Author: Tanner Atha

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Hilliard City Schools, we’re committed to supporting the emotional and mental well-being of every student—not just this month, but all year long. Mental health is a vital part of a child’s overall development and academic success, and families play a critical role in helping students feel supported, connected, and understood.

Signs to Look Out For

While every student experiences ups and downs, some signs may indicate your child could benefit from extra support:

• Sudden changes in mood, behavior, or energy levels

• Difficulty concentrating or a noticeable drop in grades

• Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they usually enjoy

• Increased feelings of worry, sadness, or frustration

• Changes in sleep, eating habits, or personal hygiene

• Expressions of hopelessness or feeling overwhelmed

Early support can make a big difference. If you notice these signs, consider starting a calm, supportive conversation with your child and reaching out to a school counselor or mental health professional.

Ways to Support Your Child’s Mental Health

Families can take simple but powerful steps to promote emotional wellness at home:

• Encourage open conversations about emotions and mental health

• Create a routine that includes time for rest, play, and connection

• Model healthy coping strategies like taking breaks, journaling, or talking through challenges

• Stay involved in your child’s school life and social experiences

• Remind them it’s okay to ask for help—and that you’re always there to listen

Together, we can help ensure every student in Hilliard feels seen, heard, and supported.

For more tips, resources, and ways to take action, explore the Mental Health Awareness Toolkit from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
 https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/mental-health-awareness-month/toolkit

We want to keep our community informed as we closely monitor the state budget process. You may recall that the Governor’s original budget proposal would have reduced Hilliard City Schools’ state funding by $2.5 to $3.5 million annually—an alarming cut. While the Ohio House recently passed a version that avoids those reductions, it still falls short. Lawmakers are not continuing the Fair School Funding Plan, and they are using outdated 2022 cost figures that don’t reflect today’s realities. As a result, Hilliard and many Ohio districts still won’t receive the full and fair funding our students deserve.

A newly proposed amendment in Substitute House Bill 96 is also raising serious concerns. It would require school districts with cash balances above 30% of prior-year operating expenses to reduce their property tax rates. While this may sound like short-term taxpayer relief, it undermines long-term financial planning and could have major consequences for Hilliard.

Here’s what that means for us:
Hilliard ended Fiscal Year 2024 with a 38.6% cash balance, expected to drop to 23.5% within five years. These dollars were approved by voters and are part of a careful, responsible plan to avoid frequent levy requests, maintain high-quality programs, and ensure financial stability. The community supported—and funded—this long-term approach during our November 2024 operating and bond issue.

If the proposed amendment becomes law, we may be forced to return to the ballot sooner than expected, or more often, just to maintain current programs. This goes against the stability and trust our community values.

Why This Matters:

• A healthy reserve is recommended by financial experts. We aim to stay above 20% to maintain stability.
• Capping reserves may lead to wasteful spending or force districts to liquidate investments at a loss.
• Instability could threaten our bond ratings and increase borrowing costs.
• Levy success rates are low. Frequent requests put our students’ opportunities at risk.
• Property owners may see unpredictable changes in escrow payments.

In short, this proposal threatens our ability to manage public funds responsibly and honor the trust you’ve placed in us.

How You Can Help: Your voice matters!  Now is the time to speak up. Contact your legislators and ask them to:

• Fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan and update the cost calculations.
• Allow school districts and communities, not the state, to determine responsible reserve levels and levy timelines.

When you call or write to your elected officials, consider sharing why Hilliard City Schools matter to your family. Ask for continued fair funding and local control. And thank them for their time and service.

Here is a quick script:

“Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I’m a resident of [Your District]. I’m calling to express my strong concern about the proposed budget bill’s impact on public school funding. I urge you to prioritize fair and equitable funding for our public schools, as insufficient funding is impacting our classrooms, teachers, and students. I’m asking you to:

• Support a budget that fully funds the Fair School Funding Plan.
• Ensure that the state’s share of the base cost per pupil does not decrease.
• Remove any provisions limiting school district carry-over cash balances.
• Oppose any measures that divert funds from public schools to private school vouchers.

I believe that investing in our public schools is investing in the future of our state. Thank you for your time and consideration.”

Who to contact:

Senator Michele Reynolds  reynolds@ohiosenate.gov – 614-466-8064

Senator Beth Liston  liston@ohiosenate.gov – 614-466-5981

Senator William DeMora  demora@ohiosenate.gov – 614-466-4583

Representative Crystal Lett  rep11@ohiohouse.gov – 614-466-5358

Representative Christine Cockley Rep06@ohiohouse.gov – 614-644-6005

Representative Allison Russo  rep07@ohiohouse.gov or 614-466-8012

Together, we can advocate for the kind of educational excellence and financial stability our students and community deserve.

Sincerely,

Treasurer Melissa Swearingen and Superintendent David Stewart

We’re thrilled to share exciting news from the stage—Shades of Blue, Hilliard’s premier high school a cappella group, has been named Runner-Up in the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) Finals, placing second in the nation out of 262 groups and more than 4,000 students from across the United States.

