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Oak Hill board reviews handbook updates and approves personnel reductions amid declining enrollment
Summary
Board approved a consent agenda that included personnel reductions (11 positions, roughly $630,000 in budget reductions) and reviewed first readings of updated handbooks with new dress-code language, a smartwatch/device policy and a discipline matrix item addressing cheating with AI; a proposal would add academic requirements for fifth-grade athletics.
At its regular meeting the Oak Hill United School Corp. board approved the consent agenda that included personnel actions and budget transfers to address declining enrollment and fiscal constraints, and the board reviewed first readings of updated student handbooks.
Administration said the district is facing lower enrollment and budget pressure. The consent agenda included reductions of 11 positions (three certified positions and multiple non-certified positions and retirements) with an approximate budget reduction of $630,000. Named certified positions included Andrew Moracle (high school math), Victoria Walter (sixth grade), and Jennifer Moss (third grade); non-certified reductions included a custodian and several instructional assistants listed in the packet. The administration characterized this as a necessary step given current projections and legislative changes affecting revenue.
Board members also reviewed first readings of elementary and junior/high school handbooks. Notable proposed handbook changes: clarified dress-code language to allow a 2-inch shoulder strap (while prohibiting spaghetti straps and tube tops), an explicit prohibition and discipline guidance for cheating using AI tools and image-reading tools (e.g., Google Lens), and clarified cell-phone and smartwatch rules (elementary students would be required to keep devices turned off and in lockers). Administrators said the junior/high school handbook will be posted on the district website and final approval is expected at the next meeting.
A discussion item raised adding academic eligibility requirements for fifth graders who play junior-high sports; board members discussed monitoring and supporting student academics alongside athletics. The handbook changes discussed were first readings; the transcript shows final approval is scheduled for the following month.
