Board of Education Meeting RECAP

The Board conducted its annual organizational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Bledsoe was elected President, and Mrs. Cassidy was elected Vice President for 2025. Both were sworn in by Mrs. Rucker. The Board approved many procedural items during the meeting, including the meeting dates for the year. Visit https://tinyurl.com/5n98w8p5 to view the scheduled meeting dates.

January is School Board Recognition Month. Mr. Enix acknowledged the efforts of Board members and reviewed key leadership initiatives the Board of Education had approved for the district during the previous year.

The DRAFT preschool calendar for 2025-2026 was presented for review. Highlights include a staggered start on August 20 and 21, and Family Engagement days on the K-12 calendar early release days. The calendar is anticipated to be on the Board agenda for approval in February.

The Board approved/granted diplomas for December graduates from WHS, offering congratulations for the accomplishments of those seniors. Commencement for the Class of 2025 is Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Wright State University Nutter Center.

Two policies, BDC and EBCE-R, were approved, bringing current OSBA revised policy recommendations to completion.

The Board approved the annual notice of the Title I Parent Involvement Plan, which is a federal requirement for receiving these funds. Visit https://tinyurl.com/bdfjxrnf to view the approved plan.

The HHCS Redistricting Project officially concluded with the approval of Option C. This year-long project, facilitated by CropperGIS, included regular input from the Public Advisory Committee, the Internal Planning Team, Public Information Sessions, and feedback collected through two survey/feedback forms. Visit https://tinyurl.com/zdujp7nd to view the December 12 Cropper GIS recommendation presentation.

The Board approved the Resolution to Proceed for a 6.9-mill continuing operating levy for May 6, 2025. This levy would generate approximately $7.8 million annually. Mr. Enix reviewed the timeline of events, dating back to August’s Board Work Session, where financial planning was initiated, leading up to the most recent Five-Year Forecast. The forecast, approved in November, shows deficit spending beginning this year and increasing to approximately $6.7 million during the 2025-2026 school year. Deficit spending means the district is spending more than the revenue received. Further district financial planning discussions will take place at the Board Work Session on January 23.

Mrs. Rucker, who has served as Treasurer for HHCS since August 2022, will be retiring effective July 31, 2025. The Board approved her resignation and expressed their appreciation for her work, along with congratulations on her upcoming retirement.

Mr. Enix acknowledged the return to school for 2025 did not happen as planned due to the significant snowstorm that impacted the region. He, along with Mr. Doll, acknowledged and thanked our outstanding maintenance and custodial staff for their efforts in clearing and preparing our parking lots and walkways for our return to school. We are also grateful for our partnership with the city, highlighting the collaborative efforts in purchasing and accessing salt for district use.

It is important to understand that every storm is different and creates unique challenges and circumstances for operating the district. Our focus is always on the safety of students, staff, and families while on-site, as well as the road conditions and accessibility for buses and cars coming to our buildings. Unfortunately, snow-covered walkways or bus stop clearances are not a prioritized factor in decision-making, as these are not directly under the district’s control.