Board Meeting Recap for May 2025
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, May 21, 2025 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
The Board of Education approved the Anderson and Turpin High Schools candidates for graduation for the Class of 2025. There are 553 total graduates this year and each school is holding its commencement ceremony at Northern Kentucky University’s Truist Arena on Saturday, May 24. Forest Hills School District extends congratulations and warm wishes to all students in the Class of 2025!
The Board also recognized and congratulated two Nagel Middle School students whose science fair project qualified for the State Science Day, making them the first Nagel students to ever achieve that honor. Fritz Nixa and Jacob Puckett presented a brief overview of their project “Water Testing of the Creek In My Backyard, Is It Safe?”
The Forest Hills Foundation for Education thanked the community for its support at the recent FH5K. The event was held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 and included 2,321 race participants, including 486 staff participants, as well as 63 after-party booths from school and community organizations. The total amount raised through the FH5K was more than $163,000 for initiatives supporting students and staff in FHSD. The Foundation also encouraged families of students who are entering their senior year to consider signing up for the College Essay Workshop being held on Friday, June 6 with sessions in both the morning and afternoon. You can learn more by visiting the Foundation’s website here.
Treasurer Contract Update
The Board of Education voted to approve a Resolution to Rescind the Board's Acceptance of the Treasurer's Resignation and the Acceptance of a Separation Agreement with the Treasurer: Approval of a Successor Employment Contract with the Treasurer with Vice President Strickler, Member Bell and Member Simmons in favor. Treasurer Alana Cropper’s new contract will be for a term of August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2028.
Superintendent Update
Superintendent Larry Hook took time to reflect on various highlights from this school year. He congratulated the Class of 2025, who are currently in the midst of end-of-the-year activities like graduation rehearsals, senior award ceremonies, elementary school visits and more. He also celebrated the recent Camp Kern trip for 5th grade students, ongoing staff retirement celebrations, end-of-year musical performances and more.
Mr. Hook also updated the Board on recent developments in the state biennial budget process. He explained that he has met recently with both the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Legislative Committee and individually with State Senator Louis Blessing, both in an effort to advocate on behalf of Forest Hills School District in the budget process.
As an update to a discussion that began at the April Board of Education Meeting, the superintendent provided additional information regarding student enrollment figures, changing aspects of the student population and associated needs, and ongoing efforts to respond to those changes in a fiscally responsible way. Specifically, he discussed a reduction in the number of general education teachers in response to changing enrollment and more efficient operations that has helped offset the impact of a growing need for special education services.
Additionally, Superintendent Hook provided a brief sneak peek of results to the district’s Family Engagement Survey. Nearly 500 individuals submitted survey responses, with 93.5% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that “I am generally happy with the educational experience my child has received at Forest Hills.” More details about the survey will be shared publicly at an upcoming Board of Education meeting.
Treasurer Update: Five-Year Forecast
Treasurer Alana Cropper provided an update to the Five-Year Forecast Financial Report, something she does each May. This updated forecast takes into account new information and data that has become available since the report was last published in November.
To learn more about the Five-Year Forecast, please visit the district’s dedicated webpage here. You can also click the following links to watch the presentation and see the related documents:
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
- 10.1 Human Resources Report
- The report covers 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
- 11.1 Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Educational Equipment (MVCA)
- This resolution approves the transfer of education equipment to Miami Valley Christian Academy. FHSD serves as the pass-through agency for these funds from the state of Ohio. You can view the resolution here.
- 11.2 Resolution to Award Contract (Turpin Chiller)
- This resolution approves the contract agreement with the lowest responsible bidder, Design Build Inc., to replace a chiller at Turpin High School at a cost of $335,500. You can view the resolution here.
- 11.3 Resolution to Award Contract (Nagel Boiler)
- This resolution approves the awarding of a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, The Geller Company, to replace a boiler at Nagel Middle School at a cost of $239,500. You can view the resolution here.
Teaching and Learning
- 12.1 Hamilton County Educational Service Center Service Agreement 2025-2026
- This item approves the annual service contract with the HCESC for special instructional services to be performed during the 2025-2026 school year at a cost of $1,912,998.90. You can view the contract here.
- 12.2 School Fees for 2025-2026 School Year
- This item approves the fee schedule for Preschool through 12th Grade for the 2025-2026 school year. You can view the fee schedules here.
- 12.3 Overnight Field Trip
- This item approves an overnight field trip request, which you can view here.
- 12.4 Necco Service Agreement 2025-2026
- This item approves the district’s service agreement with Necco to provide mental health services to youth and families in the six elementary schools while working with agencies and the school district. This agreement includes zero cost to the school district for the services. You can view the service agreement here.
Technology
- 13.1 Kindergarten Chromebook Purchase
- This item approves the purchase of Chromebooks to be used in kindergarten classrooms at a cost of $142,870.20. You can view the purchase quote here.
Treasurer Update
- 14.1 Resolution Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission of Hamilton County and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying them to the County Auditor
- This item adopts the Resolution Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission of Hamilton County and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying them to the County Auditor as presented.
- You can view the resolution here.
- 14.2 Five-Year Financial Forecast/Assumptions (FY25-FY29)
- This item approves the Five-Year Financial Forecast as presented by Treasurer Alana Cropper. You can find more information about the report earlier in this article.
- You can read the Five-Year Forecast Financial Report here and find the presentation slides here.
- 14.3 Treasurer's Report
- Treasurer Alana Cropper’s April 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 and Amendments
- Certification of Funds
- You can find the April Cash Position Report here.
- Treasurer Alana Cropper’s April report provided information on the following items:
Committee Reports
Board Members provided updates on the committee meeting listed below.
- Human Resources Committee
- Committee Chairperson Wendy Strickler provided an update on the committee meeting held on March 6, 2025 which discussed topics such as substitute employee strategies, academic achievement data, enrollment data and hiring plans for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Teaching and Learning Committee
- Committee Member Wendy Strickler provided an update on the committee meeting held on March 10, 2025 which covered topics such as special education services and efforts to respond to changing needs, behavioral and emotional challenges for students, workforce development strategies and the upcoming transition to School Links for career assessments and related programs at the secondary level.
Board Discussion
The Board celebrated and congratulated the Class of 2025 on their accomplishments and recognized the various end-of-year festivities across all schools that provide lasting memories for students and staff. They also thanked the Forest Hills Foundation for Education on a successful 2025 FH5K that helped raise significant funds to support students across the school district.
Board members discussed ongoing efforts with Anderson Township and Anderson Park District officials to collaborate on a community survey and study regarding plans for the Beech Acres property. A steering committee with representatives from all three organizations has been formed and is in the early stages of developing a formal survey and coordinating feedback sessions, focus groups and other methods to gather community input.
The Board also discussed books that have been the subject of concern for community members at recent meetings and the district’s process to respond to concerns, review books to be included in the school libraries and other related procedures. The district administration explained that current policies related to this topic have not been updated in several years and are currently being reviewed.
You can click the following link to view the full discussion period, which begins at 3:20:50 during the meeting livestream.
Additional Board Action
The Board of Education also took action on a Resolution to Join Vouchers Hurt Ohio for 2025-2026. All members discussed different considerations and perspectives related to the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit and the topic of the EdChoice Expansion program more generally. The Board voted 4-1 to approve the resolution to join the lawsuit, with President Bibb, Vice President Strickler, Member Bell and Member Simmons in favor. Board Member Jonas voted against the resolution.
You can click the following link to view the full discussion and vote, which begins at 3:51:34 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.”
- Special Meeting - April 4, 2025
- Special Meeting - April 9, 2025
- Regular Meeting - April 16, 2025
