Hilliard City Schools announced a change to its policy for serving meals to children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program at JW Reason and Horizon Elementary Schools for the 2025/2026 school year. Schools qualifying to operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provide breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This new approach reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals.

FREE HEALTH CARE: Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for FREE health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Playground Updates Underway Thanks to MFP Support

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

During the June Board of Education meeting, the Schematic design for the new Brown Elementary was presented as part of Phase 1 of our Master Facilities Plan (MFP). While this is an early-stage design and subject to further refinements, it provides an exciting glimpse into the future of elementary learning environments in Hilliard City Schools.

The proposed layout prioritizes flexible learning spaces, natural light, collaborative areas for students and staff, and enhanced safety and security features. This vision for Brown will also serve as the baseline design for the future rebuilds of Ridgewood Elementary and Beacon Elementary, ensuring equity, consistency, and high-quality learning environments across our district.

We are grateful to our community for supporting Phase 1 of the MFP and making these long-overdue improvements possible. As the design continues to evolve, we will keep families, staff, and community members informed and involved throughout the process.

Katie Everetts Snider

A 2019 graduate of Hilliard Darby High School, Katie Everetts Snider said it has been her lifelong goal to be an attorney. Thanks to the fast-track opportunities Hilliard City Schools provides, her dream came true when she passed the July 2024 Bar Exam, and was sworn in and admitted to the Ohio bar as an attorney. She is now an Associate Attorney at Warnock Law in Delaware, Ohio.

Starting in her sophomore year of high school, she participated in AP courses. During her senior year of high school, she attended The Ohio State University through the College Credit Plus dual enrollment program/Ohio State Academy. She graduated in 2021 from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in writing, rhetoric and literacy. 

She went on to graduate summa cum laude from Capital University Law School in 2024 in the top 5% of her class. She gained experience with several local companies before landing her current role, including Northwest Title and Safelife. She also served as a judicial extern with Judge Graham in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and received honors for her pro bono work. Additionally, Katie has volunteered with National Adoption Day, working with both guardians and children. 

Beyond academics, Hilliard’s extracurriculars — namely band — gave Katie a well-rounded experience. For three years of high school, she played the snare drum on the drumline and continues to be proud of her musical accomplishments. 

Katie named Rachel Creamer, her guidance counselor, as one of the people who helped her get where she is today. She said, “She connected me with the right people.”

As Associate Attorney at Warnock Law, Katie specializes in family law and is committed to meeting her clients’ divorce, dissolution, estate planning and probate needs. For more information on Katie and Warnock Law, click here.

Luke Snider

Luke Snider, a successful engineer at Honda Research & Development, said Hilliard Schools provided great opportunities for him to get ahead in his field. 

A 2019 graduate of Hilliard Darby, he studied mechanical engineering at The University of Akron for two years before returning to the Columbus area to marry his high school sweetheart. He finished his degree at Otterbein University — with a job already in hand.  

He is proud to work on the design of new cars in Honda’s Automotive Development Center. Specifically, he focuses on transmissions. 

“I’ve always been passionate about engineering. Mr. Dieterich did a great job with the engineering classes when I was in school,” he said. 

Luke also credits Project Lead the Way and his math classes (and teachers, especially Mr. Zody) with helping him excel. He was also a swimmer and said his coaches, including Mr. Dickman, taught him discipline and the importance of team building. 

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