Forest Hills board approves treasurer contract rescission, grants diplomas and joins voucher lawsuit; consent agenda OK'd

The Forest Hills Local School District Board of Education on May 20 rescinded a prior acceptance of the district treasurer's resignation and approved a successor employment contract; approved the granting of diplomas to 553 candidates; approved the consent agenda covering human resources, business operations and teaching-and-learning items; and voted to join the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit challenging state funding policies.

The board voted 3–2 to rescind its earlier acceptance of the treasurer's resignation and to replace that separation agreement with a new employment contract for the district treasurer. The motion passed after brief discussion thanking the treasurer for continued service during a period of budget uncertainty.

The board approved the list of graduating candidates for Anderson and Turpin high schools — 307 at Anderson and 246 at Turpin — and authorized diplomas for 553 candidates on the attachments, with students enrolling after the meeting subject to satisfactory completion of state and local requirements.

The board also approved the routine consent agenda (items 10.1–14.3), which included personnel listings, facilities contracts, technology purchases and the district's agreements with outside service providers (see actions list below).

In a separate, contested vote, the board approved a resolution to join Vouchers Hurt Ohio, a coalition suit challenging aspects of Ohio's current school-voucher funding and state funding formula, by a 4–1 vote. Board members who spoke in favor framed the vote as protecting public-school funding and future levy planning; members opposed raised legal and fiscal objections to joining a lawsuit and questioned whether the district should allocate funds to litigation.

Votes at a glance - Item 4.2 — Resolution to rescind the board's prior acceptance of the treasurer's resignation and the separation agreement, and to approve a successor employment contract with the treasurer: Passed, Yes 3, No 2. (Vote recorded: Dr. Strickler — Yes; Dr. Simmons — Yes; Mr. Bell — Yes; Mrs. Jonas — No; Mr. Bibb — No.)

- Graduation approvals (Item 6) — Motion to grant diplomas to 553 candidates as listed (Anderson 307, Turpin 246): Passed (unanimous voice vote recorded).

- Consent agenda (Items 10.1–14.3) — Included human resources report, construction/maintenance contracts, technology purchases and teaching-and-learning items including an agreement with the Hamilton County ESC: Approved as part of the consent agenda (voice vote; no roll-call challenges recorded).

- Item 16.2 — Resolution to join Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit: Passed, Yes 4, No 1. (Vote recorded: Dr. Strickler — Yes; Dr. Simmons — Yes; Mr. Bell — Yes; Mrs. Jonas — No; Mr. Bibb — Yes.)

Formal actions taken at the meeting are summarized below. The board moved into an executive session after the public portion of the meeting and announced no action would follow the session.

Ending The board completed routine business, approved the listed motions and entered executive session to consult with legal counsel on pending or imminent litigation. No further public action was taken at the meeting.