Introducing ParentSquare: Streamlined School-to-Home Communication

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: www.hilliardschools.org/helpdesk/ or contact your student’s school in early August.



Master Facilities Plan (MFP) Update – July 2025

Our summer facility work is in full swing, and we’re excited to share some updates with our community!

Playground installations are nearing completion at several elementary schools. These new, inclusive play spaces will soon be open and ready for students and families to enjoy.  We will let you know when those are open!

Construction on new secured entrances is now underway. By the end of August, students and staff will see upgraded, more secure main entrances at:

  • Hilliard Darby High School
  • Hilliard Davidson High School
  • Hilliard Bradley High School
  • Tharp Sixth Grade
  • Heritage Middle School
  • Weaver Middle School

These improvements are part of Phase 1 of the Master Facilities Plan (MFP) and focus on enhancing student safety throughout our district.

Additional projects are also taking place this summer, including roof work at Washington Elementary. These types of maintenance and infrastructure improvements are funded through our Permanent Improvement (PI) fund, which supports ongoing upkeep of district facilities to ensure safe and functional learning environments.

New roof installed on building.

All of this work is made possible thanks to the continued support of our community.

Click here to visit the MFP web page and view playground progress, conceptual designs for our new elementary schools, and additional MFP updates.



Free and Reduced-Price Meals For JW Reason and Horizon From Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from 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.

 



Master Facilities Plan (MFP) Update – June 2025

Playground Updates Underway Thanks to MFP Support

We’re excited to share that as part of Phase 1 of the Master Facilities Plan (MFP), work on several new elementary playgrounds is now in progress. The old playgrounds at the following schools have been removed, and installation of brand-new, modern play structures is now beginning:

  • Avery Elementary 
  • Britton Elementary
  • Hilliard Crossing Elementary
  • Horizon Elementary
  • JW Reason Elementary
  • Norwich Elementary

These upgraded playgrounds are designed with safety, accessibility, and inclusive play in mind—ensuring all students have engaging spaces to explore, play, and grow. Each playground will feature updated surfacing, equipment for a wide range of ages and abilities, and areas that support both physical activity and imaginative play.

This exciting progress is only possible thanks to our community’s support of the Master Facilities Plan Phase 1. We are grateful for your investment in the future of our schools, and we look forward to seeing students enjoy these improved spaces soon!



HB 335 Threatens Hilliard City Schools and Property Values

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,

[Your name, and your title/credentials if relevant]

 

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

 



Schematic Design for New Brown Elementary Unveiled

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.



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