Hillsboro school board meets with state Teen Ambassador; OKs policy changes

Members of the Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education heard updates on student accomplishments and approved multiple policy revisions during their monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The meeting was held a day later than their normally scheduled date due to a scheduling conflict. 

At the start of the meeting, board members met with Hillsboro High School student Aidan Campbell, who discussed his new role as a member of the Ohio Attorney General’s Teen Ambassador Board.

According to the Ohio AG’s office, “During their one-year term, the students gain firsthand knowledge of Ohio’s legal and governmental operations through discussions with state officials, interactive learning sessions and other activities. Board members also provide input to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on issues affecting teens and work together to offer solutions to challenges facing Ohio communities.”

Campbell is the only Highland County representative on this year’s school board and is among 248 high school juniors and seniors representing 45 Ohio counties, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

For another update on student activities, superintendent Tim Davis said that the previously announced HHS Career Connections YouTube channel has posted several new videos since their last update in August.

The page features HHS seniors Riley Gallimore and Josie Rhoades as hosts, as they interview local business representatives around the Hillsboro area to help spread awareness about various career opportunities for HHS students.

Davis said that in addition to the first two videos, at ERA Donald Fender Classic Realty and at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Gallimore and Rhoades have published videos at Seal-Tite and Peoples Bank. Upcoming videos include already completed interviews at Hobart and NCB, with interviews also scheduled at Absolute Extermination, Channel 2-Dayton Daily News, City of Hillsboro, Crossroads Park, Edward Jones, First State Bank and Impact Fitness.

All HHS Career Connections videos are available to the public and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@HHSCareerConnections.

In other news, Davis said that the district ended the first nine-week grading period with a professional development day Oct. 16.

“We had a presentation from the Ohio School Safety Center, which was very informative, as well as professional development on math and reading curriculum,” Davis’ report said.

Upcoming events include postseason games for fall sports; no school Oct. 30; parent-teacher conferences Nov. 5; and the HHS fall play, “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Nov. 6-8, according to Davis.

Student representative Madison Karnes also recapped several recent events, including the homecoming game and crowning of the 2026 court Oct. 16, followed by the dance Oct. 17. 

For the Hillsboro Great Oaks FFA Chapter, activities included Ag Day with elementary student Oct. 9; attending the Highland County Chamber of Commerce’s STEEL Conference Oct. 14 (which was also attended by Campbell and senior class officers, according to Karnes); and holding Greenhand Night to induct new members Oct. 15. 

Upcoming events as of Tuesday’s meeting were the FFA Chapter attending National Convention, which took place Oct. 21-23, and HHS students hosting “Read with a Buddy” with elementary students Oct. 28. 

In other discussion:

• The board approved the financial reports as presented. Board treasurer Ben Teeters reported a general fund cash balance of $12,285,465.52 for September, up from $8,953,045.19 last year, and expenses of $2,779,205.12.

• The board approved the following policy changes:
— Revised: 0145 Filling A Board Vacancy, 0146 Resignation or Removal, 1231 Outside Activities of Staff (Administration), 1613 Student Supervision and Welfare (Administration), 2265 Protection of Individual Beliefs, 2431 Interscholastic Athletics, 3213 Student Supervision and Welfare (Certified Staff), 3231 Outside Activities of Staff (Certified Staff), 4213 Student Supervision and Welfare (Classified Staff), 4231 Outside Activities of Staff (Classified Staff), 5111.01 Homeless Students, 5330 Use of Medications, 5463 Credits from State-Chartered and Non-Chartered Public Schools, 6423 Use of Credit Cards, 7450 Property Inventory, 8120 Volunteers, 8310 Public Records, 8330 Student Record, 8470 Sex Offenders, 8531 Free and Reduced Meals and 9700 Relations with Special Interest Groups.
— New: 2431.07 Extracurricular Participation (SAM), 5224 Youth Membership Organization Access, 6100 Proper Use of Public Funds, 7540.10 Recording and AI Processing of Communications on School Property.
— Rescinded: 2461 Recording of District Meetings.

• The board approved the following individuals for the contracts and positions indicated:
—Volunteers: Delilah Contreras, Heather Price and Sara Wilkin (HES); McKenna Hatfield (HES/HMS); Jordan Hunter, Melanie Short and Barbara Simbro (all); and Conner Johnston (MS wrestling coach).
—Supplementals: Chad Vaughn (elementary wrestling coordinator) and Dustin Willey (elementary basketball coordinator).
—Sub classified: Jamie Butler (cook) and Sherri Holland (aide/cook/secretary).
—Sub certified: Corey Allen, Robert Curtis (retroactive to Oct. 8), Mason Noland, Duncan Pickering-Polstra, Taylor Reed (retro Oct. 5) and Gabrielle Swafford.
—Mentors: Tara Garman (retro Sept. 16) and Lucia Tomko (retro (Sept. 15).

• The board accepted the resignations of counselor Kim Beam (effective Oct. 13); sub certified Cole Pharo (Oct. 2); and sub certified Alexandria Pontius (Sept. 23).

• The board approved a resolution to adopt the Special Education Model Policies and Procedures ("Model Policies") that were released by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce ("DEW") in December 2024 and directs all staff in the District to use and comply with the Model Policies. The Board further authorizes the Superintendent to notify the DEW of the Board's adoption of the Model Policies through the DEW's Monitoring System by uploading a copy of this Board resolution on or before March 30, 2025 and by Nov. 30 for each subsequent school year. 

• The board approved a $630.97 transfer from 401-7200-910-9726 to 401-5100-000-9727 as carried over from the prior fiscal year for the non-public school.

• The board approved leaves of absence for teachers Courtney Daniels (effective Oct. 16-Nov. 15) and Michael Domitor (Jan. 4-June 4, 2027); custodian Edith Lyons (Sept. 16-Nov. 30); and paraprofessional Ellen Patton (Nov. 15-Jan. 13).

• The board accepted the following donations: Alley 21, $600 toward Hillsboro High School student council; Amvets Post 61, new coats for the elementary school coat drive valued at $1,000; an anonymous donation of Halloween costumes for the elementary school valued at $100; an anonymous donation of art supplies for the elementary school valued at $10; an anonymous donation of school supplies for the elementary school valued at $200; and Hillsboro High School PTO, $300 toward homecoming dance refreshments.