RCS District Digest

In August, we introduced the RCS Stellar Staff Recognition Program to celebrate the extraordinary individuals across Reynoldsburg City Schools who go above and beyond to empower minds and inspire success.

Each month, students, staff, families and community members can nominate employees who shine brightly in their role and make a meaningful impact on our schools.

Selected honorees are surprised at their workplace and recognized across District communication channels, highlighting the incredible people who make Reynoldsburg shine.

Check out our website as we update our Stellar Staff each month! Do you know someone who is stellar? Tell us by nominating them here!

The State Board of Education of Ohio is proud to announce that Taya Kidd, a second-grade teacher at French Run Elementary School in the Reynoldsburg City School District, has been named the 2027 Ohio Teacher of the Year. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Philip H. Wagner made the surprise public announcement today during a schoolwide assembly at French Run Elementary School.

“Ohio’s students interact every day with amazing teachers, so the challenge of selecting just one educator to represent tens of thousands of wonderful educators around our state is daunting,” said Superintendent Wagner. “Each year the selection committees at the regional and state levels do an amazing job of finding a candidate who reflects the excellence of the profession and their colleagues, and this year is no exception.”

Kidd currently teaches second grade, serves on the building leadership team, is part of the professional development committee, and also coaches basketball for the Pickerington North High School women's freshman team.

“Taya Kidd represents the best of what every educator should aspire to be; dedicated and passionate with a great balance of high expectations for all students coupled with the will to provide whatever support students need to be successful,” Dr. Wagner said. “I couldn’t be more excited, on behalf of the State Board of Education, to congratulate her on this incredible achievement.”

With 18 years of early childhood and elementary education experience, Kidd has a passion for making every child feel valued and capable, and she has built a reputation as an innovative and impactful educator in her building. In Kidd’s classroom, you might find students learning upside down, glowing in the dark, dancing, or watching their teacher walk across a table. All in the name of deep, joyful learning, Kidd believes students learn best when they are having fun, and she has mastered the art of what she calls "controlled chaos".

“I am incredibly proud of Taya Kidd for being named Ohio Teacher of the Year. This is an extraordinary accomplishment and a tremendous honor that reflects her unwavering dedication to her students, her commitment to excellence in education, and the positive difference she makes every day,” said Dr. Tracy Reed, Reynoldsburg City School District Superintendent. “Having an Ohio Teacher of the Year representing our district is a tremendous source of pride. Taya’s achievement celebrates not only her individual excellence, but also the incredible educators and staff who make a difference in the lives of our students every day.”

Kidd has an extraordinary gift to reach every student, especially those who struggle to connect with others. She meets each child where they are and refuses to leave them there. She holds her students to high expectations and believes that every child can achieve success. As the ambassador for teaching and public education, she hopes to reframe perceptions about the teaching profession and “zoom in” to share the good things happening in Ohio’s classrooms. Kidd’s principal, Mr. Rodney Fetty, shared that, “Taya Kidd is the kind of educator who reminds us what great teaching is really about. She begins by building genuine relationships with her students. She believes in what each student can accomplish and creates a classroom where every child feels valued, supported, and challenged to grow. She doesn’t simply teach lessons. She creates classroom experiences that help students discover what they are capable of and makes a lasting difference in the lives of the children she serves.”

“I feel honored to have been able to see Taya show her passion for her students and teaching through the Ohio Teacher of the Year process. It is a reminder of how lucky Ohio is to have talented teachers like Taya,” State Board of Education President Paul LaRue said.

About Taya Kidd

Taya Kidd started her teaching career as a substitute teacher after graduating from Central State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She then taught preschool at Brightside Academy for a year before joining the teaching staff at South Scioto Performance Academy for 9 years. She has been at French Run Elementary School since 2019, teaching second grade and serving on the Building Leadership Team and Professional Development Committee. Outside of school, she is a coach for the Pickerington North High School Freshman women’s basketball team, is a DJ as “Ms. Cool Kidd” for school and community events, a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and is pursuing a graduate degree in multicultural education at The Ohio State University.

