We are proud to share that, once again for the third year in a row, Hilliard City Schools has been ranked #1 in the entire state of Ohio for the value-added component on the Ohio School Report Card. This recognition reflects the outstanding work of our teachers, staff, and students in ensuring that every learner makes meaningful academic growth each year, no matter where they begin.

Value-added is one of the most important measures of the impact a school district has on its students. It looks not just at test scores, but at how much progress students are making over time. Leading the state in this measure reaffirms what we know to be true—our students are learning and growing in powerful ways because of the commitment of our educators and the support of our community.

At the same time, we know there is more work to do. While our value-added ranking is a point of pride, the report card always points us to areas of potential growth, and this year is no exception. That tells us we must continue to focus on the bigger picture: not only how students grow while they are with us, but also how prepared they are when they leave us.

As part of our strategic planning, we are renewing our focus on graduation rates and post-graduation readiness, as well as readiness in literacy and mathematics. Whether our students choose college, career, or military service, we want them to leave Hilliard City Schools with the skills, confidence, and experiences they need to thrive.

This moment is both a celebration and a call to action. We celebrate the dedication of our staff, the resilience of our students, and the ongoing support of our families. And we recommit ourselves to ensuring every student graduates ready for the future.

Together, we can be proud of this achievement—and inspired to keep moving forward.

Hilliard City Schools is upgrading the system we use in our school cafeterias. This change will help families better manage their child’s meal account.

Because of this upgrade, parents will need to **set up new automatic payment options** through the MyPaymentsPlus website. Any deposits made using the old setup will not go into your child’s meal account.

Click HERE for Step-by-step instructions!

Please note: MyPaymentsPlus.com is run by a company called Horizon Software. If you have trouble using the website, the Hilliard Food Service Office won’t be able to assist. Instead, please use the help and support tools found directly on the **MyPaymentsPlus** website.

Welcome to ParentSquare! We are excited to adopt this new form of school-to-home communication. ParentSquare is designed to keep parents informed and facilitate participation at school. It provides a safe way for the school principal, teachers, staff, and parents/guardians to:

• Send and receive school and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Sign up to volunteer
• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents – Getting Started video

All school/grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text or you can download the free App.

The Help & Support question mark in the top right corner can help answer most of your questions. So, join in!

Need More Help with Parent Square? If you need to update your contact information such as email, phone number or other information, login to homeaccess.hboe.org to make updates. Be sure to use the same contact information in HomeAccess that you use for ParentSquare so your students are automatically connected to your account.

Other types of support needs? Submit a request: https://www.hilliardschools.org/new-help-desk/ or contact your student’s school in early August.

HB 335 is a sweeping property tax reform bill that combines elements from several prior proposals (HB 129, HB 186, and HB 309). It would fundamentally change how property taxes are levied, limited, and allocated in Ohio, with devastating implications for public school districts. This is a critical time for community advocacy to help protect stable, voter-approved revenue.

You can click the links to find Information and FAQ’s, which are designed to help community members understand the financial, operational, and legal implications of HB 335 and actively advocate to protect Ohio’s public education system and the full HB335 Testimony from Hilliard Schools to the House Ways and Means Committee by Treasurer Melissa Swearingen and Superintendent David Stewart.

Next Steps: The provisions in this bill could be added to the budget bill during the conference committee process. It is crucial that legislators hear from you as soon as possible.  Please reach out to the following committee members to make your voice heard.  (There is a sample script below.)

Our children’s future and our community’s economic health depend on maintaining strong schools.  Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Melissa Swearingen, Hilliard City Schools Treasurer, and David Stewart, Hilliard City Schools Superintendent

Sample Message to send:

Subject: HB 335 Threatens Hilliard City Schools and Property Values

Dear (INSERT LEGISLATOR’S NAME),

As a [parent/resident/business owner] in the Hilliard City Schools, I’m deeply concerned about House Bill 335, which threatens to devastate our local schools and economic future.

HB 335, misleadingly called the “Property Tax Relief NOW Act,” would eliminate over $1.5 billion in school funding statewide with no replacement funding. In Hilliard, this means approximately $20.8 million, or 260 teachers could lose their jobs, and programs could be eliminated.

This isn’t real property tax relief; it’s a shell game that temporarily reduces tax bills while destroying the school quality that drives property values. No family wants to buy a home in a district that has just eliminated art, music, and sports programs.

We support targeted relief for families who genuinely struggle with property taxes. Senate Bill 22 is a property tax circuit breaker that does exactly that, helping households while protecting school quality. That’s smart policy that builds strong communities.

I urge you to oppose HB 335 and support real solutions like SB 22. Our children, our community, and our economic future depend on it.

Sincerely,

Who to Contact:

HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE:

Rep. Bill Roemer, Chair       rep31@ohiohouse.gov         (614) 644-5085

Rep. David Thomas, Vice Chair  Rep65@ohiohouse.gov   (614) 466-3488

Rep. Daniel Troy, Ranking Member  rep23@ohiohouse.gov    (614) 466-7251

Rep. Gary Click        rep88@ohiohouse.gov        (614) 466-1374

Rep. Jack Daniels    rep32@ohiohouse.gov     (614) 466-1790

Rep. Steve Demetriou  rep35@ohiohouse.gov     (614) 644-5088

Rep. Derrick Hall   rep34@ohiohouse.gov   (614) 466-1177

Rep. Beth Lear rep61@ohiohouse.gov  (614) 466-1431

Rep. Tracy Richardson   rep86@ohiohouse.gov    (614) 466-8147

Rep. Elgin Rogers, Jr.     Rep42@ohiohouse.gov      (614) 466-1401

Rep. Nick Santucci   rep64@ohiohouse.gov          (614) 466-5441

Rep. Mark Sigrist      rep10@ohiohouse.gov            (614) 466-9690

Rep. Jim Thomas       rep49@ohiohouse.gov         (614) 466-8030