[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6049061,"mediaKeyId","3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a","parentId",3512577,"title","Board hears advocacy update on substitute House Bill 96; district warns against 25% cash-balance restriction","audioSeconds",762,"startMs",2278000,"endMs",3040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a&start=2278&end=3040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a/thumbnail_2278000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6049061/Ohio/Board-hears-advocacy-update-on-substitute-House-Bill-96-district-warns-against-25-cash-balance-restriction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049061-310c4f870d4990aa9f35c5d14463a5cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102424&Signature=OsLlXO-auRWeY-vhLmJFHvpBJCKYbMcIdO0ntqcareIQSOQrvsD3e~X0nvVyTxUsCIrnnZFromRsc1JdlgUsV~2m9Is5IyM0mZh10DLGq0dSMOVV2F8XXA~GjgsEw-Ql2~61IBCvtUC-MWwduufsWkmN0XUBw4-ZLsldaUeY0ZrgA3giILsl1Z9qKUhdAAbN6n3PCNcpawiXtfwpD3LvbDKyxAfzH6NWyv0I47YkPkSMWUaTsNz3Yyu-xQcMnE~mkJdylAnuO4M81J-xV5St9IPpQfqG9p~4c8lazoTYrZ-0Sq2pjg3Dl707n1DAv1aLhGgzqJypIT~80Fpmdf~SUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Clermont School District","date","2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","article","Board members and district staff provided an advocacy update on substitute House Bill 96 at the April 7 meeting, describing both revenue simulations and a new provision that could affect future local tax levies.

According to the presentation, the district’s simulation showed that under the original House Bill 96 the district would have stood to lose about $2.1 million; the substitute bill, as presented to the board, would yield a gain of about $220,000 for the district — a swing of roughly $2.3 million. Board members praised legislators who incorporated changes they had requested in the substitute bill but emphasized continued engagement as the measure moves through the Senate.

Board members raised concerns about language in the substitute that would permit a county or taxing authority to reduce a district’s tax rate if the district’s year-end cash balance exceeded 25% of prior-year total expenses. District presenters said that the 25% figure appears to reference a 90-day-cash recommendation used in some fiscal white papers (90/365 ≈ 25%), but they argued the 25% figure was intended historically as a minimum threshold for fiscal health, not a maximum.

Presenters described how the district’s cash balance rose following valuation increases in 2020 and 2023, and that the district has used five-year forecasts to plan for inflationary expense lines and future obligations. They said the proposed 25% cap could force more frequent levy requests or higher levy rates in the future, reduce the district’s ability to sign multi-year contracts, and constrain multi-year planning.

District staff also noted existing oversight mechanisms: the five-year forecast required by the state is reviewed by the Department of Education and the State Auditor’s Office, and those mechanisms can trigger review or inquiry if balances are unusually high or low. Presenters urged legislators to remove the automatic 25% reduction provision and instead address property-tax reform or use the Department’s existing review channels.

Board members said they had met with Representative Adam Berg, Representative Jean Schmidt and Senator Johnson during legislative day and that district advocates had communicated the concerns to those offices. The board asked staff to continue advocacy as the substitute bill moves to the Senate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 7, 2025 - West Clermont Schools - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District leaders and board members reported that the substitute version of House Bill 96 would reverse an earlier projected revenue loss and instead show a modest gain, but expressed concern about a provision allowing tax reductions when a district’s cash balance exceeds 25% of prior-year expenses.","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":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6049065,"District outlines summer repairs and bulk furniture purchases; board asked about bids",277,1817000,2094000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a&start=1817&end=2094","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a/thumbnail_1817000.jpg","/articles/6049065/Ohio/District-outlines-summer-repairs-and-bulk-furniture-purchases-board-asked-about-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049065-554d3caadc5b13775efe58b2732dd3c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102424&Signature=fCTjWAeSrJaGfY2EAGXDuemNvZURVWv0ZdFW0KiiXKdSqzEOTIMvavREjOrHiL9NaF1z9wOne9mu0B1bNYsPvx-7XthX4CSHhunGzEQxM4rkf0Tc00Zvy~Hj1lUAv9kjAC4iRBdlSh91ucS7xFeJy9gDjvKQW0NjJTLE8EdRf38ffkKjoKDrbh5oYbFzPES89Jqtg70BBlbet64kBmvL8Of-S5weFBJaVhpWKJpZOkf3tt1OSq~b6CcjBb96SgJXWiQJpmfceNXkbwCRcWfwxtR7a2qVQxOeQsedE0ZgCtyrkO4J0lCM4yAiKYX91H1jzRfVUKXdcX19z-59IYTCHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 7 meeting the district’s superintendent of business outlined summer projects that include large asphalt repairs at older buildings, plumbing repairs, roof assessments and patching, and a bundled furniture purchase and delivery plan intended to reduce costs.

