Hillsboro City Schools board OKs cell phone policy revision; Rhoads recognized with ACTE Award

The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education approved a revision to the district’s “personal communication devices” policy at their Monday, June 17 meeting, which will now require students to have their phones off at all times during the school day.

“Personal communication devices,” or “PCDs,” include “computers, tablets (e.g., iPad-like devices), electronic readers ("e-readers"; e.g., Kindle-like devices), cell phones, smartphones (e.g., iPhones, Android devices, Windows Mobile devices, etc.), and/or other web-enabled devices of any type,” according to the district policy.

The previous policy reads: “Students may use (PCDs) before and after school, during their lunch break, in between classes as long as they do not create a distraction, disruption or otherwise interfere with the educational environment, during after school activities (e.g., extracurricular activities), and at school-related functions. Use of PCDs, except those approved by a teacher or administrator, at any other time is prohibited and they must be powered completely off (i.e., not just placed into vibrate or silent mode) and stored out of sight.”

“All we ha

ve done is remove the the line that says ‘during their lunch break and in between classes,’” Hillsboro City Schools superintendent Tim Davis said. “The personal communication devices need to be off during the school day.

“Students, once they come in the building — once the school day starts, 7:30 to 2:30 at the high school, and the elementary — phones are to be off, not to be used. Anything during that school day is going to be off.”

Davis added that there are “medical exceptions,” such as for students with diabetes, but otherwise, phones are “going to be off.”

As previously reported, Davis told the board in April that the district is “looking at our cell phone policy” following comments made by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in his 2024 State of the State address presented April 10. The governor has since  signed House Bill 250, which “calls for every school district in the state to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage and emphasizes limiting cell phones to the greatest extent possible,” according to the governor’s office.

The state also issued a “model policy designed to minimize student use of cell phones during school hours,” drafted by the Department of Education and Workforce and released May 29.

“The model policy prohibits students from using cell phones or similar electronic communications devices on school property during school hours,” according to the Ohio Governor’s Office. “It also requires that students keep their cell phones in a secure place – such as their locker, a closed backpack or a storage device provided by the district – at all times when cell phone use is prohibited. Exceptions are included for students using a cell phone for a documented purpose as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or for monitoring a health concern.”

For more information, go to: https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/School-Wellness/Cell….

In other discussion:

• During her report, board member Beverly Rhoads noted that she was honored at the June 12 Great Oaks Board of Directors meeting, receiving the 2024 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Region 1 School Board Recognition Award for her over six decades "serving in public education.” (Also honored was Greg Barr, the Great Oaks representative for Greenfield Exempted Village Schools.)

Rhoads began working for by the Hillsboro district in 1961 and served as district treasurer for 43 years. Upon retirement, she ran for the school board, and she is in her 19th year serving on both the Hillsboro and Great Oaks boards.

School board president Bill Myers held up Rhoads’ plaque, as the group gave her a round of applause and congratulated her.

According to Rhoads, the board meeting also included discussion of the outcome of Great Oaks’ previously listed strategies and goals for the past school year.

• During the public participation portion of the meeting, board members heard from a concerned parent who spoke out against a recent decision by the district to remove Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy from the classroom.

The parent, whose child attends Hillsboro Elementary and has a “an extremely rare syndrome called TBR1,” which the parent said can affect children’s speech, development and behavior. Her child is nonverbal and can exhibit “aggressive behaviors” due to being “unable to communicate wants and needs.”

According to the parent, her child “currently receives speech and occupational therapy” both at, and outside, the school.

“Since receiving ABA services, her aggressive behaviors have decreased with redirection, and they have helped her to communicate by using a communication app on her iPad,” the child’s mother said. “Also while receiving ABA, I have noticed that her attention, focus, social skills and motor skills and academics have significantly improved. Within the last six months, she has learned her colors, shapes and letters.

“Her ABA therapists have helped to provide positive reinforcement, and [the child] often engages with her peers more than she ever has before.”

The mother added that various “therapies make a big difference in the lives of children with this diagnosis.

“I was notified by phone and email on June 5, 2024 by Special Education Supervisor Chelsey Seeling that registered behavior technicians that provide ABA will no longer be allowed to provide support at Hillsboro Elementary,” the parent said. “We were not given a reason as to why they are no longer allowed at school, and we deserve an explanation.

“The only option we have been given is to modify [the student’s] school schedule where she would attend school part time and go home for ABA services. [The child] loves school, and I do not want her to be required to modify her schedule so that she can have ABA services. She deserves to be at school, like all capable children, and have her ABA therapists with her for one-on-one support so that she can continue to improve her social, emotional and behavioral skills.”

