial Report to the Board of Education at Wednesday’s meeting. Each November, Treasurer Cropper presents a five-year forecast that serves as a planning document to assist with fiscal management and accountability by showing historical and projected revenue and expenses.
You can view Treasurer Cropper’s slideshow presentation here, view the full five-year forecast financial report here and watch the presentation during the Board Meeting here.
Board Action
The Board of Education often reviews and votes on a variety of actions that impact different departments throughout the school district. The following action items presented by department representatives were 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.
Human Resources
- 8.1 Human Resources Report
- The report approves a variety of topics including retirements, resignations and appointments of different staff members. You can view the report here and find related attachments here.
Business Operations
- 9.1 Resolution Declaring Impractical Transportation (Revised)
- This resolution lists certain non-public schools where transportation has been declared impractical. Families of students attending those schools will be offered payment in lieu of transportation, pursuant to state law. You can read the resolution here.
- 9.2 Resolution Authorizing Advertisement and Solicitation of Bids (Turpin Chiller & Nagel Boiler)
- This resolution allows the district to advertise and solicit bids for the Turpin Chiller and Nagel Boiler Replacement Project.
- The estimated cost of the Turpin chiller replacement is $520,000.
- The estimated cost of the Nagel boiler replacement is $70,000.
- You can view the resolution here.
- 9.3 Resolution Authorizing Advertisement and Solicitation of Bids (Wilson Exterior Seal)
- This resolution allows the district to advertise and solicit bids for the Wilson Building Exterior Seal Application Project.
- The estimated cost of the project is $120,000.
- You can view the resolution here.
- 9.4 Resolution Authorizing Contract (Routing Software)
- This resolution provides authorization to execute a contract with Transfinder for routing management software for the district's transportation operation.
- The estimated cost is $214,764.
- You can view the resolution here.
Treasurer Update
- 10.1 Modified Tax Budget Resolution 2025-2026
- This item adopts the Resolution Requesting Authority from the Hamilton County Budget Commission to File a Modified Tax Budget for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year as presented. You can view the resolution here.
- 10.2 2025-2026 Tax Budget Calendar
- This item approves the 2025-2026 tax budget calendar. You can find additional details here.
- 10.3 Five-Year Financial Forecast/Assumptions (FY25-FY29)
- This item approves the Five-Year Forecast presented by Treasurer Alana Cropper. Additional details can be found earlier in this article. You can view Treasurer Cropper’s slideshow presentation here, view the full five-year forecast financial report here and watch the presentation during the Board Meeting here.
- 10.4 Treasurer's Report
- Treasurer Alana Cropper’s October report provided information on the following items:
- Donations
- Five-Year Forecast
- General Fund Revenue
- General Fund Expenditures
- General Operating Cash Balance
- Permanent Improvement Fund
- Investment Income Snapshot
- Past Month Reconciliation
- Permanent Appropriations
- You can find the October cash position report here.
- Treasurer Alana Cropper’s October report provided information on the following items:
This completes the consent agenda.
Committee Reports
Board Members provided updates on the committee meeting listed below.
- Finance Committee
- Committee Chairperson Jason Simmons provided an update on the October 28 meeting. This meeting was held to discuss potential options for refinancing related to outstanding debt on the 2014 bond issue. Other topics discussed included employee health plans and cybersecurity insurance.
- Policy Committee
- Committee Chairperson Sara Jonas provided an update on the October 30 meeting. At the meeting, the committee discussed NEOLA policy updates from Volume 43, No 1. These updates were brought to the full Board of Education for a first reading at the November meeting. The second reading and approval of these policy adoptions will take place at the December 2024 meeting. You can find a list of policy updates and find attachments for individual policies here.
- Teaching and Learning Committee
- Committee Chairperson Katie Stewart provided an update on the October 23 meeting. At the meeting, the committee discussed progress on the district’s strategic vision, course of study planning, general data updates and details related to school-based mental health offerings.
Board Discussion
Board members discussed a variety of topics including programs that currently receive federal funding, state vouchers for non-public education, superintendent and treasurer evaluations, achievements and celebrations for activities at various schools and more. You can click here to view the full discussion period, which begins at 01:59:03 during the meeting livestream.
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.”
- Human Resources Committee Meeting - October 7, 2024
- Technology and Facilities Committee Meeting - October 8, 2024
- Regular Meeting - October 16, 2024
- Teaching and Learning Committee Meeting - October 23, 2024
- Finance Committee Meeting - October 28, 2024
- Policy Committee Meeting - October 30, 2024
