Quality Profile
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COMMUNITY A Forest Hills School District publication for residents of Anderson Township and UPDATE the Village of Newtown SCOT T. PREBLES, SUPERINTENDENT VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4 • FALL 2018 QPQUALITY PROFILE TIF QUALITY FINANCIAL CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROFILE REPORT UPDATE PG. 3 PG. 4 PG. 6 PG. 13 FHSD | FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT From the Desk of the Superintendent n Forest Hills School District, we work to published by U.S. News and World Report. It Iensure all students have support, resources is exciting that the district was able to stretch and opportunities to excel both inside and a three year levy for daily operations to last outside of the classroom. By engaging and twice as long, while its students achieved empowering students, we intend to foster a among Ohio’s highest academic levels! love of learning while meeting their individual It’s a testament that our staff, parents and needs. community are committed to continuous To do this, we focus on hiring quality improvement and excellent financial employees who exemplify a service to stewardship. student and family mentality. We encourage The forecast also revealed that Forest Hills professional development and growth will reach its Board policy minimum cash among those we employ to ensure that we balance during the 2019–20 school year. meet the expectations of our community, This means we must now begin to discuss and we work diligently to be good stewards with our community if and when a levy of the resources our generous community will be placed on the ballot. To begin this provides. We engage with local, state and conversation, the district held a telephone national education experts to provide the Town Hall meeting on October 25, 2018. We highest level of research-based instructional will host additional opportunities in the new teaching and learning strategies so that our year (visit our website at www.foresthills. students remain among the most prepared edu for complete schedule) to encourage and competitive in the state and nation. all residents to share their perspectives In this issue of “Community Update” you regarding the future of FHSD and its will see information intended to provide an finances. in-depth look at accountability measures we Whatever is determined, residents of believe are needed to provide a high-quality Forest Hills can expect the district to remain education including teaching and learning, committed to cost controls, preserving the student wellness, fiscal accountability and community’s investment in its facilities, and partnerships. respecting the generosity of its taxpayers. During the October 2018 Board meeting, Moreover, residents can rest assured that a review of the five-year forecast revealed our primary focus has always been and will that the district’s per pupil costs are the always be the best interest of the student 11th lowest in Hamilton County’s 22 school that we serve. districts. The district dedicates the sixth highest amount of dollars to classroom Respectfully, instruction placing it tenth among the same Hamilton County districts. The district stretched funding from its 2012 operating levy to last six years, rather TK than the intended three. During that same Scot T. Prebles time, both FHSD high schools ranked in the Superintendent top five percent of all Ohio high schools as 231-3600 | [email protected] (COVER) PHOTOGRAPHS BY 2 | FHSD COMMUNITY UPDATE VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 4 | FALL 2018 COMMUNITY UPDATE | FHSD Partners in Providing CALENDAR Recreation Opportunities NOVEMBER 16 Grades PK-6 No School, Elementary Parent-Teacher ➔ FOREST HILLS PARTNERS WITH TOWNSHIP PARKS TO Conferences PROVIDE COMMUNITY RECREATION FACILITY NOVEMBER 21–23 No School, Fall Break NOVEMBER 26 Board of Education Meeting n September, the Board ap- bution. This will provide necessary 7 p.m., Nagel Middle School, proved a Tax Increment Fi- funding for the entire RecPlex 1500 Nagel Road nancing (TIF) agreement with project. I DECEMBER 5 Anderson Township to provide re- “I am excited that the district Shop & Share sources to modernize the RecPlex was able to partner with the Town- 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m., Target, at Beech Acres. ship and Park District to support 8680 Beechmont Ave. A TIF redirects property taxes local recreation programs. This DECEMBER 17 to fund projects that partnership will Board of Education Meeting benefit the commu- continue to keep 7 p.m., Nagel Middle School, nity. In this instance, our community and 1500 Nagel Road the Board voted to schools vibrant,” DECEMBER 24–JANUARY 1 contribute a portion I am excit- said Scot T. Prebles, No School, Winter Break of new property “ FHSD superinten- tax revenue to be ed that the dent. JANUARY 18 No School, Teacher Work Day generated by the Jim Frooman, Stonecrest