[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6291305,"mediaKeyId","2530082-c5825a3293e94b4f0b5a94efb69c14d8","parentId",2530082,"title","West Clermont board approves 'statement of facts' backing facilities plan, highlights enrollment and equity challenges","audioSeconds",4765,"startMs",1435000,"endMs",6200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530082-c5825a3293e94b4f0b5a94efb69c14d8&start=1435&end=6200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530082-c5825a3293e94b4f0b5a94efb69c14d8/thumbnail_1435000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6291305/Ohio/West-Clermont-board-approves-statement-of-facts-backing-facilities-plan-highlights-enrollment-and-equity-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291305-c9df0600916dcac8cabd8712c85ff80d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035948&Signature=c6qe0FRjABmoayl9lsW2g0GIzTQefqvmrZGTL6FS-lvWESdmXVZVR2WUK2eYfPOVYC5OukXyNBtiBbxQx0Mckz4MZ54f2os~GgUOgfh2pIPnDyQYqp~na0d1dOGMyLIDYhM9JmLFT8GnmLctCO-hYUKT-Ll0EXbRf~oUV~DUjpijZA4IW9JiCIcdxH3f6EfAzvlNYxGYTUnKbosQjSkgsDaBt2jv06KwZJ0mNuIxPbNZRBf4k4DMg0jSmGhFDQZh7R~jXqU6Cl8-ZqUBwMYKgMzeSLF8spl8RRc~xkdJNG9zvoq9sFKOm7fAC2c5GMNkhmifHvjFN0KzOJVQ4sarqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Clermont School District","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","The West Clermont School Board voted 5-0 on March 3 to approve a statement of facts describing a proposed facilities program that district leaders said is needed to address aging buildings, rising enrollment and inequalities between schools.

The statement of facts, presenters said, summarizes a plan that would include a new grades-5–8 middle school, a new pre-K–4 elementary, targeted additions and renovations at existing elementary buildings and districtwide safety and technology upgrades. The plan as presented assumes a 20% state match through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and an 80% local share; presenters said the district has roughly 18 months to secure the local match to preserve the OFCC share.

Superintendent Natasha Adams framed the presentation as a progress report on the district’s strategic plan and on investments made since 2020. Adams said West Clermont is emphasizing “modernize our educator workforce, learning environments, and family and community partnerships” so students graduate ready for employment, enrollment, enlistment or entrepreneurship. “We’ve stayed committed to that,” Adams said during the presentation.

Board President Ryan (identified in the meeting as board president) opened the State of the Schools section and praised staff recognition and partnerships. Presenters highlighted recent awards, the district’s strategic plan (“Blazing New Trails”), the Portrait of a Graduate framework, and new curricular and extracurricular programs such as Wolf Lab (a transformed high‑school media/innovation space) and an aviation program.

District staff presented data and trends they said motivate the facilities proposal: projected enrollment growth tied to planned new housing (district slides showed roughly +1,300 students by 2030 and +1,600 by 2034 if new dwellings are occupied), a rise in student poverty and increases in several student subgroups. Presenters summarized these changes with the following figures (as given in the presentation): ethnic/racial diversity rising from about 5.7% in fiscal 2010 to about 16.7% in fiscal 2024, students in poverty increasing from roughly 29% to approximately 46%, English‑language learners rising from about 1.4% to about 2.65%, and special‑education enrollments rising roughly 30% to about 16.1% of students.

Academic measures were also highlighted. Presenters said the district’s graduation rate for the Class of 2024 was about 94% and that more than 90% of freshmen in 2024 had five or more credits by the end of the year — a measure the district uses to track on‑time graduation progress. Staff warned, however, that many children enter kindergarten “off track” (presenters cited roughly 58–62% off‑track rates in 2024), which, they said, creates heavier remediation needs and drives staff, program and facility requirements.

Presenters described work begun with federal ESSER funds and levy proceeds since 2020 — including new curriculum adoptions (English language arts materials), mental‑health partnerships (agency partners named in the talk included NECCO, Bestpoint and Child Focus) and expanded pathways (Wolf Lab, aviation and middle‑school electives such as a 3‑D printing/makerspace). The district said several initiatives were implemented with one‑time COVID relief dollars and with the May 2020 levy; staff stressed the difference between ongoing operating costs and one‑time investments.

Treasurer Rob Romano and other finance staff warned of two near‑term fiscal risks the board should consider when weighing the facilities plan: (1) state budget and property‑tax proposals (presenters identified House Bill 96 as a risk in current simulations that could reduce state funding to the district by roughly $700,000 in year one and an additional $700,000 in year two under current language), and (2) proposed property‑tax reform that could change the balance of state and local funding and affect the district’s guaranteed state funding.

After questions and discussion the board voted unanimously to approve the statement of facts as presented. The statement will be used to communicate the proposed program, the estimated OFCC match and the timeline for local decisions and potential ballot action. Board members and staff said they would continue community outreach, town halls and partner events in the coming weeks.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded during the meeting):
- Agenda adoption — motion by Mr. Rudy; second by Mrs. Spencer; roll call 4–0 (approved).
- Authorization for superintendent and treasurer to negotiate a transportation contract (authorization only, not a contract award) — motion by Mr. Rudy; second by Miss Sandborn; roll call 4–0 (approved).
- Approval of the statement of facts describing the facilities proposal — motion by Mr. Rudy; second by Mr. Chumley; roll call 5–0 (approved).
- Adjournment — roll call 5–0 (approved).