The district plans to schedule major asphalt work when school is out in June and July. The maintenance and operations plan also includes plumbing and painting projects and a further round of roof assessments to address leaks caused by recent storms; staff said two major leaks have already needed attention and additional patching was planned.

On furniture, the superintendent of business explained the district will consolidate multiple orders and stage delivery to save delivery and assembly charges — orders will be delivered to the high school and then moved to other buildings by district staff. A board member asked whether the district put the furniture out for public bid; staff responded that they solicited quotes from three education furniture companies and used a co-op vendor that provides state-bid pricing. The superintendent said the aggregated package did not reach the public-bid threshold (the district cited $70,000 as the threshold for public bidding), and therefore the district obtained quotes rather than a public bid.

Board members asked whether any purchases were specifically for the new building; staff said the purchases are for a variety of buildings and for functional replacements rather than a full room-by-room replacement. Staff said some items were available at a discount because color or exact style was less important than functionality.

The superintendent of business closed by noting maintenance staff view these projects as supporting classroom success and thanked the board for its support. No separate board vote was required for the summer-project overview at the meeting; budgetary approvals were not detailed on the public agenda beyond the summary presentation.","West Clermont’s superintendent of business presented planned summer maintenance — asphalt, roof patches, plumbing and bundled furniture purchases — and answered questions about procurement and bid thresholds at the April 7 meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6049070,"Board approves consent agenda including retirements, hires and DECA trip",209,1611000,1820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a&start=1611&end=1820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a/thumbnail_1611000.jpg","/articles/6049070/Ohio/Board-approves-consent-agenda-including-retirements-hires-and-DECA-trip","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049070-27df76b7eafce13d469c17ace4ec7ea9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102424&Signature=E193cwKWOFNz6M07jJZOwyEeREKCwOMYYVjF01LQWpcABPyIOpSqXwD5FSLD1IO9To~cydUvHpftjt6CZbHKitTLBDAMQ~oTErW6HrbWbel3sXiWFK48ip8tzoqbzFzrJNstDgSrQqqA75CsbFPSWVrnvRe29sZnHxxpJdjXkZUKIKSlRvWSjDSypc2nbRv3qoDg0bnfRTwufJiuSid6oVvpDzP7es56fxKT1jV0D5yttxoAAUA-hiOtrHg-XtyH-xYTM9ecOu1BdEk9S~w3xA-9nUNQvgw9rKsXRT33IknLARE3n1g34EfJFsmpSW~RtZ-A5ZM33OTrQi7RSLmPZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Clermont Board of Education on April 7 approved its consent agenda (items 7.01–7.03), which included personnel actions, supplemental contracts and an overnight field trip for DECA students.

The personnel portion of the consent agenda listed retirements of Christina Bernheimer (second-grade teacher at Amelia, 24 years), Mary Hutchinson (campus coordinator at West High School, 23 years), Cynthia Wright (paraprofessional aide at Holly Hill, 28 years) and Catherine Reed (Saint Veronica teacher, 34 years). The agenda also noted the resignations of two teachers and two secretaries at the end of the school year.

The agenda proposed hiring an athletic director secretary at West Clermont High School, and a transfer of Larry Cox from interim athletic director at West Clermont Middle School to permanent athletic director at West Clermont Middle School beginning the 2526 school year (as stated in the agenda). Jennifer Hall was proposed to transfer from paraprofessional aide to principal secretary at West Clermont Middle School. The consent package also included supplemental contracts for the insurance committee, evaluation review team, College Credit Plus (CCP) instructors, home tutors and multiple coaching positions, approvals for unpaid leaves of absence, school volunteers and cooperating teachers.

Separately, the board approved an overnight field trip request for five West Clermont High School DECA students to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando at the end of the month; Great Oaks will handle the associated transportation, lodging and meal costs, the board heard.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt the meeting agenda: Moved by Mr. Rudy; seconded by Mr. Chumbley. Roll-call vote: 5 yes, 0 no; motion adopted.

- Motion to approve the consent agenda items 7.01–7.03 (personnel agenda, DECA trip, minutes): Moved by Mr. Rudy; seconded by Ms. Spencer. Roll-call vote: 5 yes, 0 no; motion adopted.

