Hillsboro City Schools board approves union contracts, numerous employment matters in recent meetings

The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education held two meetings last week, with their regular board meeting June 23 and a special meeting June 27 including numerous employment approvals, as well as agreements with the two teachers’ unions.

The board voted Monday, June 23 to approve the administrative/supervisory/nonunion salary schedule to reflect an eight-percent salary increase in 2025-26.

The special meeting Friday, June 27 was called, in part, for the board to approve the negotiated agreement with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE). The board voted 5-0 to authorize the three-year contract, effective July 2025 through June 30, 2028.

On Monday, the board voted 5-0 to approve the Hillsboro Education Association contract for the same time frame. Also added to the agenda, and approved by a 5-0 vote Friday, was a memorandum of understanding for the HEA. 

As the district prepares for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, numerous hires and rehires were approved, along with several resignations, changes of status and other employment matters, at both meeting. Those included the following individuals:

• Certificated (one-year contracts): assistant principal Ryan Hagan and teachers Lisa Creditt, Cara Georges, Emily Holbrook, Deanna Motts and Katrena Scaletta.

• Classified: paraprofessional Sherry Stark.

• Sub Classified: cooks Victoria Arnold, Emmalynn McGuire, Jessica Messer, Dorothy Porter, Melissa Stiffler; custodians Ryan Cole, Gary Garvie, Brandon Haines; cook/clerical Madisyn Cox; aide/clerical Brittany Evans, Atlanta Harris, Kelley “Teal” Sexton, Cindy Smith, Cariann Todd; bus drivers James Florence, Rodney Hipsher, Phil Loudin, Eric Luschek, Bret Malone, Bailey Nichols; aide/clerical/cook Sherri Holland, Shelly Johnson; aides Jessica Mentzer; bus driver/custodian Benjamin Reed; and aide/clerical/cook/custodian Nicole Shawhan.

• Supplementals: senior class adviser/HS National Honor Society adviser (split) Cindy Asmus; HS varsity boys golf coach Nathan Boatman; MS DC trip coordinator (split) Erik Callahan; HS varsity football cheerleading coach Amy Captain; choral accompanist Charles Colliver; MS volleyball coaches Lehua Cooke and Bruce Messer; HS assistant marching band director (split) and Quick Recall adviser Amy Craig; HS assistant football coach Jayson Edison and Cody Mathews; Language Club adviser Kirstin Easterling; MS football cheerleading coach Brandie Fenner; MS National Honor Society adviser Kayla Gauche; MS girls cross-country coach and MS DC trip coordinator (split) Tara Gilliland; HS girls cross-country coach Fawn Girard; HS assistant marching band director (split) Donica Grow; HS marching band director Kevin Grow; HS reserve volleyball coach and senior class adviser/HS National Honor Society adviser (split) Stephanie Haines; HS Art Club adviser Tanya Hendrix; sound and light, Mark Holmes; musical play adviser Jenna Horick; HS varsity boys soccer coach Ben Howland; HS assistant marching band directors (split) Joe Jacky and Natalie Spencer; vocal music director (musical) Laura Jacky; spirit store adviser Angie Juillerat; HS boys assistant golf coach Eric Kelch; HS boys cross-country coach Ed Letts; freshman class adviser and HS Student Council adviser Megan MacIvor; HS varsity girls golf coach Carey McBride; HS varsity girls soccer coach Amanda Miller; weight room supervisor Ben Miller; HS yearbook adviser, assistant football cheerleading coach and junior class/prom adviser Taylor Reed; graduation organizers Jessica Rhoades and Tina Young; sophomore class adviser Matt Schnneider; MS football coach Jaden Skeens; MS football coach Jake Spruell; HS girls tennis coach LaRue Turner; HS reserve boys soccer coach Maverick Ward; HS assistant volleyball coach Jordan Williamson; HS assistant girls soccer coach Samantha Whitenack; MS Student Council adviser Karin Yakimow; and MS boys cross-country coach Ben Young.

• DLC: Marcy Boyd, Kayla Gauche, Tara Gilliland, Carey McBride, Jordan Rhude, Matthew Sexton, Janey Silcott. 

• Volunteers: for HES, Brittany Bayless, April Calhoun, Bridget Campbell, Chase Colliver, Stephanie Dunseith, Shawna Faul, Chelsea Gardner, Bertha Hamilton, Allison Harper, Angela Hilterbrand, Nancy Horvath, Allison Knisley, Debra Lewis, Caleb Link, Jeffery Meyer, Branton Miller, Angelena Newman, Chelsey Ojeda, Rebecca Pittman, Courtney Posey, Janice Smith, Sherry Ward, Kylee Warner, Tonya Weber and Tracie Wright; for HHS, Larry Scruggs; and for all schools, Nicole Shawhan.

