Hillsboro City Schools board makes approvals for 2026-27 school year

The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education heard reports on end-of-year activities and made numerous approvals for the 2026-27 school year during their Monday, April 20 meeting.

Student representative Abigail Fryman reported on a number of recent events, beginning with discussing the ongoing state testing and AP testing. 

“Mr. [Michael] Domitor and some other teachers have organized valuable study sessions for the AP classes, providing snacks and support to help us review and feel more prepared,” she said. “To express our gratitude for them, the National Honor Society, student council and other groups are organizing a special week to honor all staff members.”

In his report, superintendent Tim Davis said that the district is “in the middle” of state testing.

“This week is now math for the elementary,” he said. “We did language arts today. We started the state tests at the high school today as well, so full swing there.”

Along with academics, the high school is preparing for its upcoming prom, Fryman said.

“I wanted to recognize the committee, because they have been more than phenomenal,” she added. “They have been working really hard.” 

Fryman recapped the activities of several different organizations, including Art Club (painting murals for the Colony Theater, farmers’ market and other areas around the city and attending the Governor's Youth Art Exhibition); Drama Club (preparing for a theater camp) and FFA (annual flower sales, plus President Grace Allen running for a state officer position). She also recognized the track and field team for their “amazing start to the season” and the boys tennis team for their efforts thus far.

Davis added that the theatre department’s production of “The Music Man” was “unbelievable,” while the choir will compete at the OMEA State Adjudication in May. 

Other upcoming events as outlined by Davis include the senior showcase with prospective employers May 7; a military student recognition ceremony, also on May 7; a senior awards ceremony May 15; and graduation May 24.

Davis also celebrated the success of the district’s summer meals program, as the board made several approvals for staffing the food trucks this summer during the meeting. 

Originally founded as a free summer meal program, the Tomahawk truck debuted in the summer of 2017, with the “Juice Box” added to the fleet in 2021 to accommodate additional locations, including more rural stops.

“It's hard to believe that it's been nine years since that started,” Davis said. “From 2017 to 2025, we've served 483,063 meals. That's just amazing for our summer program and the work that they do.”

In another report, board member Beverly Rhoads discussed highlights from the Great Oaks Board of Directors’ April meeting. The Great Oaks district currently has a 94.8% retention rate through three quarters, and as they prepare for next year, they have received 3,068 applications for 2,100 available seats. 

The Great Oaks district also received a clean audit for 2025 as well as a banner for their 5-Star Award from the state. Upcoming end-of-year ceremonies include student recognition dinners; a retirement celebration; and senior ceremonies, with Laurel Oaks’ ceremony taking place at Wright State University this year.  

As mentioned, much of the meeting was dedicated to making approvals for the upcoming school year. The board took action on the following matters:

• In separate motions, the board approved the 2026-27 elementary and preschool handbooks, with the elementary handbook involving a change in the grading system for intermediate students. 

“We are going back to traditional grading scale for the intermediate school, so it'll be the same as the middle school/high school (with A to F grading) instead of the standards-based grading (meets expectation, etc.),” Davis said. “That is going to change. The K-3 is going to still have the standards-based grading, but the intermediate pod is changing.”

Board member Lyons asked what prompted the change.

“With the amount of standards that they're either using or mastered and not mastered, it was kind of confusing for people to comprehend where they were,” Davis said.

As for the preschool handbook, Davis said the information “hasn’t changed” from the updated version approved last year. 

• The board approved the interdistrict open enrollment policy for the 2026-27 school year. According to the motion, intradistrict is the option to transfer between buildings in the same district, while interdistrict open enrollment is between different school districts. Hillsboro is not eligible for intradistrict open enrollment because all of its buildings are one-of-a-kind buildings.

The following restrictions were approved for the interdistrict open enrollment policy: open to all Ohio school districts; application deadlines are April 1 through Aug. 1; previous open enrollment students and their siblings will get first preference; enrollment limitations will depend upon space at each grade level; and approval of special education students will depend upon teacher limits/space.

• In two different motions, the board approved the tuition sliding fee scale for the preschool income eligibility chart, then the preschool-tuition fee scale for the 2026-27 school year.

According to the motion passed, standard monthly tuition will be $100 per month (September through May) for families that are above the 200% poverty guidelines. Eligibility for free tuition is determined when a family is 200% below the poverty guidelines.

• The board approved the National School Lunch, Breakfast Program and Smart Snack Program. In their next motion, the board approved the food service prices for August 2026-June 2027, which include free school meals for the school year. Second meal cost will be $3 for HS/MS lunch and $2.50 for elementary lunch; $2.50 for HS/MS breakfast (no second breakfast meal for elementary); and $.50 for extra milk. The adult meal costs are $5.05 for lunch and $2.95 for breakfast. 

• The board approved the adoption of Amplify Math for the high school math department, effective with the 2026-27 school year. Also approved was the adoption of Connected Math Project (MP4) for the middle school math department starting next school year, as Davis said this is an updated version of the curriculum already being used.

• The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Hillsboro Education Association union for the potential rehiring of a retired individual. 