- Motion to enter executive session for personnel-related matters (see separate item): Moved by the presiding officer; seconded by Mr. Chumbley. Roll-call vote: 5 yes, 0 no; motion adopted.

Board members and staff clarified several consent items during discussion: a board member asked what “CCP instructor” meant and was told it refers to College Credit Plus college-level courses taught by district staff. Staff also explained the insurance committee is part of the negotiated contract and reviews premiums and plan design.

All vote tallies were recorded by roll call in the meeting minutes.","On April 7 the West Clermont Board approved a consent agenda that included multiple retirements, resignations, hires and approval of an overnight DECA trip; motions passed by roll call 5-0.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6049075,"West Clermont honors eighth-graders who researched AI scoring of state essays",1427,191000,1618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a&start=191&end=1618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512577-92b71af61d31cf5c547a198005cb127a/thumbnail_191000.jpg","/articles/6049075/Ohio/West-Clermont-honors-eighth-graders-who-researched-AI-scoring-of-state-essays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049075-5eabf8215d124ae071b190b692d05684/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102424&Signature=Yjaxe~jnA5v-eHfgpvuMZSed-7haSIkV3Wc98EusgNvNpgDPcJHQEUljxkWDzGAJ2ITyrPQp79MsM69uuHq3HQ-sNtD-XPHixvOfQ2Mbqwxy-Qr6YBxg1HVtjjERvbWCpTuJYAVR-hjrDhyDBAg1bZSuIyWqRev8atXoTNqBboOUXZgrPdbtMHnu1l52dM37Ixz6okgFMjOLYuc9hVOrGafZacV4Z3NceE606O3I8XCw2Rsf8bcoNUJw~4SD6jFBy6SJYfnWoZ0-E8xya0y9B3GqKav2tAjoSCNvQ~ZFjBBnlbLgMGYHWX~rmfhJdgxI7gNCCpEyR3mMZ15CkqZPVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Clermont Board of Education on April 7 honored a group of eighth-grade students and their English teacher, Mary Hufford, for researching automated (AI) grading of the Ohio State Test and for subsequent outreach to state education officials.

The students in Hufford’s class analyzed scoring patterns, built tools to study how writing is evaluated by machine graders and presented their research at district and state conferences. Board members and administrators said the work spurred conversations about fairness in assessment and the skills the district values in graduates.

Dr. Fultz, introducing the group, said the project began with a teacher’s question and grew into an example of students and staff ‘‘becoming co-learners.’’ He said the class studied a recent state shift from human to machine scoring and asked whether that scoring approach rewards the kinds of writing humans value. “They were really questioning … if schools are under so much pressure to perform on these assessments and they’re writing for a machine to grade it, is that really the best kind of writing that you’re going to find in life?” Dr. Fultz said.

The board heard that the students were invited to publish in the Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, presented at conferences in Columbus and were invited back to a national conference. The group also met with Representative Adam Berg; according to Dr. Fultz, Berg complimented the students’ professionalism and indicated interest in inviting them to a committee meeting.

During public comment, parent Trisha Lyons, speaking on behalf of a number of eighth-grade parents, thanked Hufford for creating student-centered work that she said taught executive-function skills and durable skills beyond the ELA standards. “Mrs. Hufford has empowered our children by giving them an opportunity to grow, constantly supporting and encouraging them, while also allowing them tremendous autonomy,” Lyons said.

Board members and administrators connected the project to the district’s portrait-of-a-graduate goals, emphasizing communication, collaboration and critical thinking as durable skills the district aims to teach explicitly. School leaders said the project also reflects broader community engagement, noting the Citizens Advisory Commission’s work on district priorities and design.

The board recognized the following students by name during the meeting: Ava Capaldo, Josh Carper, Samuel Ehas, A.J. Elswick, Kendall Hines, Rory Hinkle, Will Johns, Will Lyons, Jagger Miller, Abigail Mosley, James Rapp, Grace Enfin. Board members said they expect to continue highlighting similar student-led work across the district.

No board action was required for the recognition; the item was a ceremonial acknowledgment placed early on the agenda.","At its April 7 meeting, the West Clermont Board recognized Mary Hufford and her eighth-grade English students for researching automated scoring on Ohio’s state writing test, publishing findings and meeting with state lawmakers to discuss assessment fairness.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears advocacy update on substitute House Bill 96; district warns against 25% cash-balance restriction

District outlines summer repairs and bulk furniture purchases; board asked about bids

Board approves consent agenda including retirements, hires and DECA trip

West Clermont honors eighth-graders who researched AI scoring of state essays