Category: News

In unofficial results, voters have approved the $142 million bond issue and 6.9-mill operating levy proposed by the Hilliard City Schools Board of Education. The successful passage of the levy and bond will allow the district to address immediate and future operational and educational needs.

“We are incredibly grateful to our community for their support,” said Superintendent David Stewart. “This outcome ensures we can move forward with critical investments in our schools, staff, and programs, all of which are essential to ensuring that every student has a learning environment that supports 21st-century instruction.”

The approved funding will allow the district to preserve current programming, avoid staffing cuts, and move ahead with Phase 1 of the Master Facilities Plan. This includes a new sixth-grade school, three new elementary buildings, and additional preschool classrooms, as well as improvements to athletic and performing arts spaces, increased safety and security, and playground renovations. Superintendent Stewart added, “We’re excited to continue our mission of ensuring every student is Ready for Tomorrow, and we thank the entire community for their investment in the future of our schools.  Because of this investment, the next several years will be an exciting time for our Hilliard City Schools community.”

In the coming months, the district will communicate its progress relative to these plans on a regular basis with the community.

Dr. Lauren Thai is a 2013 graduate of Bradley High School. She left her mark by graduating third overall and as the No. 1 female in Bradley’s inaugural class. Additionally, she made school history by being the first-ever state champion in doubles tennis.

She went on to graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, where she competed as a Division I tennis player and received numerous academic and athletic honors. 

Lauren continued her education at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, before completing a rigorous Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics residency at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. This earned her a board certification, a distinction held by only 50% of orthodontic professionals. 

Dr. Thai recently returned to Hilliard and purchased Kiourtsis Orthodontics. Outside of her professional success, she remains dedicated to giving back to her community, regularly sponsoring local events and contributing to the growth of her hometown. If you have an alumni you would like to see spotlighted, click here to send us an email!

See the Impact of Issue #39! Here is a chart that shows what each building in the district will receive if issue 39 is successful.

Hilliard City Schools is taking important steps to prepare for the future. Below is a conceptual design of the new elementary schools that will be built if Issue 39 passes. We are planning now so that, if successful, work can begin as soon as possible. Please note, these designs are preliminary, and many details are still being finalized. Here are a few items to highlight:

New Brown Elementary School

· 4 dedicated kindergarten classrooms

· 20 dedicated grade 1 through 5 classrooms

· One each of art, music, gymnasium, and innovation & discovery center areas

Rebuilt Ridgewood and Beacon Elementary Schools

· 2 additional dedicated kindergarten classrooms with restrooms, 4 total

· 6 dedicated rooms for special education, EL, and gifted programs

· 2 extended learning areas and 4 small group areas

· Dedicated makerspace adjacent to the Innovation and Discovery Center

· Enhanced administrative offices with integral security vestibule

· Enclosed mechanical equipment mezzanine

We appreciate your interest as we continue to address the district’s facility needs.

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Gina Schmidt (Secretary) and Brianna Paige (Behavior Analyst).

Gina consistently goes above and beyond by providing exceptional support to her colleagues, ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Her attention to detail and positive attitude help create a welcoming and organized environment for everyone.

Brianna works tirelessly to support students with behavioral needs, showing extraordinary dedication and compassion. Her innovative approaches and commitment to each student’s success truly make a lasting impact across the district.

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!

A 2008 graduate of Hilliard Davidson, Morgan Drake has always had a passion for dance.

After dancing competitively throughout her childhood, she attended musical theater school in New York after high school before joining a contemporary modern dance company in central Ohio. She started teaching dance in local studios, leading her to make her dream of opening her own studio a reality.

Now in its seventh year, Drake Dance Academy features a recreational dance program for ages 2-18 as well as a competitive team made up of nearly 70 dancers, primarily from the Hilliard and Dublin areas, who have accumulated several national titles. Drake Dance Academy dancers often showcase their talents at Old Hilliard Fest. 

“I created DDA to create a safe space for kids; an outlet from the stressors of the world,” said Drake. “My studio is an environment filled with positivity where dancers can make mistakes knowing they are free from judgment.”

She said she still has great connections with many of the educators at Hilliard Schools and appreciates their support of her dreams while she was a student there. Learn more about Drake Dance Academy at dancedda.com.   

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