The mother then became very emotional, saying, “We do not understand how this decision was made and would like to be included.” She also provided written documentation from Children’s Hospital “explaining the need.”

The board thanked the mother for her comments and said they would issue a written response within 10 days, as is their policy.

• Davis dedicated his report to discussing kindergarten registration, which was held June 6.

“We had 120 students attend in person, and we're at about 161 that have started the Final Forms process,” Davis said. “We are looking at probably adding another 10 or 12 and will get us around 171, 175, I would be anticipating when we start school.”

Davis thanked principal Pamela Hollon and the elementary teachers and staff who assisted at the registration event, which includes dental, vision, speech and hearing evaluations and “medical paperwork.

“Kudos to them, and great job to our staff,” Davis said. “Our staff does come in to screen the students, so it was a very good day and good numbers. We're excited for the incoming kindergarten class.”

• • •

The meeting included numerous motions related to finances, as the district is wrapping up one fiscal year and entering a new one in the coming weeks.

• The board approved the financial reports as presented. District treasurer Ben Teeters reported a May 2024 cash balance of $12,442,506, up from $9,557,768 in May 2023; expenses of $2,436,737, an increase over last year’s $2,375,681; and revenues of $1,917,980, down from $3,213,040 a year ago.

“Last year's amount was higher because we received a real estate settlement in the month of May, where this year we received it in April,” Teeters said. “Finances are running even what they have been.”

• The board approved the final appropriations for fiscal year 2024, which showed a total of $41,159,780.49 appropriated. That is a decrease from fiscal year 2023, where $49,282,741.74 was appropriated.

The 2024 appropriations included: General Fund, $30,758,565.80; Bond Retirement, $1,700,342.74; Permanent Improvement, $1,215,475.43; Food Service, $2,111,817.04; Special Trust, $8,500; Endowment, $9,500; Public School Support, $197,336.53; Custodial Fund, $110,367.90; Classroom Facilities Maintenance, $768,466; Termination Benefits (HB 426), $200,000; Student Managed Activity, $205,265.19; District Managed Activity, $342,591.23; Auxiliary Services, $217,090.76; Public School Preschool, $170,000; Data Communication Fund, $36,000; Vocational Education Enhancements, $6,000; Misc. State Grant Fund, $21,747.57; Elementary/Secondary School Emergency Relief, $425,860.21; Ohio Safety Grant, $500,000; IDEA Part B Grants, $767,465.21; Title I Disadvantaged Children, $996,072.85; Title IV Safety, $237,307.58; IDEA Preschool Grant, $19,332; and Improving Teacher Quality Grant, $134,675.85.

• The board also approved the permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2025, which are currently estimated at $40,426,009.02. Those include: General Fund, $32,016,206; Bond Retirement, $1,604,500; Permanent Improvement, $560,006; Food Service, $2,015,175; Special Trust, $6,300; Endowment, $10,125; Public School Support, $191,725; Custodial Funds, $177,000; Classroom Facilities Maintenance, $130,000; Termination Fund, $200,000; Student Managed Activity, $248,050; District Managed Activity, $379,415; Auxiliary Services, $295,000; Public School Preschool, $195,000; Data Communication Fund, $36,987.65; Misc. State Grant Fund, $9,819.37; IDEA Part B Grant, $725,000; Title I Disadvantaged Children, $1,150,000; Title IV Safety, $250,000; IDEA Preschool Grant, $19,300; and Miscellaneous Federal Grant Funds, $206,400.

“This is appropriations so we can start paying all of our bills and stuff starting July 1 when our year starts,” Teeters said.

• The board authorized purchase orders over $25,000 for fiscal year 2025, including: American Electric Power, $400,000; AT&T, $36,000; Ennis & Britton LPA, $30,000; Auditor of State, $35,000; Gordon Foods, $600,000; RD Holder, $200,000; Hillsboro Public Utilities, $96,000; United Dairy Inc., $101,000; Millennium Business, $53,000; Multi-Vendor, $473,000; Pepsi, $30,000; Pike Natural Gas, $76,000; and Rumpke, $40,000.

• The board approved grants for fiscal year 2025, as the known amounts include Title I — Improving Achievement of the Disadvantaged, $849,851.48; Title IIA— Improving Teacher Quality, $108,392.16; IDEA Part B — Individuals with Disability Act, $644,841.31; Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment, $66,447.16; and IDEA Early Childhood Special Education, $19,363.53.

Also accepted were the Stronger Connections and Early Childhood Education grants, the amount of which is not currently known.

