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

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.