The 2025 election slate for Forest Hills School Board has been announced. This year there are three open seats and six candidates running. Voter turnout is critical – and often influenced by issues on the ballot and challenges facing the local district as well. Taking a look at voter turnout for the last 10 years, ballot issues during each election cycle and the FHSD challenges ahead can help us better understand the landscape for 2025’s November election.
2025 Election Cycle’s Open Seats
This November, there are five seats on the Forest Hills School Board, with three being renewed together every four years (2021 & 2025) and the remaining two being renewed in the years in between (2023 and 2027).
Two of the three open seats are being vacated by Republicans Bob Bibb and Sara Jonas, elected together with Katie Stewart in 2021 as the remaining three members of “The Four for Forest Hills”. The third seat up for election in November 2025 was formerly held by Katie Stewart, now is currently held by a temporary nominee, Mark Bell. Bell was selected by the current remaining board members when Katie Stewart moved out of the district then resigned prior to the natural term end.
Turnout in the last 10 years
Pulling data from the Hamilton County Board of Elections website, we can see turnout for the school board elections for the past 10 years.State, county and local initiatives often influence voter turnout in non-Presidential election years. The two highest turnout years had state-wide initiatives. In 2015, three state-wide ballot initiatives, an initiative addressing anti-monopoly practices, reviewing the rules for Ohio redistricting (gerrymandering) and the legalization of marijuana drove higher voter turnout of 53% of registered voters. 2023 was the highest turnout year to date, with 64.3% voters going to the polls. 2023 also had marijuana initiative, an initiative to restrict abortion, and a few other key initiatives.
In 2017 saw 36.8%, and 2021 saw 39.8% the lowest two turnout years in the last 5 election cycles. There were two state initiatives on the 2017 ballot. 2021 had no state-wide ballot initiative
In 2019, we saw 46% of voters head to the polls. There, several county levies were on the ballot, as was a Forest Hills School levy, potentially increasing voter awareness. In 2025, Hamilton County has no county-wide levies, Ohio has reported no state-wide initiatives. In Anderson township the Parks operating levy is on the ballot for Anderson, and Newtown voters will be electing a new Mayor and council members.
Will state and federal issues influence local turnout?
Some have speculated that the federal and state level public school funding battles may drive voters to the polls as Ohio’s republican legislative super-majority issued a new budget in 2025. In the new biennial budget, Ohio has allocated approximately $2.44 billion to fund the EdChoice Scholarship program and related private school vouchers over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Funding for public school districts in the newly signed budget that DeWine signed is $8.22 billion in the 2025-2026 school year, and $8.31 billion in 2026-2027.
While FHSD has not been significantly impacted by the new overall budget, the current legislative body at the state level is considering further changes, including overriding elements the Governor vetoed. Changes to the recently signed budget could still have a negative impact on FHSD, including accelerating the need for a local levy.
In the next four years, the district will be evaluating a long-term strategic plan , which may require considering consolidation or other property re-alignments as well as renewing or replacing the Superintendent and the Treasurer, whose contracts expire in 2026 and 2028 respectively. These are all decisions that will face our board members from 2025 – 2029.
Every vote matters – and we would love to hear from you about your interest in going to the polls – will you vote in November’s school district election, and why? Leave a comment on any of our social media accounts, our blog or email us at advocatefhsd@gmail.com
Advocate FHSD 