As we reflect on a busy and exciting summer as well as the start of a new school year, the Board of Education is proud of the progress happening across Reynoldsburg City Schools!

Congratulations to our students and staff on achieving a 3.5-star rating on the Ohio State Report Card! This accomplishment reflects the hard work and dedication of our school community. Please take a look at our October Regular Board meeting (found on the district website) for more detail on our scores. We look forward to building upon this year's success.

In August, we approved a two-year bargaining agreement with the Reynoldsburg Education Association (REA), including a 2.5% raise each year, reaffirming our commitment to supporting the educators who make a difference in our students’ lives. And to further support education across the state, we approved rejoining the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit to advocate for fair funding for public schools.

Looking ahead, we continue working with Triad Architects to develop our district’s Master Facilities Plan, which is expected to be completed this winter. This is a key component in beginning levy and bond discussions, which are anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Please be on the lookout for future communications regarding this important topic, as community participation and input will be crucial in shaping the future of our district’s finances and facilities.

We are also proud to welcome Irene Zengo as our new student board representative! Student voice is an important part of building strong schools, and Irene will bring a valuable perspective to our Board by sharing students’ experiences, ideas, and priorities. We look forward to working with her this year and are excited to see the insight, energy, and fresh perspective she will bring to our conversations and decisions.

As we move through the school year, we look forward to celebrating even more achievements from our students and staff. Thank you to our families, educators, staff, and community members for your continued support of Reynoldsburg City Schools. Together, we will empower minds through critical thinking and inspire success through academic achievement!

This first quarter has been a great and exciting one!

Our high school held its first pep rally, bringing lots of school spirit and excitement to campus. We also had our Homecoming, which gave students a chance to dress up, have fun, and make memories with their friends.

I’ve noticed many students challenging themselves, stepping out of their comfort zones, and getting more involved in school activities. It has also been great seeing our athletes finish their fall sports seasons strong and receiving so much support from our community.

Looking ahead, we there are many events happening in the District, which are great opportunities for students and families to come together and enjoy the season. I’m excited to see what the rest of the school year brings! As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, or suggestions. You can reach me at irene.zengo@reyn.org.

Debby Canter, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Angela Abram, Reynoldsburg City Councilmember

French Run Elementary

Douglas Bickert, R2D2 Guy

DeVier Posey, Team Tressel Fitness Challenge

Nicole Saunders, YMCA

Joe Lombardi, Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio

Amy Palermo, WOSU

Nia Dewberry, Columbus Symphony

Kennedy Stallings, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Erin Shannon, White Castle

Ellie Hite, AngelWorks

Neethi Johnson, JP Morgan Chase

Ben Fox & Jacob Snyder, The Ohio State University Marching Band

Leah Broesque-Lareau, Lexia

Kristina Grogan, American Red Cross

State Rep. Meredith Lawson Rowe - District 5

Eric Veigel, Central Ohio Technical College

Deane Washington, Starstrukt Apparel

Sarah James, Dynalab

Andrew Chismar, 7 Mindsets

Rosie Nix, Alumni and former fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Luconda & Joanne Dager, Velvet Ice Cream

Chris Kitchen, DSW/Designer Brands

Mike Wettrich, Education First Credit Union

Mindy McGinnis, Award-winning novelist and YA Author

We want to thank everyone who attended and we are already looking forward to next year!

We are proud to announce that Reynoldsburg City Schools earned a 3.5-star overall rating on the Ohio School Report Card. This is an increase from last year and reflects the progress our students and staff are making. In particular, our continued focus on math, reading, and career and workforce readiness is working. We know there is always more to do, but this progress is worth celebrating. To do a deeper dive, view the presentation our Director of Curriculum, Dr. Jill Dorman, presented to the Board of Education.

The District faces the challenge of flat funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for two reasons:

1. Inadequate State funding of public education
2. Over reliance on property taxes for local support

Outside Resources Provide Statistics of Inadequate State Funding:

• Since 2011, state K-12 funding has grown 23%. But school costs, driven by inflation, compensation, and benefits, have grown 44% on average. When funding falls behind costs at this pace, local property taxes are often a district’s only option to fill the gap. Source: Ohio LSC data via Signal Cleveland, 2025.
• In 1975, Ohio homeowners covered 46% of school property taxes, and businesses covered the rest. Today, homeowners carry 67.5%, while the business share has been cut by more than a third. That shift happened at the state level, not in Reynoldsburg City Schools. Source: Fleeter & Browning, Ohio Education Policy Institute, Sept. 2025.
• Ohio used to cover 46% of the cost of running schools. Today, the state covers just 32%, leaving local taxpayers to make up more of the difference every year. Source: Fleeter & Browning, Ohio Education Policy Institute, Sept. 2025.

Can you highlight any buildings that have seen growth or improvement in attendance this quarter?

Our schools are making great strides in attendance!

Waggoner Road Junior High School had 252 students with perfect attendance in the first quarter. You can see the perfect attendance numbers by school below. Herbert Mills STEAM Elementary School is showing a 5% improvement in Q1 and Summit Road STEM Elementary, Taylor Road Elementary, and Waggoner Road Junior Road show 3-4% improvement between demographic groups.

Waggoner Road Junior High is by far our most involved SITG champion and is well deserving of recognition for Assistant Principal April Oates' dedication to improving attendance in their building. They are seeing wonderful results. She has been heavily involved in improving attendance in the building and they have been engaged in preventative practices year to year. The same is true for Summit Road STEM Elementary School; Principal Matt Jacobs and School Counselor Sam Sargent have been very involved in improving attendance and their data shows promise in this."

By the Numbers — Q1 Perfect Attendance by Building:

RHS SC: 161 students (includes EFCTC and CCP students)
RHS LC: 194 students (includes EFCTC and CCP students)

SMBR: 259 students

WRJH: 253 students

FRES: 78 students

HMES: 64 students

RHES: 132 students

SRES: 145 students
SUES: 112 students

TRES: 98 students
WRES: 60 students (352 with 95% attendance or better)

Slate Ridge Elementary School is home to roughly 500 students in grades K through 5. When you walk through the front doors, you see a bright mural of toucans with a big message. It says, “...Be the kid who is generous. Be the kid who can get along. Be the kid who does the right thing. BE THE NICE KID.”

At Slate Ridge, learning and building character go hand in hand. They follow the RISE framework, which stands for Respect, Integrity, Self-control and Engagement. Students are celebrated for their success through positive referrals and prizes from the Toucan Store. They also have regular RISE assemblies to learn and celebrate together.

Staff are not the only ones supporting this framework. The PBIS Jr. Ambassadors are a group of students who help run the monthly awards and Toucan Store. There is also a separate group of students called the Safety Patrol Ambassadors. These students lead by example by helping classmates and delivering food boxes. They meet weekly for leadership training.

School spirit is huge at Slate Ridge. Kids love dressing up for Jersey Day to promote good attendance. Parents come in for Morning Treat with The Toucans as well. They get to have a treat with their students and meet with teachers and staff.

Slate Ridge has many special events. In late October, they have their annual Multicultural Fall Festival. It's an incredible celebration with cultural outfits, displays, food, music and more! Regular family nights are informal events that center around hanging out and building community. The school hosts these regularly. Then, they host a Family Literacy Festival in the new year. It is a night full of games and activities to help students build strong reading skills.

Through weekly newsletters, updates and direct parent contact, Slate Ridge makes sure everyone stays in the loop. By working together, the Toucan community creates a safe, supportive place where everyone can succeed!