Bailey Nichols was retroactively approved as a sub classified bus driver for the 2024-25 school year (effective May 19), while the following summer positions were also approved retroactively: summer help at $15/hour, Hannah Hopkins, Josh Hopkins, Melissa Mahan, Amber Roades, Lindsay Snavely and Robert Snavely; preschool evaluation training at $35/hour, Payton Bell, Amanda Miller and Kristine Wigginton; summer school tutor, Beth Purtee; and summer food truck, Ryan Hurtt.

Changes of status for the 2025-26 school year included: from MA to MA +30, Janelle Igo and Jordan Rhude; from MA + 15 to MA + 30, Kayla Morgan and Shannon Wright; from MA to MA + 15, Jackie Thoroman; and from BA to MA, Samantha Whitenack.

Resignations (all effective at the end of the 2024-25 contract year unless otherwise noted) accepted included teachers Shellie Anderson, Olivia Fulton, Brian Hughes and Alyssa Walker; intervention specialist Sherrie Burchett (effective June 2); curriculum specialist Pam Hollon; and preschool coordinator Susan Rhoads.

Leaves of absence were granted to secretary to the superintendent Deanna Corder, effective July 9-Aug. 20; teacher Madison Klaiss, effective Aug. 24-Oct. 5; and custodian Ray Purdin, effective May 27-July 8.

In other action:

• The board authorized the permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026, which are currently estimated at $46,671,317.21. Those include: General Fund, $35,186,000; Bond Retirement, $1,757,500; Permanent Improvement, $951,492.; Food Service, $2,120,925; Special Trust, $6,050; Endowment, $5,000; Public School Support, $131,064.45; Custodial Funds, $102,440; Employee Benefits Self Insurance, $3,000,000; Classroom Facilities Maintenance, $101,900; Termination Fund, $160,000; Student Managed Activity, $216,079.16; District Managed Activity, $384,064.54; Auxiliary Services, $325,000; Public School Preschool, $235,000; Data Communication Fund, $45,987.65; IDEA Part B Grant, $725,000; Title I Disadvantaged Children, $933,314.41; Title IV Safety, $80,000; IDEA Preschool Grant, $19,500; and Miscellaneous Federal Grant Funds, $185,000.

• The board authorized purchase orders over $25,000 for fiscal year 2026, including: American Electric Power, $400,000; AT&T, $53,000; Ennis & Britton LPA, $43,000; Auditor of State, $35,000; Gordon Foods, $660,000; RD Holder, $200,000; Hillsboro Public Utilities, $96,000; United Dairy Inc., $112,000; Millennium Business, $53,000; Multi-Vendor, $100,000; Pepsi, $30,000; Pike Natural Gas, $135,000; and Rumpke, $43,000.

• The board approved the final appropriations for fiscal year 2025, which totaled $47,710,139.23, up from $41,159,780.49 in 2024.

• The board approved grants for fiscal year 2026, as the listed amounts include Title I — Improving Achievement of the Disadvantaged, $848,314.41; Title IIA— Improving Teacher Quality, $139,500; IDEA Part B — Individuals with Disability Act, $711,208; Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment, $78,500; IDEA Early Childhood Special Education, $19,500; and Early Childhood Education, $212,500.

• The board approved the financial reports as presented. District treasurer Ben Teeters reported a cash balance of $11,490,553.64 for May 2025, compared to $12,442,506.95 for May 2024; and expenses of $5,452,057.07.

• The board approved a service agreement with the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center effective July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027.

• The Board approved a transportation contract with FRS Transportation (FRST) for the transportation of two special needs students to and from Clermont Educational Collaborative (CEC) from Aug. 14, 2025 – May 21, 2026.

• The FY26 Final Forms Support Services Agreement with Miami Valley Educational Computer Association (MVECA) was approved

• The board approved “Amplify” as the 2025-26 English Language Arts curriculum for sixth grade, in alignment with the Ohio Department of Education’s requirements for reading improvement plans (RIMP), at a cost of $9,145.32.

• The board authorized the purchase of a 30-passenger, 10-seat 2017 Bluebird Micro Bus with 88,000 miles from Highland County Hills and Dales/ Board of DD at a cost of $12,500.

• The board approved the liability, fleet and property insurance with Southern Ohio EPC from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 in the amount of $156,223.

• A transfer of $213,210 between two line items was approved.

• A diploma and transcript for graduate Heather Hiatt per HB 64 was approved.

During the reports portion of the meeting:

• Superintendent Tim Davis congratulated the Hillsboro Lady Indians softball program on their “outstanding, historic season,” as they finished as state runners-up in June. 

Davis also told the board that 18 students will be recognized this fall at a future board meeting after earning a perfect state test score. The early state testing data is out now, Davis said, and the district is “very pleased with another successful year.”

• Board president Bill Myers congratulated the varsity girls bowling team for finishing seventh at a national tournament.

• Board member Beverly Rhoads discussed the June Great Oaks Board of Directors meeting, where the outcomes for the district’s 2024-25 strategies were reviewed. 

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