“The state has not released the budgets for those amounts,” Teeters said. “We will be getting those grants, but they haven’t released the amount.

“Last year the Stronger Connections was $170,000, and the early childhood was $139,000. They’ve been coming in close to what we’ve had last year on the grants.”

• The board approved two transfers between line items, one in the amount of $217,500 and one in the amount of $48,157.

“We're transferring money to the bond fund that we pay the auditorium out of, so at the end the year, if we have a little extra money, we put it in there to make that account come to zero,” Teeters said. “The other one goes into the severance account.”

• The board approved the Liability, Fleet and Property Insurance with Southern Ohio EPC from July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025 in the amount of $145,324. According to Teeters, the cost is “$20,000 higher than it was last year.”

The board also made several employment approvals, as one of the ones highlighted was the resignation of Pamela Hollon as Hillsboro Elementary’s early childhood principal, effective with the end of the 2023-24 contract year. In a separate motion, Hollon was subsequently rehired as curriculum specialist, starting with the 2024-25 school year.

In other employment matters:

• The board approved individuals for the following contracts and positions indicated:
— Sub classified: van drivers Christopher Fauber, Jacob Fouch, Josh Howland, Larry Scruggs and Heather Storer; custodians Jamie Gelter (retroactive to June 6) and Bryce Humphrey; and cook/custodian Nancy Stewart.
— Summer Food Service Program: Ladonna Davis (retroactive to May 29) and Josephine Taylor.
— Three-year contract: teacher Janelle Igo.
— Speech, $35/hour: Stephanee Teufel, up to 20 hours.
— Tutor, $35/hour: Donica Grow, up to 22 hours.
— 2024-25 volunteers: Ann Bowersock (HES); Emma Fouch and Mallory Parsons (HS varsity girls basketball coaches); Rick Kelch (HHS); and Rebecca Peters and Nichole Shawhan (both HES/HMS/HHS).
— 2024-25 supplementals: Melissa Boysel and Michele Williams, Camp Joy coordinators, split; Jennifer Chaney and Mark Koller, elementary student council advisers, split; Fawn Girard, MS girls cross-country coach; Ed Letts, HS varsity boys cross-country coach; Ben Miller, fall weight room supervisor; Rob Snavely, HS varsity girls cross-country coach; Maverick Ward, HS reserve boys soccer coach; and Ben Young, MS boys cross-country coach.
— Orton Gillingham training, $35/hour, up to 35 hours: Elizabeth Denton, Lydia Falgner, Heidi Fawley, Brittany Oxley, Ashley Purtee, Marlene Whiting.
— Classified: Stephanie Thompson, food service director, effective Aug. 1.
— 2024-25 certificated: Kayla DeAtley, Willie Hollingsworth and Keely Smith, teachers, one-year contracts; and Teresa Marion, intervention specialist, one-year contract.

• The board accepted the resignation of intervention specialist Pam Sebastian, effective with the end of the 2023-24 contract year.

• The board approved leaves of absence for teacher Abby Baker (effective July 11-Oct. 7) and paraprofessional Brandi Miller (effective Aug. 9-Sept. 20).

• The board authorized changes of status for Reagan Malblanc, from BA step 0 to MA+30 step 17, and Dan Snapp, from HS reserve boys soccer coach to HS assistant boys soccer coach, both effective with the 2024-25 school year.

In other discussion:

• The board accepted the following donations: for robotics, Chad Abbott Signs (8-foot by 8-foot banner), anonymous ($20), Cindy Boyd ($100), Burwinkel Family Dentistry ($150), Cassner Foundation ($900), Custom Molded Products employees ($670), Ford Excavation LLC ($300), Hillsboro Family Vision ($100), Anuradha and Vinavak Kulkarni ($250), Merchants National Bank ($500), NCB ($300), Shafer Heating and Cooling ($250), Southern State Community College ($300) and Chip and Shannon Yochum/Yochum Family Cattle ($200); for the Art Club, Highland County Honor Guard/VFW Post 9094 ($500); and for HCS cafeteria student charges, Max Sprague of Ohio Car Shows and Cruise Ins and Frisch’s Big Boy ($50).

• The board approved a one-year emergency housing agreement between Hillsboro City Schools and Highland District Hospital. The agreement is in case the hospital “has to evacuate” due to an “emergency situation,” Davis said.

• The board approved “FrogStreet” as the new 2024-25 curriculum for preschool.

• The board approved a new social studies textbook, “United States History: Reconstruction to the Present” for the 2024-25 school year.

• It was noted that the board’s next meeting, set for July 15, will be moved up to 8 a.m. instead of the usual 7 p.m. start time.

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