An incredible 23 students recently received perfect scores on their Ohio State's Tests! Below is a breakdown by school.

Rose Hill Elementary: One student in English Language Arts

Slate Ridge Elementary: Three students in Mathematics

Summit Road STEM Elementary: Six students in Mathematics

Taylor Road Elementary: Four students in Mathematics and one student in both Mathematics and English Language Arts

Waggoner Road Elementary: Two students in English Language Arts

Waggoner Road Junior High: Five students in Mathematics

Please help us in celebrating these students on their huge accomplishment! #REYNProud

We’ve all been there. Plans change, problems arise and new opportunities present themselves. By centering adaptability in our values, our District is preparing for the unforeseen. 💪

We embrace a growth mindset that allows for continuous improvement. This mindset empowers us all to develop the skills needed to respond to challenges, adapt and succeed in diverse environments. 🌱

What outcome do we expect to see from adaptability? Measurable Growth. 📈

Whether it be testing scores, event surveys or any other metric, adaptability allows us to make real change possible.

October is Principal Appreciation Month, and we want to recognize and thank our incredible principals for the leadership, dedication and care they bring to our schools each day. From supporting staff and partnering with families to creating welcoming environments where students can learn and grow, our principals make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and the success of our District.

Thank you for all you do to make Reynoldsburg City Schools a special place to learn and work!

Learn about our Principals and Assistant Principals on our website. #REYNProud

In September and October, District Leadership, the RCS Board of Education and community members came together for two Town Halls to discuss Hannah Ashton Middle School. Led by Mr. Tim Wagner, RCS' Executive Director of Business & Operations, a panel reviewed a timeline of the building from when it opened in 1868, to how the building is used today.

The reason for these Town Halls is because during a recent inspection, the Fire Marshall found that HAMS does not have a fire suppression system. Without a fire suppression system, the building is out of code and cannot be used for any purpose. If we do not take action, the District could be fined daily until the building is brought up to code.

Mr. Wagner, Superintendent Dr. Tracy R. Reed, RCS Board of Education Member Neal Whitman and Emily Hatfield discussed two options, with input from the community and the Reynoldsburg-Truro Township Historical Society. The two options are: bring HAMS up to code, which is a temporary solution and a minimum of $4,375,000 just to avoid being fined, or to raze the building, which is a permanent solution and would cost approximately $1,025,000.

While neither of these options get HAMS back to a useable property for students and staff, preliminary data shows that a full renovation would exceed 2/3 the cost of a new building. This is past the typical threshold for replacement vs. renovation.

The Board of Education will continue to review the two options, and are working closely with Mr. Wagner, architects, the Historical Society and listening to feedback from our community. You can view Mr. Wagner's Power Point presentation here. If you have any questions, please email superintendent@reyn.org. We will keep the community informed as we continue reviewing our options.

Here’s how it works:

1. Stop by the center on RHS - Livingston Campus or call (614) 355-2590, option 3
2. Let them know you need a sports physical
3. They will help confirm consent and schedule your appointment
4. After your visit, they will provide you with the completed sports physical packet to share with your coach and caregiver

October:

• 31: Halloween

November:

• 1: Daylight Savings Day, Set clock back one hour
• 3: Teacher PD Day (No School) & Election Day
• 8: Diwali Begins
• 11: Veterans Day
• 25-27: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• 26: Thanksgiving Day
• 27: Native American Heritage Day

December:

• 4: Hanukkah Begins at Sunset
• 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
• 18: End of Grading Period / Teacher PD & Records Day (No School)
• 21: Winter Solstice
• 25: Christmas Day
• 26: Kwanzaa Begins
• 21-31: Winter Break (No School)

January:

• 1: New Year's Day (No School)

• Athletics
• Enrollment
• Free/Reduced Meals
• Phone Tree

Need to get in touch?
Email us any time at superintendent@reyn.org

Have photos to share? Email them to: socialmedia@reyn.org