Trotwood‑Madison City board reviews graduation status, school health‑center challenges and plans after student deaths

The Trotwood‑Madison City Board of Education on Jan. 23 received a series of updates from district staff on graduation progress, the partnership with the 5 Rivers school‑based health center, online‑learning day planning and a proposed donation — and heard administrative and board expressions of condolence after district leaders reported multiple student deaths linked to gun violence.

District leaders told the board the graduating class of 2025 remains at 226 students. Staff said 170 seniors have either completed graduation requirements or need only a few additional courses; about 56 seniors are still working to meet requirements and are being offered supports and additional pathways to graduation. The district said it will continue to update the board on progress and planned to circulate a third‑quarter update.

The board also discussed the district’s ongoing partnership with 5 Rivers, a school‑based health center the district helped establish. Staff said the center’s on‑site schedule has been reduced over time — from several days a week when the partnership began to currently one day a week (Tuesdays) — and district leaders cited location and transportation barriers and lower patient volume as primary operational challenges. Staff said 5 Rivers has changed general managers and the district is reestablishing a point of contact to discuss next steps. The district reported that the center still provides some services, such as student physicals for athletics and basic primary‑care visits when parental consent is in place, but that overall utilization at the site has not met initial expectations.

Superintendent and other staff briefed the board on state requirements that now govern remote or online learning days since the COVID‑19 period. The district said the Ohio Department of Education requires a formal plan for online learning days and that many informal approaches used during the pandemic — sometimes called "blizzard bags" in earlier years — are no longer acceptable. Staff said the district believes it must have a contingency once students miss the equivalent of eight school days (measured in hours) and that the district is currently at five missed days for the winter season; staff said they will verify the exact threshold and work this spring and summer to develop a compliant online‑learning plan. The presentation also noted there are contract implications the district must review with "TNA" as the online‑day policy is finalized.

On administrative business, staff presented a memo from Mr. Logan asking the board to accept a donation described as coming from an "equipment share" company at the address listed in the memo (2 Strata Cash Way). The donation was described as coats and hygiene items for students. The district said the memo is in the board packet; no vote or final action on the donation was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Board members and district staff paused the agenda to address a string of recent student deaths. Board members and administrators offered condolences, said staff had deployed support teams at the high school, and described outreach to students and families. The district said details of the incidents remain under investigation and that families’ privacy must be respected.

Board administrative notes included invitations and logistics: the Montgomery County Educational Service Center is providing a board‑member institute on Feb. 1; the 2025 Business Advisory Council annual dinner is Feb. 19 at the Marriott and the district said state rules require district representation at the event.

District staff said they will continue to provide quarterly updates on graduation progress, pursue renewed conversations with 5 Rivers about the center’s schedule and access barriers, and work this year to produce a formal online‑learning day plan consistent with Ohio Department of Education guidelines.

The transcript did not record motions, seconder names, or vote tallies for the donation or other items presented for approval.