Ashland City Schools honors students and urges support for no‑new‑tax renewal on Nov. 4

At its Oct. 27 meeting, the Ashland City Schools superintendent recognized students and staff across the district and asked the community to support a renewal levy on the Nov. 4 ballot that he said would not raise taxes.

Superintendent Paramore opened his report by introducing the district’s students and staff of the month from kindergarten through 12th grade and thanking families and staff who attended. He highlighted the contributions of kindergarten student Hudson Druschel; third‑grader Jalen Stancombe; fourth‑grader Quinn Stanley; middle‑school students Tristan Caseman, Addison Hamilton, Adrianna Reid Banks and Ellie Johnson; and high‑school honorees Faith Wolf, Trey Carver, Lavender Klein and Braden Burns. He also recognized classified staff member Charles Burley and certified staff member Amanda Hockman.

"On the November 4 ballot, we do have a levy renewal, and that is no new money to our taxpayers," Paramore said, urging community support and noting the levy funds capital projects such as stadium turf and classroom chillers. He described those funds as "non general fund dollars" designated for physical capital and maintenance.

Paramore also announced district events and calendar items: an annual senior citizens’ Christmas luncheon on Dec. 5 at Archer Auditorium (doors open 10:30 a.m.; program 11 a.m.), and a calendar committee meeting to finalize the 2026–27 school calendar with public viewing required for one month before adoption and board approval expected in December. He said the district plans to return the calendar for final action at the Dec. 15 board meeting.

On policy, the board received a first reading of a habitual truancy policy specific to open‑enrolled students. Paramore said the draft would allow the district, after interventions such as courtesy letters and an intervention team, to return an open‑enrolled student to their home district if they become habitually truant. The draft was presented for review and is expected to return for action at a future meeting.

Pastor John Bouquet spoke during public comment to express support for the Lifewise program and distributed copies of the U.S. Constitution and a 1952 Supreme Court decision (Zorach v. Clauson) to board members. Bouquet told the board Lifewise was active in many states and thanked district leaders for local implementation.

The board’s next regular meeting was noted as Monday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting closed with the board moving into an executive session on permitted confidential matters.

Next steps: the board will return items that received only a first reading (including the truancy policy) for potential approval at a later meeting, and the district’s Nov. 4 levy renewal will appear on the ballot for voters.