Fairfield Union earns four-star district rating; board approves student access to New Lexington workforce center

Fairfield Union Local School District officials reported that the district was rated an overall four-star district for the 2024-25 school year and highlighted strong building-level performance and career-readiness indicators.

Superintendent (referred to in the meeting as Mister Belvieu) and district data lead Mr. DiStadio presented the Ohio report-card results and county comparisons. Mr. DiStadio told the board that the district scored above the statewide average on 17 of 20 state tests and that Bremen Elementary and Fairfield Union High School were rated 4.5 stars individually. He said the district ranked first or second in six of seven report-card categories among Fairfield County districts.

"We scored above the state average in 85% — 17 of the 20 exams," Mr. DiStadio said. "Our high school is absolutely knocking it out of the ballpark."

The presentation acknowledged areas needing attention. District staff flagged early literacy as the biggest concern: the district received a two-star rating in that category, a dip the presenters partly attributed to statewide adoption of a new Science of Reading curriculum and the usual transitional effects of a new program. Mr. DiStadio said the district is targeting elementary literacy with coaching and curriculum work and expects to continue implementing targeted interventions.

The board also discussed college- and career-readiness. Mr. DiStadio noted Fairfield Union led the county on the college-career-military-workforce readiness indicator (about 81%) and described a range of local opportunities: 19 in-house concurrent-credit (CCP) courses, a record AP enrollment and passing rates, and three in-house CTE pathways.

As part of workforce expansion, the board unanimously approved a superintendent agreement with New Lexington schools that will allow Fairfield Union students to remain enrolled at Fairfield Union while attending New Lexington's workforce development center for specified programs. The superintendent said the agreement guarantees three student seats in New Lexington's phlebotomy program and includes a placement arrangement with Genesys Health System in Somerset.

Board Chair read the motion to approve the agreement; Missus Conrad Zangmeister moved and Mister Smelter seconded. Missus Roberts conducted the unanimous roll-call vote.

The presentation packet includes the state report-card pages and three-year trend data the district used to identify strengths and focus areas. Officials said next steps will emphasize early-literacy interventions and continued expansion of career pathways while monitoring outcomes.

The board did not take additional action beyond approving the New Lexington agreement.