Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westerville superintendent emphasizes MTSS, community engagement after ballot approval
Summary
Superintendent Angie Hamburg said the district will use funds secured by a November ballot approval to sustain programs and advance multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), boost community engagement and nurture every student's "sense of belonging."
Superintendent Angie Hamburg said the passage of a November ballot issue has allowed Westerville City (Regular School District) to refocus on core educational priorities, including expanding multi-tiered systems of support and strengthening ties between schools and the community.
Hamburg, the guest on the district’s "We Are The Ville" podcast, said the district will "continue to move that MTSS work forward," citing progress in aligning interventions for academics, behavior and social-emotional learning across 25 buildings that serve more than 14,500 students. She credited the district treasurer, staff and community volunteers for outreach that helped the ballot measure pass.
District goals and why they matter
The superintendent said the ballot funding is intended chiefly to maintain existing programming that would otherwise be at risk, not to fund broad expansions. "The money that we secured on the ballot issue is really to maintain our programming, but we're always going to look at how can we improve what we have," Hamburg said. She described MTSS as a priority to make sure staff use data to match supports to students’ academic and behavioral needs.
Hamburg also discussed a district initiative called "We Are The Ville," aimed at reducing siloed work across buildings, developing student and staff leadership and creating more consistent programming across schools. She said the district has brought together a superintendent advisory cohort and is planning superintendent advisory work with middle-school students to develop leadership pathways.
On visits and community engagement
Hamburg recounted school visits this fall — serving lunch, riding a My Van route, attending an English-learner culture fair and observing classroom activities, including third-grade squid dissections — as key ways to see instruction and community engagement in action. She credited parent volunteers and extracurricular coordinators for supporting related-arts and activities.
A focus on belonging
Asked what she hopes every student experiences before the year ends, Hamburg said she wants "a sense of belonging." "How do we make sure that all kids have something in our schools and someone in our schools that they are able to connect with?" she asked, tying that goal to improved learning and well-being.
What comes next
Hamburg said, now that the ballot issue has passed, district leaders will focus on continuing MTSS, refining elementary academic frameworks, extending behavior instruction intentionally into secondary grades and increasing community communication and involvement. She thanked the community for support, wished families a restful holiday and said the district will resume work in 2026.
