Board Meeting Recap for September 2026
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, September 16, 2026 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 the district’s YouTube page here.
Special Recognitions
Forest Hills School District recognized several students who participated in the back-to-school staff convocation in August. This event was hosted by two high school students and featured stories, music and videos from students across all schools and grade levels! You can watch a full recording of the event on the district’s YouTube page here.
The Forest Hills Teachers Association celebrated the hard work of staff across the school district to get the school year off to a great start. As a way to show appreciation, the organization’s “Treat Trolley” is back in action and delivering much appreciated snacks and drinks to staff all over Forest Hills.
The Forest Hills Foundation for Education celebrated more than $640,000 raised in the previous school year and acknowledged how community support helps FHFE fulfill its mission to cultivate resources and create opportunities to prepare all Forest Hills School District students to be successful. Students play an important role in the work of the foundation, with student-led grants offering an avenue for creative ideas to come directly from children and student seats on the grant selection committee providing student voice and leadership in the decision-making process.
FHFE also announced its 2026 Distinguished Alumni and Staff Honorees. The following alumni and staff will be recognized at a dinner celebration on October 1 and will receive special recognition during the Anderson vs. Turpin football game on October 2.
- Anderson High School
- Alan Dietrich '80
- Meggan Thompson '04
- Dr. Anne Flower ‘08
- Service Award: Stacey Bailey '92
- Turpin High School
- Dave Sims '80
- Doug Boyd '88
- Stephanie Bruner Smith ‘90
- Service Award: Debbie Brandenburg Gallagher '79
- Distinguished Staff
- Jodie McKinley, FHSD Staff
You can learn more about the honorees and find a link to purchase tickets to the recognition event on FHFE’s website here.
Board Shout Outs
Board members shared a number of positive highlights from across Forest Hills School District, recognizing students and staff for their accomplishments and contributions to their schools. You can click the following link to view the full shout out section, which begins at 16:14 during the meeting livestream.
Staff were celebrated for the many ways they support students each day, including Ayer paraprofessionals who play an essential role in creating positive educational experiences for students with special needs and Wilson counselors and psychologists who are building relationships with students and collaborating with teachers to support academic growth. The dedication of administrators who regularly attend extracurricular and after-school events was also recognized as an important way to stay connected to students, staff and families.
The Board also celebrated the many ways our schools are building community and creating opportunities for students to get involved. Highlights included upcoming school and PTO events, the Summit Strong community celebration, the 50th anniversary of Turpin High School, Maddux's 60th anniversary, Sherwood's Arrows of Kindness family event and community fundraiser, and Anderson's Homecoming activities and student service. Student accomplishments were also celebrated, including the Forest Hills Marching Band's outstanding performance at a recent competition and the continued success of JROTC students at Great Oaks Career Campuses. At Nagel, the Board highlighted the progress of the athletic field renovations, a successful transition to seventh grade and the many opportunities for students to explore clubs and activities through NEXT, supported by FHFE-funded late transportation.
Across the shoutouts, a common theme emerged: the strength of Forest Hills comes from the people who show up, support one another and create meaningful experiences for students. From preschoolers developing new skills to staff finding creative ways to celebrate one another, these moments reflect the energy, connection and pride that make each of our schools unique.
Superintendent Update
Superintendent Suzanna Davis and Treasurer Alana Cropper celebrated two critical Central Office staff members who will be retiring from their positions this fall. Jodie McKinley, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, and Jeanne Ralston, Administrative Assistant to the Treasurer, have a combined 55 years of service in Forest Hills School District.
Jodie has impacted many areas of the school district, originally being hired as a media secretary at Nagel Middle School and later supporting all schools and departments in multiple roles at Central Office. She was celebrated for always going above and beyond in her professionalism and willingness to help others.
Jeanne also served across multiple departments, originally starting in the Transportation Department and concluding her career in the Treasurer’s Department. Jeanne was thanked for her conscientiousness and her willingness to step forward to manage projects and ensure the work was completed to a high degree of excellence.
You can click the following link to watch the full remarks, which begin at 47:12 during the meeting livestream.
State of Forest Hills Presentation
Superintendent Davis also provided a detailed presentation about the current state of Forest Hills School District, offering a clear view of today and a shared focus on what comes next. The presentation touched on a variety of aspects that impact students’ educational experience and academic outcomes by considering what is true today, how we can understand current successes and challenges, and what information can be monitored to reveal emerging needs.
