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Superintendent reports on orientations, transportation patterns and community outreach ahead of first day
Summary
Superintendent Ben Paramore updated the Ashland City School Board on opening-week operations, including orientations for multiple grades, drop-off patterns at Edison and Reagan, final-form assistance and outreach for free-and-reduced lunch.
Superintendent Ben Paramore used his report to brief the board on operational preparations for the opening of school.
Orientation and enrollment: Paramore said orientation was held for sixth- and ninth-grade students and that many K-5 staff participated in professional development. He noted the district has a large sixth-grade cohort this year — about 248 sixth graders — and nine kindergarten classes at Reagan with a three-day orientation model (eight kindergarteners per class during orientation). Preschool start dates were scheduled for the week following the board meeting.
Final forms and free-and-reduced lunch: District staff (Nicole Elmore, Kira Beasley and others) have been assisting families to complete final forms and free-and-reduced-lunch applications. Paramore stressed that athletes must have final forms completed to participate. He said families can be assisted at Central Office or by using the online link (PaySchools) and that paper copies remain available at all buildings.
Transportation and pickup/drop-off logistics: Paramore described site-specific directions to reduce congestion: Edison Street will be the parent drop-off/pickup route with signage on Sandusky Street; at Reagan there are two loops (orange = Luray, white = Jackson Drive loop) and shuttle students' doors open at 8:10 a.m. with other drop-offs at 8:20 a.m. He explained how group stops are used in denser areas to preserve route efficiency and noted rural students may be dropped at driveways.
Community events and sponsors: Paramore thanked corporate sponsors that support the district art calendar (listed in his report) and reminded the public about Military Appreciation Night at Community Stadium on Sept. 19. He also reminded the community about the PI renewal levy on Nov. 4, 2025, stating the renewal is "no new money" and that it yields about $630,000 in annual funding for permanent improvements.
ParentSquare and communications: Board members and staff reported generally positive feedback about the ParentSquare rollout; staff made extensive data-cleaning efforts to support a smoother implementation. The superintendent and board encouraged families needing help to contact district offices for aid with online forms.
No members of the public addressed the board during the meeting's public-comment periods.