• The board approved individuals for the following contracts and positions, with Lyons abstaining: administrator — primary principal Ryan Hagan (two-year contract); new administrator for 2026-27 — HES assistant principal Rebecca Hayslip; 2026-27 certificated (new) one-year contracts — Mackenzie Bennett, Jessica Chase, Olivia Fulton, Wyatt Gleadle, Rylee Oglesby, Emily Pinkerton, Jenna Rhoades and Alyssa Walker; sub certificate — Russ Hawvermale and Katrina Williams; sub classified — bus driver Rick Cole and secretary Surina Potts-Deeter (retroactive to March 24); volunteer — Lisa Dugan (HES/HMS), Jonah Humphries (baseball coach) and Sara Wilkin (all); one-year contracts: Payton Bell, Jeri Brown, Samantha Charek, Christina Chlopik, Lisa Creditt, Kayla Deatley, Cara Georges, Kirsten Harp, Emily Holbrook, Willie Hollingsworth, Samantha Jones, Teresa Marion, Gideon Pickering-Polstra, Katrena Scaletta, David Sedivy, Matthew Sexton and Samantha Whitenack; two-year contracts — Bernadette Attinger, Quentin Cox, Lydia Falgner and Hunter Morgan; three-year contracts: Carissa Brandenburg, Erik Callahan, Jennifer Chaney, Amy Craig, Jillian Dickel, Elizabeth Denton, Michael Domitor, Ashley Fisher, Krista George, Fawn Girard, Jennifer Gleadle, Jennifer Howland, Laura Jacky, Jodi Langston, Kayla Morgan, Mike Nartker, Ryan Reilly, Shania Setty, Christine Snyder, Karin Yakimow and Benjamin Young; continuing contracts — Kayla Bagshaw, Elena Cullom, Marylee Daugherty, Lauren Purtee and Lindsey Wagner; Summer Food Service Program sponsor manager monitor ($4,500) — Stephanie Thompson; and Summer Food Service Program workers ($17.44 per hour) — Kaley Ballein, Crystal Block, Michelle Bohl, Carrie Carey, Katie Carey, Candy Cole, Madisyn Cox, Ladonna Davis, Aleah Darbyshire, Sandy Dickey, Kathy Doss, Chad Haynie, Sherri Holland, Alison Hurtt, Blake Kibler, Lisa Lederer, Jamie McRill, Jessica Messer, Hannah Mosley, Haley Norman, Mercedes Reese, Verona Roush, Cortney Shannon, Catrina Snider, Destiny Sonner, Bobbi Springer, Amy Vance and Carol Waits. In a separate motion, with board president Bill Myers abstaining, the board approved a one-year contract for teacher KaleyJo Myers, effective with the 2026-27 school year.

• The board approved the purchase sales agreement with MVECA for broadband internal connections, effective Feb. 23, for $156,800.38. According to Teeters, the district will be reimbursed for 85% of their interest costs through their E-Rate discount, while in response to a question from Lyons, he said the total cost was an approximate 10% increase over last year.

• The board accepted the resignations of paraprofessionals Susan Bennett (effective June 1, due to retirement) and Rebecca Puckett (effective end of the 2025-26 school year, due to retirement); teacher Deanna Motts (effective March 17); and technology assistant Jared Pollard (effective April 21). In a separate motion, with Lyons abstaining, the board accepted the resignation of principal Darci Miles, effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

• The board approved the following changes of status, all effective with the 2026-27 school year: Kyle Haines, from high school assistant principal to intermediate principal; Tobi Stevens, from MA+15 to MA+30; and Jackie Thoroman, from MA+15 to MA+30. 

• The board approved the amounts and rates for the fiscal year 2026 as determined by the budget commission and authorized the necessary tax levies and certified them to the county auditor. The document is on file in the treasurer’s office, according to Teeters.

“We didn't increase our millages, and everything stayed the same as it was,” the treasurer added. 

• The board approved the financial reports as presented. Teeters reported a general fund cash balance of $8,822,414 for March 2026, down from $10,107,295 in March 2025; expenses of $2,740,609, down from $2,929,610 last year; and revenues of $2,299,437, up from $2,134,257 a year ago.

“Our expenses and revenue are running almost identical to what they were last year,” Teeters said. “Our balances are going down because we’re waiting on our real estate tax settlement money.”

• The board approved the purchase of one 78-passenger school bus from Complete Bus for $140,965. The bids and advertisement were received through Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council. 

Davis said this purchase will “likely replace a bus that was in an accident” this winter.
    
• The board approved Aiden Riley Flannery as an early graduate. In their next motion, the entire list of 2026 graduates was also approved, including early graduates.

• The board approved leaves of absence for teachers Mandi Jones (effective Feb. 5, for three to five months), Amanda Miller (April 20-23 and intermittent after that), Ben Miller (April 20-23 and intermittent after that) and Randy Phipps (Feb. 24-May 30); paraprofessionals Betty McCoy (intermittent for next 12 months) and Mary Sonner (April 13-Oct. 13); and bus driver Jason Young (April 13-May 1).

• The board accepted the following donations: Allyce Horne, Horne Law Office ($100) and Merchants National Bank ($1,000) toward high school prom; Batter Up Bakery (cupcakes valued at $100), Buckeye Dentistry (crazy socks for DD awareness valued at $50), the Ivory Grande (gift bags of various small prizes valued at $125), Jones Rabbitry (gift bags of various small prizes valued at $70), MS Vinyl LLC (sashes for players and fans valued at $50) and Tara Pendell (student prizes for school spirit valued at $100), all for the Wildcats game; and The Dairy Barn (two gift card donations valued at $30) for the high school. 

• The board approved an out-of-state field trip for the high school football team to Montrose, Mich. for July 26-29.

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