The school district has already established a strong foundation for learning. The newly released Ohio School Report Cards recognized FHSD with the highest possible rating of five stars, and the district was also rated five stars in academic achievement, early literacy, gap closing and graduation. Other strengths include an experienced, dedicated staff and strong community interest and support in the school district.
Strong community interest and support and an experienced, dedicated staff, FHSD, in addition to the district’s long-history of academic excellence, offer a strong foundation for FHSD in a changing landscape. With gradually declining enrollment, varied student needs and growing pressures related to operations and workforce, FHSD will lean on this foundation to continue to find ways to deliver for students in a financially responsible way. Superintendent Davis emphasized the importance to recognize that each decision the district makes affects students, people, facilities and FHSD’s long-range sustainability.
You can click the following link to watch the full presentation, which begins at 58:36 during the meeting livestream.
Board Action
The Board of Education often reviews and votes on a variety of actions that impact different departments throughout the school district. 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.
Superintendent Action Items
- 9.1 Human Resources Report
- Superintendent Davis and Treasurer Cropper recognized Jacie Simon as the district’s new assistant treasurer. Ms. Simon has several years of experience as an accounting specialist with FHSD, including oversight and involvement in federal grants and support for the business operations department. The district extends a warm welcome to Ms. Simon as she steps into her new role with FHSD.
- The report covers a variety of topics including retirements, resignations and appointments of different staff members. You can view the report and find related attachments here.
- Item 9.1 was approved outside of the consent agenda.
- 9.2 Resolution Declaring Impractical Transportation (Revised)
- This resolution lists certain non-public schools where transportation has been declared impractical. Families of students attending those schools will be offered payment in lieu of transportation, pursuant to state law. You can read the resolution here.
- 9.3 Transportation / Bus Stops 2026-2027 School Year
- This item approves the school bus stops for the 2026-2027 school year, which can be viewed here.
- 9.4 Resolution Authorizing Southwestern Ohio EPC to Receive Bids (School Bus Purchase)
- This resolution approves the district’s participation in the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council to advertise and receive bids for school bus purchases as shown in this attachment.
- 9.5 Necco Service Agreement 2026-2027
- This item approves a service agreement with Necco, LLC. to provide mental health services to youth and families while working with agencies and schools. Necco works with all six elementary schools at no cost to the school district. You can view the related documents here.
Treasurer Update and Action Items
- 10.1 Treasurer’s Update
- Informational graphic created by OASBO to describe the school funding environment that impacts all public school districts in Ohio. You can view the graphic and listen to the related discussion during the meeting, beginning at 1:24:45 in the meeting livestream.
- 11.1 Treasurer's Report
- Treasurer Alana Cropper presented the August report which provided information on various items including:
- Donations
- General Fund Summary (Revenue and Expenditures)
- Permanent Improvement Fund
- Investment Income Snapshot
- Past Month Reconciliation
- Certification of Funds
- Permanent Appropriations
- You can read the August Cash Position Report here.
- Treasurer Alana Cropper presented the August report which provided information on various items including:
This completes the meeting’s consent agenda.
Board Discussion
The Board of Education discussed a number of different topics during this portion of the September 16, 2026 meeting. You can click the following link to view the full discussion period, which begins at 1:38:42 during the meeting livestream.
The Board discussed several opportunities for continued collaboration with community partners. Work on a joint charter with the township and parks remains underway, with another joint meeting planned to continue discussion and develop next steps. Board members also discussed participation in upcoming Chamber of Commerce meetings and reflected on recent opportunities to connect with the broader community. The positive impact of student transition programs was also highlighted, including the successful introduction of seventh graders to Nagel Middle School through the WEB program.
The Board also recognized the contributions of retiring staff members Jodie McKinley and Jeanne Ralston, noting their extensive institutional knowledge and the many important contributions they have made behind the scenes throughout their careers. Additional discussion focused on opportunities to strengthen communication and transparency around several district initiatives, including the superintendent and treasurer evaluation processes, the Turpin pool situation, and sharing resources related to IDEA funding. Board members also expressed interest in providing future updates on digital safety and security, the district's AI working group, how students and staff are being prepared to navigate emerging technology, and the types of data the district currently collects to inform decision-making.
Reflecting on the State of Forest Hills presentation, the Board discussed enrollment trends, financial pressures and the importance of using data to understand the challenges facing the district. There was an emphasis on approaching these challenges as a community and working together to identify constructive solutions. Board members also discussed sharing portions of the State of Forest Hills presentation through district communication channels to help provide the community with additional context about the opportunities and challenges ahead.
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.”
- Regular Meeting - September 1, 2026
