Excellent Education
Hilliard City Schools provides excellent educational opportunities for all students and has earned the state’s highest rating – Excellent with Distinction.As a district, we:
- Met 30 of 30 Indicators
- Achieved a Performance Index Score of 101.1, our highest ever.
- Met Adequate Yearly Progress & Value Added Requirements
- 5 rated “Excellent with Distinction”
- 12 rated “Excellent”
- 4 rated “Effective”
Accountable Education
Hilliard City Schools continues to have accountability as our #1 goal. This is being accomplished in many ways, including:
- Reducing the levy millage request to 6.9 mills, based
on community input. - Reducing the budget by $5.6 million and cutting 100 positions, since 2005.
- Cutting an additional $3 million by eliminating positions through attrition, re-organizing, streamlining administration and finding new efficiencies, over the next two years.
- Maintaining student and administrative costs that are among the lowest in Franklin County.
What’s At Stake?
The current level of programming and educational excellence provided by Hilliard City Schools is at risk. Nearly $11 million in spending reductions will be necessary should the 6.9 mill operating levy fail on November 4th. These cuts include:
- Administrative Staff – 12.1% of administrative personnel, $482,604
- Certified (Teaching) Staff – 10.6% of certified personnel, $5,907,163
- Classified (Support) Staff – 6.8% of classified staff, $907,219
- Transportation Department – All 144 drivers affected, $1,255,042
- Programs/Curriculum – 150 staff positions, $2,437,126
Students, families and the community-at-large
will be affected by the:
- Elimination of busing for students in grades 9 – 12.
- Elimination of all middle school and freshman sports, beginning with winter season.
- Elimination of all academic and extra-curricular field trips.
- Substantial fee increases for evening, after-school and weekend usage of school buildings.
- Reduction of 18 Media Specialist (Librarian) positions; 23 Reading & Math Intervention teachers; and tutors.
The reductions will be implemented in the following phases:
- November 5, 2008 – All middle school & freshman sports.
- January 5, 2009 (after winter break) – 10 third shift custodians will be let go and after-school, evening and weekend building usage fees will be increased substantially.
- March 30, 2009 (after spring break) – Busing for grades 9 – 12, kindergarten midday busing and all daycare transportation.
- 2009 – 2010 School Year – Majority of remaining
reductions.
Strong Return on Your Investment
With this levy, you can expect a strong return on your investment. The additional money generated by the levy is critical for us to deliver five important results:
- Educational programs and student achievement will continue to improve over time;
- Students will benefit from highly skilled teachers, adequate materials and the necessary technology to deliver quality education;
- Appropriate support will be available for struggling students;
- Advanced, cultural, and athletic programs will meet the district’s diverse student needs; and
- Creative, cost-saving measures will continue and
responsible fiscal management will remain a priority.
Audit & Accountability Committee
The Board of Education will form an Audit & Accountability Committee in response to the community and to help the district remain open and transparent concerning the finances and operations of the district. The committee will be asked to:
- Review financial forecasts.
- Audit revenue and expenses.
- Recommend operational efficiencies.
- Provide feedback to the Board and the community on a regular basis.