The board and presenters scheduled outreach events and a districtwide showcase in early March; staff emphasized the proposal’s timeline and urged voters and stakeholders to review the statement of facts and the district’s bond/levy materials online.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 3, 2025 - West Clermont Schools - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The West Clermont School Board voted 5-0 on March 3 to approve a statement of facts describing a proposed facilities program that district leaders said is needed to address aging buildings, rising enrollment and inequalities between schools.","taxTitle","West Clermont Local, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",38370,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291295,"Resident urges district to review employee sick‑leave accrual policy and questions JED refunds",0,1259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530082-c5825a3293e94b4f0b5a94efb69c14d8&start=1259&end=1259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530082-c5825a3293e94b4f0b5a94efb69c14d8/thumbnail_1259000.jpg","/articles/6291295/Ohio/Resident-urges-district-to-review-employee-sickleave-accrual-policy-and-questions-JED-refunds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291295-56203a75ee9b98758edad68fbe5c2e38/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035948&Signature=eO9UGbaLv9FEttByQU11FGdx~ez5lncC~3kZg~7AzKA~he9lZwSa-oW9KU9jpTGC1Q5Kc7ubhOjtjJYSIH7SmitRCtLlcVhd3tHdJzpaTUX2mAh9wYM-ZJ3qgebS1kiyhs2VIGSyohc4b0WqtQ-imW37Qgr89TMM6Dgi1keBGH0NK~g6c7jxNN4TtBB0yeItBCFXi1A6KfpLyuTciphmstlR0vMvlnKV20wPUlPXW0w6ejdjq2H8-mW13g9n85S3aDGJ~JMtlggD9SFYsAZGmcLiuUfwRkMu67vLcc0Q2sMEf1GnpbcjWFZGTE2bTc3DMBozlUN4-JLfb1tl1gDFfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident who identified himself as \"Mr. Rich\" used the meeting’s public‑speaking period to urge the board to reexamine the district’s sick‑leave policy and to ask about refunds under a property agreement described in his remarks.

Rich said Ohio law requires districts to allow employees to keep 120 hours in a sick bank, and he contrasted that with the district practice he described as allowing staff to carry 364 hours. He said that level of accrual can amount to the equivalent of two years of paid leave, that the district pays a substitute while an employee is out, and that large accruals can increase retirement cash‑out liabilities. Rich also described a district donation pool that can extend paid time in exceptional cases.

He asked the board why teachers were being refunded a 1% tax tied to what he called a \"JED agreement\" for property at the high school and questioned whether taxpayers were being asked to increase their taxes while teachers received refunds under that arrangement. Rich characterized that item as a concern; the board did not take action during public comment.

The board chair thanked the speaker and proceeded to the superintendent’s business. The district did not provide an immediate response to the policy questions during the meeting; the matters raised are in the public record and, if the board directs staff to investigate, could be reported at a future meeting.","During public comment at the March 3 West Clermont board meeting a resident identified as Rich asked the board to review the district’s sick‑leave accrual and payout practices and questioned a 1% property/earnings tax refund (described as a \"JED agreement\") being returned to teachers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":44,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":50,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291300,"Board authorizes superintendent and treasurer to negotiate transportation contract after RFPs",122,1557000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530082-c5825a3293e94b4f0b5a94efb69c14d8&start=1435&end=1557","/articles/6291300/Ohio/Board-authorizes-superintendent-and-treasurer-to-negotiate-transportation-contract-after-RFPs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291300-2c952bb14de7083e9b1a549232f3c55b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035948&Signature=kK27Z40EwFu3bOhImGZWoCCrG4dXPGeYzZQN9bY9cRxs64l2DyFIGDCJ-JbOWQF993i1~lgTZP8zr6AsgdAQYQl1XDr6cRoON7qOPWszzsQW0NBmXg2OwAmAQrYyaUHyoCBU~qN6TAeoygmn0hcFZNyn7K-zxYFc8laeqiMvDpWU-0xl3lRtNcuKgvFyRs1a4ZVn8QbPFSLuSGp8Td1PzpUD4Wi~Stv5kGcXFHFHlXYXRcb0v5T04KoTYBlTflr77mrofsb7urPgAFmmDUjl-cfufqSzbq2xO6xP4tbrzLcDiNR-PonRFzIszGdRmhpK84-Ikn2-W7wLvrXqimyMxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Clermont School Board voted to authorize the superintendent and treasurer to negotiate a transportation contract after district staff said they had issued an RFP and interviewed vendors.

Superintendent Natasha Adams (presenting the item) said the district issued a transportation request for proposals, received three proposals and met in person with two vendors that met specifications. Adams said staff and the treasurer interviewed candidates and recommended one vendor for negotiation. She asked the board to authorize the superintendent and treasurer to negotiate contract language and return a contract for the board’s final approval at a later meeting.

Board members pressed for clarity that the vote would not finalize any contract. Adams reiterated: “We’re not voting on a contract tonight. We’re just voting on giving the treasurer and the superintendent the authorization to move forward in contract language with the company that we have chosen. Then you will get a contract for that. You will see that prior to the vote.”

The motion to grant negotiation authority was made by Mr. Rudy and seconded by Miss Sandborn. The roll call recorded Mr. Rudy, Miss Sandborn, Mrs. Spencer and Mr. Patton voting yes (4–0). The board did not approve a contract or vendor award at this meeting; staff said any negotiated contract will be presented to the board for a final vote.

Background: district staff said three proposals were received; two vendors met specifications and one did not. The authorization gives district leadership the ability to negotiate detailed terms (price, scope, performance expectations) and return the resulting contract to the board for final approval.","Following interviews of three vendors, the West Clermont School Board on March 3 authorized the superintendent and treasurer to negotiate a transportation contract with the recommended vendor; the authorization was an interim step — any final contract will return to the board for approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Clermont board approves 'statement of facts' backing facilities plan, highlights enrollment and equity challenges

Resident urges district to review employee sick‑leave accrual policy and questions JED refunds

Board authorizes superintendent and treasurer to negotiate transportation contract after RFPs