Pictured are members of the Hillsboro Middle School girls track and field team (l-r): Carys Langston, Allie Hendrix, Reagan Leeth, Meredith Dietrick, Rilynn Swisshelm, Peyton Hipsher and Kayla Seeling. (HCP Photos/Caitlin Forsha)
Pictured are members of the Hillsboro Middle School girls track and field team (l-r): Carys Langston, Allie Hendrix, Reagan Leeth, Meredith Dietrick, Rilynn Swisshelm, Peyton Hipsher and Kayla Seeling. (HCP Photos/Caitlin Forsha)
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Members of the middle school girls track and field team and the fifth grade student council met with the Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education meeting during their Monday, May 16 meeting, while much of the evening was spent discussing other recent student and staff accomplishments.

Athletes from the Hillsboro Middle School girls track and field team, accompanied by coaches Matt Schneider and Tanya Hendrix, were recognized first at the board meeting. The Lady Indians finished with a perfect record this spring, including being undefeated Frontier Athletic Conference champions.

“They won every meet and then finished it off with a win at our league meet,” Schneider said. “It was a pretty great year. I’m pretty proud of these guys.”

Members of the FAC champion Lady Indians team include: Kamryn Asbury, Chanel Captain, Madison Carroll, Jayah Chaney, Olivia Covault, Tylee Davis, Meredith Dietrick, Arianna Evans, Abby Fryman, Addy Gaines, Allie Hendrix, Peyton Hipsher, Phoebe Holland, Brynne Holstead, Pyper Howland, Maddie Karnes, Carys Langston, Reagan Leeth, Riley Meek, Sofia Mezo-Mil, Kobie Miles, Marianne Mycroft, Josie Rhoades, Allie Roush, Kayla Seeling, Rilynn Swisshelm, Natalie Tharp, Taylor Thoroman, Hayden Trainer, Savanna Trefz, Reannah Vipperman, Ryan Wagoner, Jailyn Williams and Aubry Yochum.

The board and a standing-room-only crowd of parents and siblings gave the team a round of applause.

“Awesome job, ladies,” board president Bill Myers said. “We look forward to seeing what you all are going to do in the future.”

Myers invited board member Tom Milbery, who volunteers with the middle school track program, to speak as well. Milbery praised the coaches of the program, saying it was “a joy” to work with them as well as with the athletes, of whom he said he was “really proud.”

“It was a joy coaching this group,” Milbery said. “The coaches, Tanya and Matt, did all the work.

“It’s just been a real joy this year. They [Hendrix and Schneider] are outstanding professionals.”

Milbery also credited the HMS boys track and field coach, Darci Miles.

“She did a pretty fabulous job this year, too,” Milbery said. “You don't see what she does behind the scenes. Like at our league meet, she's organizing the officials and showing them things to be done, and it's all done so organized. When you come to a Hillsboro track meet, it just runs so efficiently, and that's due in large part to people like Darci.”

As noted by superintendent Tim Davis, the HMS boys track and field team finished their season as FAC runners-up, while the girls and boys teams combined for three students qualifying for the state meet: Olivia Covault, Ryan Howland and Kobie Miles. Davis said that there are no divisional breakdowns, as only the athletes with the top 25 times in each event in the state qualify for the championships.

Next, Hillsboro intermediate school principal James Rhoades introduced members of the fifth grade student council, who presented a slideshow recapping their activities throughout the school year. The group’s advisers are Jennifer Chaney and Mark Koller.

The student council includes Abby Anderson, Madison Burwinkel, Lillian Fugate, Blair Gard, Zach Hopkins, Brooklyn Parker, Kylee-Ann Scruggs, Hunter Seeling, Peyton Spurlock, Parker Wilkin and Emmalee Young.

“They have done wonders this year,” Chaney told the board. “They have a very bright future.”

With the council members taking turns presenting, their slideshow gave an overview of how they were elected to student council and their many activities throughout the school year. They made “kindness posters” and shared information every day during morning announcements. The council also shared more information with classmates by producing newsletters for students to read, which are posted on the school’s Facebook.

The council worked to help the environment by cleaning up trash and recycling items. They also participated in Fuel Up to Play 60 this year, promoting exercise and healthy eating.

Community service projects included organizing a canned food drive; collecting donations for the dog pound; and collecting and distributing cards for veterans for their Veterans Day program as well as Christmas cards for nursing home residents.

Student council members also volunteered at the walk-a-thon and sponsored four scholarships for students to attend Camp Joy at no cost.

Myers thanked the students for the “great job” on their presentation and for their work throughout the school year, as those in attendance also clapped for the student council members.

“You guys are going to continue on helping out our school system, and we're really looking forward to watching you guys grow and be a part of our schools,” Myers told them.

Myers also thanked the students’ parents, who he said “are raising incredible kids.”

“It's a great thing to see you guys be involved in our school, especially at this age, and then to carry that through middle school and high school and those leadership positions,” Davis told the students. “We wish you the best, and thank you for all you've done.”

Also recognized, after those groups left, was graduating senior KaleyJo Myers in her last meeting as student board representative on the board.

Board president Bill Myers — KaleyJo’s dad — presented her with a gift and a hug as he thanked her for serving on the board this school year.

“On behalf of the Hillsboro City Schools and the school board, we would just like to give this little token of appreciation to Ms. KaleyJo Myers and just thank her for the job she's done this year, for being here and keeping us updated on everything,” he said. “I love you, kiddo.”

Bill Myers added later that it has been “a personal honor for me to have” his daughter serving alongside him on the board.

Davis thanked KaleyJo for her service and for being “very prepared for every meeting.”

“Your presence here is very important to us, and we want to thank you for your time and energy to this board,” Davis told her.

Other board members also thanked her during their respective reports later in the meeting.

“KaleyJo, thank you and congratulations on your future,” Milbery said.

Board member Jerry Walker said “it has been a pleasure” hearing Myers’ reports through the year.

“I certainly want to wish you continued success at Asbury, and may that go very well for you,” he said.

• • •

In his report to the board, Davis reviewed “a long list” of end-of-year updates and events, including continuing the trend of recognizing students and teachers for recent accomplishments.

The superintendent said he served as chair of the Region 14 Governing Board and presented Exceptional Achievement Awards at board’s April 28 meeting to two Hillsboro City Schools teachers — Samantha Carpenter and Cyndi Inlow — and to Highland County’s Outstanding Student Award winner, HHS senior Jaydon Ames. Hillsboro Middle School also received a Silver Award for their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program.

Hillsboro teacher Elena Cullom also received recognition for “earning her master teacher designation” at the four-county board meeting May 5 at Laurel Oaks.

Next, Davis praised students for recent performing arts and athletic accomplishments and mentioned other awards and honors.

The superintendent said the high school’s spring musical production of “Willy Wonka” was well-received, with a “great turnout.” Davis added that there were “very talented” students serving in both cast and crew roles for this show.

“Just an outstanding performance,” Davis said. “The auditorium was packed, and it was just an unbelievable environment for our families.

“I want to thank Mrs. [Laura] Jacky and Mrs. [Jenna] Horick and all the volunteers, parents and students that worked extremely hard to put on this production.”

Hillsboro’s Symphonic Choir earned “superior” ratings at districts and received the highest possible rating at the Ohio Music Education Association state competition recently.

Four students — Dakota Ballein, Bennett Everhart, Xander Hardin and Ethan Parry — were recognized at a recent military enlistment ceremony.

“This is a very touching ceremony, to see our young people enlist in the military, to give their service to our country,” Davis said. “It was very well done.”

A Career-Based Intervention award ceremony was also held recently, with Davis crediting “Mrs. Miles and her students for a great ceremony for our kids that go through the work program to learn life skills and work skills to better them for employment after high school.”

Davis recapped some recent sports achievements, aside from the middle school track and field teams, including baseball players Quintin Captain and Spencer Wyckoff being named All-FAC and softball finishing as undefeated FAC champions and Gracey Dearmon, Kinsey Gilliland, Halle Reveal, Kayla Roberts and Camryn Spruell being named All-FAC. For track and field, the boys team was third and girls were fifth in the FAC, with All-FAC athletes being Eden Edenfield and Anthony Richards.

In his report, Walker echoed Bill Myers in praising the HCS district’s parents for their efforts in supporting their children seeing this success in numerous areas.

“Certainly [the students have] done the work, but they've also been strongly supported by their families and the community, and so I just wanted to give a shoutout to the parents,” Walker said. “We are blessed with great kids, and great kids are fostered by great parents.”

(Editor’s note: Thank you to Darci Miles and Tim Davis for their assistance in providing cutlines for this article.)

For more from the Monday board meeting, see the story at: https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Hillsboro-City-Schools-Board-of-Education-hears-updated-5-year-forecast/2/20/79293.