Senior district was Forest Hills Board JANUARY 21 Living development, able to part- president, agreed. No School, adjacent to the “Many benefits may Martin Luther King, Jr. Day RecPlex. This means ner with the be derived from JANUARY 26 that, without giving this type of devel- Science and Innovation Expo 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Nagel Middle School, up a revenue stream, Township and opment, especially 1500 Nagel Road the district will for students who contribute $33,000 Park District participate in Park FEBRUARY 7 a year for 30 years District programs,” Grades 9-12 Parent-Teacher to support lo- Conferences to help provide the said Frooman. By appointment community with an cal recreation “Without the TIF indoor recreation- agreement, the FEBRUARY 18 No School, President’s Day al facility that will programs.” RecPlex renova- benefit all residents, tion would not be FEBRUARY 21 from senior citizens possible and the Grades 7-8 Parent-Teacher who participate in district is proud Conferences By appointment RecPlex activities to FHSD stu- to be a part of partnerships that dents who visit the RecPlex for enhance our community. Under FEBRUARY 28 extracurricular programming. this agreement, the property will Grades PK-6 Parent-Teacher Conferences Anderson Township negotiated be developed. By appointment the terms of a purchase and sale “We are excited that the Dis- agreement with Beech Acres to trict’s contribution will assist the MARCH 15 acquire the RecPlex and surround- Anderson Park District as it con- Distinguished Alumni Awards 11 a.m., Ivy Hills Country Club ing property, will redirect $2 mil- tinues to provide much needed lion from the Township’s portion extracurricular programming and For a complete district of the Stonecrest TIF revenue to services for Forest Hills students, calendar, visit foresthills.edu. combine with the district’s contri- families and seniors.” VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 4 | FALL 2018 FHSD COMMUNITY UPDATE | 3 FHSD | COMMUNITY UPDATE QUALITY PROFILE: FOREST HILLS SHARES EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF SCHOOLS Teaching and Learning ➔ A well-rounded education includes a wide variety of engagement, service and academic opportunities to help all students reach their full potential. DISTRICT ACCOLADES Ohio Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Awards earned by Wilson Elementary, Step Up to Quality Turpin High School, 5 Star rating for A+ school district Ayer Elementary preschool program and the 6th Best and Mercer exhibiting excel- District in Hamilton Elementary for lence in learning and County (out of 22) efforts to instill development, family based on academ- positive behavior and community ics, student life and habits and increase partnerships, staff community input. achievement with qualifications, and Source: Niche Ohio Academy of Science Governor’s students administrative and Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in leadership practices. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), earned by both Anderson and Turpin high schools (2 of only 3 Cincinnati area schools). To support student learning, FHSD provides: PRESCHOOL: one iPad for every five students Top 5% of Ohio KINDERGARTEN: one iPad for every four high schools students based on reading and math assess- FIRST GRADE: one iPad for every student ments, graduation 1 of 4 Hamilton County school one Chromebook for every rates and college districts named to the College Board GRADES 2–6: student preparation. AP District Honor Roll for increased Source: U.S. News student participation and performance GRADES 7–12: “Bring Your Own Device” or and World Report in Advanced Placement courses. a device rental program 4 | FHSD COMMUNITY UPDATE VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 4 | FALL 2018 QPQUALITY PROFILE ➔ Forest Hills School District’s Quality Profile provides a closer look at accountability measures that are important in a high-quality education: teaching and learning, student wellness, fiscal accountability and partnerships. STAFF ACCOLADES Linda Lagemann, Wilson Elementary fourth- grade teacher, was named the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year for her exemplary commitment to student achievement, leadership, parent outreach and volunteerism. 1 of 37 Ohio districts to be named a Best Community for Music Educa- tion in the nation. Source: National Association of Music Merchants Mindy Trujillo, Turpin High School language arts teacher, received the Hamilton County Education Foundation Celebrate Excellence Teaching Award for her high commitment toward student achievement and a teaching style that is engaging, energetic, creative, collaborative and innovative. One of the 2018 Top 15 Large Workplaces in Cincinnati Brian Lyons, Wilson Elementary assistant principal, (second year in a row) Source: was named the 2018 National Outstanding Cincinnati Enquirer Assistant Principal by the National