Recap of the April 16, 2025 Forest Hills School District (FHSD) Board Meeting

The Forest Hills School District Board of Education held its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 16. The meeting opened with standard procedures, including the call to order, roll call confirming attendance, and the Pledge of Allegiance. This portion set the stage for the rest of the evening’s discussions.

New Vice President Elected

During the Nomination and Election of Vice President, both Sarah Jonas and Dr. Wendy Strickler-Biederman nominated themselves. After individual votes from each member, Wendy Strickler-Biederman was elected Vice President with support from Mark Bell and Bob Bibb.

Special Recognitions

• Graduate Honored: Anthony Thacker was officially approved to receive his high school diploma.
• State Champion Celebrated: Turpin swimmer Hayden Meyers was commended for winning a Division I state title in February. A certificate of recognition was approved and presented. Watch Hayden’s championship moment here »
• Arrows of Kindness: Students from Sherwood Elementary shared highlights from their year of service through their “Arrows of Kindness” campaign. Kudos to Corryn, Oliver, James, CiCi, Ava, and Blair!
• 2025 Volunteer of the Year Awards: Schools across the district recognized outstanding volunteers, with each principal presenting heartfelt tributes:
  • Anderson HS: Judy Pavlik
  • Turpin HS: Mana Hale
  • Nagel MS: Stefanie Brown
  • Ayer: MegAnn Wolff
  • Maddux: Kelly Werner
  • Mercer: Kelly Ruther
  • Sherwood: Kim Davies
  • Summit: Victoria Adamkosky
  • Wilson: Sarah McGough

Reports to the Board

• Forest Hills Teachers’ Association gave their report.
• Forest Hills Foundation for Education shared updates, including:
  • Hosting a college essay workshop led by parent Abigail Whited.
  • A fundraising goal of $150,000 to support teacher and student grants.
  • The Forest Hills 5K on May 10 — early sign-ups by April 25 receive a discount!

Superintendent’s Update

• Welcome Jessica Arnold: Introduced as the new administrator recommended to replace Mr. Mack (who is moving to Summit Elementary). Arnold previously served as Dean of Students at West Clermont.
• State Science Day Qualifiers:
  • Anderson HS:
    • Siya, Shiv, and Sur Patel – Optimizing Vertical Axis Wind Turbines for Urban Settings
    • Anna DiSylvestro and Maryaam Vashi – Load-Bearing Capacity of a Da Vinci Bridge
  • Turpin HS:
    • Madelyn Schrand and Kylie Howe – Clorox vs. Generic Cleaning Products

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⚠️ Funding Crisis: A Call to Action

Superintendent Larry Hook sounded the alarm over Ohio’s latest biennial budget proposal:

• Gov. DeWine’s initial budget would have cut $850K from FHSD over two years.
• The Ohio House’s revised version offers a small increase ($139K total) — far short of covering rising costs.
• A new 30% savings cap could penalize districts for saving responsibly, forcing refunds to taxpayers and limiting emergency reserves.
• Hook emphasized this disincentivizes financial stability, calling it “incredibly frustrating.”
  

Board Members Respond:

• Mark Bell warned this could mean yearly levies just to stay afloat.
• Wendy Strickler-Biederman explained the math:
  • The state funds $2,700 per student, while actual costs are closer to $13,000.
  • If we want better funding without higher local taxes, citizens must pressure state legislators to prioritize public education over pet projects — like stadium deals.
  • She called for urgent outreach to lawmakers like Bill Blessing, Rachel Baker, and Governor DeWine.

📣 Take Action — Learn more and send a message to your reps here: Forest Hills BOE Calls for Full Funding Plan

Public Commentary

• Ken Kuhn criticized teacher salary increases, urged an attrition plan, and opposed the levy. (Note: District already avoids unnecessary backfilling of positions. Our treasurer met with him during the levy campaign and explained this to him)
• Dan Salcido — Eastside Republican Ward Chair — accused the district of exposing students to “graphic materials” and claimed indoctrination was distracting from academics. (There is zero proof of this happening)
• Dr. Roy Hall opposed DEI initiatives, alleging students are afraid to share beliefs, and questioned academic rigor. He’s disappointed that kids he questions in the gym can’t say who Erwin “The Desert Fox” Rommel is. (Infamous Nazi war general).
• Kevin Misiak cited declining enrollment, rising costs, and criticized the levy and bond management (some legal misunderstandings noted). He says it is the the responsibility of the state to provide education for private and public school students. (False: Only PUBLIC education is required to be provided via the Ohio constitution)
• Jeff Nye clarified public school funding law for Kevin Misiak and urged a reconsideration of the treasurer’s contract non-renewal. He hopes that at the next meeting they’ll renew the contract through the next fiscal year is considered and that together they’ll institute fair goals and evaluations.
• Michael Connaughton alleged that certain classroom books violate Ohio obscenity laws and demanded penalties. (Book bans are returning to popularity among political agitators)
• Tensions flared among audience members at the end of commentary. Bob Bibb is screamed at to “protect kids,” another parent yells to the original speaker “you don’t have kids here”. Bibb suggests they quiet down then threatens by telling the next person to open their mouth can leave.

Observed: Most critics left before hearing the Treasurer’s financial report.

District Operations and Finances

• Financials: 72% of general fund spent, in line with expectations. Strong financial management noted despite limited reserves (FHSD holds <25%, making it 1 of only 84 districts in Ohio with such tight margins).
• Grants: Explained loss of several federal education grants (e.g., for literacy, special education, student health, and technology support) due to President Donald Trump’s policies. Resulting pressure on the general fund.
• Levy Clarification: Revenue from local levies is capped unless voter-approved. FHSD’s current fiscal approach is stable but affects the district’s credit rating (AA vs. AAA).
• Salaries & Enrollment: Costs reflect a highly qualified teaching staff; enrollment changes are nuanced and not easily reflected in direct staffing reductions.
• State Funding: Emphasized that mandates have increased while funding has not kept pace.

Board Member Comments & Discussion

Mark Bell (New Appointee)

• Welcomed by Wendy Strickler-Biederman.
• Emphasized a fact-based, ethical approach to finances and governance.
• Called for community dialogue and data collection (exit interviews, surveying) to better understand enrollment trends and spending.
• Warned against misinformation, citing an example where he was wrongly told the Treasurer caused a past decision about the bus depot. She wasn’t employed here at that time and advises people emailing him that if you don’t have facts he will ignore you.
  

Sara Jonas

• Asked about alternatives to levies, expressed concern over the lack of high school open houses. (We believe there are actually open houses for incoming high school students)
• Only “No” vote on passing the Resolution for Fair School Funding despite widespread support and a direct request from State Senator Blessing.
  

Other Board Items

• Turpin HS Football Locker Room upgrades authorized (funded by boosters and district).
• International Travel Handbook approved.
• Technology Infrastructure improvements authorized via E-Rate funding (40% offset).
• Special Education Policy Updates: Required by state/federal guidelines, adopted after presentation by Dr. Ryan.
• Policy Revisions: Most approved; Policy 5120 (on educational balance) held back for further discussion due to concerns about compliance and nuance in implementation.
  

Community & Academic Highlights

• March Madness Reading Challenge: Over 43,000 minutes read.
• Music, arts, and academics praised for strong performance.
• FH5K scheduled for May 10.
  

Watch the School Board Meeting Below: