Hillsboro school board makes policy, employment approvals at November meeting
The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education heard updates on recent programs and activities, plus made several policy and employment approvals, during a morning meeting Monday, Nov. 24.
Superintendent Tim Davis thanked the organizers and participants of the district’s annual Veterans Day program, including guest speaker Staff Sergeant William Kelly.
“I want to thank our high school student council, adviser Miss [Megan] MacIvor, Mr. [Kevin] Grow and the band, Mrs. [Laura] Jacky and the choir, and the middle school student council for putting on one of my favorite assemblies of the year,” Davis said in a report provided to The Highland County Press. “The students did an outstanding job of speaking and introducing the many veterans that were in attendance. The band and choir sounded amazing as they played and sang. All the students in the high school/middle school were very respectful.
“Great job by everyone involved, and I want to thank our many veterans that were in attendance for their service and sacrifice for the freedoms that we have.”
Along with that assembly, Davis said that he attended the high school drama department’s production of “The Play That Goes Wrong,” as he also praised their cast and crew.
“Great job by Mrs. [Jenna] Horick, our students and the many parent volunteers that made the play a success,” Davis said. “We are very blessed to have such a talented group of students, both onstage performing and backstage with the lights, sound and stage crew.”
In other events, Davis said the fourth grade musical was scheduled to be held later that evening, while the winter sports season has officially kicked off.
Due to Thanksgiving, Davis reported that the district would have a break from Nov. 26-28, while students’ last day of school before Christmas break is Dec. 18.
As the meeting was held a few days before the holiday, Davis, as well as board member Tom Milbery, wished the community a happy Thanksgiving in their respective reports.
Board members Larry Lyons and Jerry Walker both reported that they attended the Ohio School Boards Association’s winter conference. Lyons also said he “wanted to bring it to the board’s attention” that the district’s current monthly expenses “are running close to the same as in 2016,” while he also commented that the district “will need to pay close attention” to several school finance bills in the Ohio Legislature.
In her recap of the Great Oaks Board of Directors meeting, board member Beverly Rhoads said the Live Oaks JROTC was recognized for winning a national championship in the Male and Female All Services Division at the 2025 JROTC All Service Raider Challenge Championship. Also honored at the November Great Oaks board meeting were nine Heart of Great Oaks Award recipients, as the awards are given to “certified and classified staff members who exemplify outstanding dedication, performance, and impact on students, staff and the district.”
Board president Bill Myers congratulated three “members of the Board on winning their election” this November. As previously reported, Lyons, Rhoads and Walker were reelected, as the three candidates were unopposed.
In other discussion:
• The board approved the financial reports as presented. District treasurer Ben Teeters reported a cash balance of $12,676,414.22 for October 2025, down from $13,972,185.61 in October 2024, with $2,673,420.96 in monthly expenses.
• The board approved several policy revisions, including to the following policies: 4162 Drug and Alcohol Testing of CDL License Holders Who Perform Safety-Sensitive Functions, 8333 Student Records, 8451 Pediculosis (Head Lice), 8600 Transportation, 8600.04 Bus and Alternative Vehicle Driver Certification, 8640 Transportation for Non-Routine Trips and 8650 Transportation by Alternative Vehicles. Also approved was the addition of a new policy, Drug and Alcohol Testing of Employees Without CDL Licenses Who Transport Students In Alternative Vehicles (Non-DOT Testing). Myers voted against the policy updates.
• The board approved individuals for the following contracts and positions: supplemental — Brandie Fenner (MS basketball cheer coach), Lindsay Inman (winter site supervisor/Spirit Store adviser, split 2/3 of the 2025-26 school year), Bruce Messer (HS varsity girls wrestling coach), Mariah Middleton (HS assistant basketball cheer coach), Brandi Miller (Spirit Store adviser, split 2/3 of the 2025-26 school year) and Tracey Staggs (HS/MS Robotics, effective with the 2025-26 school year); sub classified — aides Haley Boysel, Savannah Gragg and Haley Norman (retroactive to Nov. 12), cook Ryan Hurtt (retro Nov. 11) and custodian Kyle Muse (retro Nov. 1); volunteers — Abbagayle Kelly (HS cheer coach), William Kelly and Gary Renno (wrestling coaches), Allison Knisley and Megan Rutledge (HES) and Kimberly McCarty (all schools); sub certified — Teresa Myers and Emily Worley; and classified — paraprofessional Tate Erkenbrecher. In a separate motion, with Lyons abstaining, Bruce Miles was approved as a winter site supervisor.
• The board accepted the resignations of paraprofessional Barbara Goode, effective Dec. 31, due to retirement; bus drivers Melody Evans (effective Jan. 2) and Joyce Renee Poppaw (effective Nov. 14); and sub certified Brenda Fishback (effective Nov. 1).
• The board approved leaves of absence for teachers Carissa Brandenburg (Nov. 4-17), Nicole Donley (Oct. 20-27) and Fawn Girard (Oct. 24-Nov. 5); paraprofessional Penny Carter (Oct. 13-Nov. 26, intermittent); and bus driver Mike Page (Dec. 10-Feb. 9).
• The board approved changes of status for the following individuals: Tara Gilliland, from split DC Coordinator Position to full-year DC Coordinator for the 2025-26 school year; Rod Hipsher, from a substitute bus driver to a full-time bus driver effective Nov. 16; and Gideon Pickering-Polstra, from a substitute teacher to a full-time certified teacher at step 1 effective Dec. 1 for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year.
• The board approved the health insurance rates for 2026 for district employees.
• The board accepted the following donations: for student supplies, an anonymous $50 donation; for the HS athletic department, an anonymous $2,000 donation; for elementary students’ good behavior awards, an anonymous $2,200 donation; for Halloween costumes, an anonymous $50 donation; for the Tomahawk food truck, a $1,142 donation from the First Presbyterian Church; for the elementary walkathons, a $200 donation from Highland Lanes and a $25 donation from Classics’ Diner (with Lyons abstaining); and for holiday powerpacks for elementary students, a $6,000 donation from NCB.
• The board approved an out-of-state field trip for FFA students to Raleigh, N.C. in March.
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