This prestigious competition, often regarded as the pinnacle of high school a cappella, brought together the top vocal talent from around the country. Shades of Blue advanced through regional and semifinal rounds to earn their spot at the Finals, held in New York City, where they delivered a standout performance that captured the attention of judges and audiences alike.

Finishing just behind a nationally recognized performing arts academy in Atlanta, Shades of Blue’s achievement marks a significant milestone—not just for the group, but for the entire Hilliard City Schools community.

Shades of Blue continues to represent Hilliard with excellence, creativity, and heart. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding students on an unforgettable season and a truly remarkable national honor.

Congratulations, Shades of Blue!

We Are Proud to Grow Our Purple Star Family in Hilliard!

We are extremely proud to announce that four Hilliard schools have earned Purple Star recognition from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce this year! This designation honors schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to our nation’s military.

🎉 New Purple Star Schools

Memorial Middle School

Hoffman Trails Elementary School

Hilliard Horizon Elementary School

🎉 Renewed Purple Star School

Hilliard Davidson High School

We’re proud to continue this important work across our district. Hilliard Bradley High School will be up for renewal next year, and Darby High School and Washington Elementary earned their Purple Star designations just last year.

It’s inspiring to see the growth of the Purple Star community here in Hilliard. Thank you to our staff, students, and families for their ongoing support of our military-connected families!

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Shannon Johnston (Bus Driver), and Ingrid Riddle (Secretary at Alton Darby Elementary).

“I gave Ingrid the nickname “Angel Ingrid” within the first month of meeting her and it’s no surprise to anyone in our building when they hear positive words about her either. Ingrid is a true gift to our building. I’m not sure I’ll be able to name all the ways she positively impacts our students, staff, and community, but I will name the ones that have stood out the most to me. As a kindergarten teacher, I have seen my fair share of nervous kiddos, especially during the first few days of school. We had a student in K this year who struggled to adjust. Ingrid became his person. He starts his morning in the office, picking out matching stickers to wear on his hand, that also match one on Ingrid’s hand, just to be a constant reminder throughout the day for each other to be brave. Big hugs come after holding hands and walking down the hallway to this child’s classroom. Angel Ingrid.

Another example of her remarkable work is when we as teachers feel the pressures and challenges of the job, she will be there, will listen to us cry, get angry and is always there to offer a hug, smile, words of encouragement and even candy, she is always stocked with the best candy. Angel Ingrid.

I have had numerous parents in my classroom comment on the “sweet secretary up front” who greets them with a smile, friendly tone and even when having to be the one to call them to let them know something happened with their child, she’s always calm, reassuring, respectful, and oh so loving! Angel Ingrid.

I could continue to ramble about the amazing woman that Ingrid is, but I hope this shows you a glimpse of the amazing human we get to call family at ADE. We are so lucky to have her with us. She is changing the world and I hope she always remembers that!”

“Mrs. Shannon was my kid’s bus driver from Kindergarten to 5th grade, they are now in 6th grade and still go to the bus stop a couple of days a week to say hi! Mrs Shannon truly cares about the kids on her bus and she has left permanent footprints in their lives! My kids always wanted to sit in the front with her as they always had meaningful conversations! She got them gifts on every holiday! And they always wanted to get her something too! If we saw her in public she always made an effort to come say Hi! It was always a positive experience sending my kids off to school with her, a lot of trust in her to get them there safely and home safely! She is a wonderful person who has touched the lives of so many kids! I feel she has helped raise my kids in their early years!”

These staff members go above and beyond the expectations of the Hilliard Way and truly make a difference in our district. If you know a staff member who goes above and beyond their way to make a difference, you can nominate them for next month’s award by clicking HERE!

According to Stephanie Drenten Ferro, a 2007 graduate of Davidson High School, Hilliard Schools more than prepared her for the path she has pursued since graduating. 

“The curriculum and teachers instilled in me confidence, curiosity and passion. They led me to world-renowned institutions and helped me believe that I could take on hard challenges,” she said. 

Stephanie attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, a highly selective college. She earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering before returning to the Hilliard area and working the first five years of her career with the Bruner Corporation, a mechanical contracting firm that allowed her to work with some of the who’s who in business across central Ohio, from Riverside Hospital to none other than Hilliard City Schools. 

Then, she took a year off to pursue her master’s in philosophy in engineering for sustainable development from the University of Cambridge in England, another prestigious organization. There, she had the chance to work with colleagues from across the globe.

She again returned to Ohio, this time working for Forest City in Cleveland, where she created, led and managed energy and utility savings programs across a portfolio of nationwide apartment, commercial and office buildings. 

Today she is a principal and senior project manager of building optimization for HEAPY, an engineering and sustainability company that works with those in the healthcare, education, government, and cultural and science technology industries. 

“As a female going into engineering, I had a lot of self-doubt, especially as a junior and senior in high school,” said Stephanie. “The support from my teachers, principals and advisors was critical for me. They taught me that you don’t know if you can succeed at something until you take a chance and trust yourself.”

If you have alumni you would like to see spotlighted, click here to send us an email!