[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6227321,"mediaKeyId","3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308","parentId",3493001,"title","Sycamore treasurer warns state budget proposals could force larger levies after 2026","audioSeconds",382,"startMs",5004000,"endMs",5386000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308&start=5004&end=5386","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308/thumbnail_5004000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227321/Ohio/Sycamore-treasurer-warns-state-budget-proposals-could-force-larger-levies-after-2026","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227321-5aa58c505b465e08b379a6d2bcb1297f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775041946&Signature=Qexx~Hg4f4YZy9uElSuBlXE5d8fESn4p670rUuNKJFoS4uZTXo4BooG88rhuzcqeECvTN2QrfsdW5bon~h96~qJW6ew6DI~LKWkU0FPCMhFJycW70LAt9mViCG8ZQ~TPtmolB-WzM9VEY6zJ5MvLVZygvlkf4oAD6EtIw~t-LAQFuZIgZPgqhOreNueK8BtUB2-0Vp5YTOsOotc461XHpLdKqaWAwq2imJZ2DmDJHA0787rRwGDIRIrNQEckYQmSIMyS~LlMQM1kIrFHl8AUDD49WTWDdMd5c6RfaKp8diqVoQdwlcUJPVisrv0ycgz810mFYAM9azhnm2PVwXemDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sycamore Community School District","date","2025-05-24T15:24:08.93Z","article","The Sycamore Community City Board of Education reviewed the district’s May five‑year forecast and heard officials describe how pending Ohio legislative proposals could sharply change local tax‑and‑reserve dynamics.

The district treasurer told the board the governor’s budget maintains the Fair School Funding Plan phase‑in, but the House proposal would replace the model with bridge funding and impose a 30% cap on districts’ year‑end cash balances. The treasurer said that, under the House language, Hamilton County’s budget commission could be required to return roughly $10.1 million to taxpayers in calendar year adjustments, and the district modeled that result would leave the district needing roughly 10.5 mills in an emergency levy scenario to restore reserves.

“How's that property tax relief?” one board member asked rhetorically during the presentation, reflecting a concern expressed across the discussion. Administrators said the district had modeled a range of levy options earlier (including a 6.5‑mill scenario) and emphasized that the House proposal’s cash‑cap outcome would change timing and magnitude of levy planning for the district.

The treasurer said the district must file the five‑year forecast by the end of the month and will testify before the Senate Finance Committee the following week to explain district impacts. Board members asked staff to continue outreach to local legislators and encouraged residents to contact state senators to describe local consequences.

The board approved the May five‑year forecast on a roll call vote and heard staff outline next steps: file the forecast on time, prepare testimony for the Senate, and continue financial scenario planning. Administrators also recommended community education about capital needs, levy modeling and the district’s financial assumptions.

Ending: District officials said the fiscal threats from state proposals make near‑term community engagement and advocacy urgent. The board’s approval of the forecast keeps the district compliant with state deadlines while staff continue to monitor legislative developments and prepare testimony for the Senate Finance Committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sycamore Schools Board of Education Meeting May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the district treasurer reviewed the May five‑year forecast, warned that a House proposal to cap cash balances at 30% could require the return of $10.1 million and modeled an eventual 10.5‑mill levy to restore reserves; board members urged community advocacy while staff prepare testimony for the Senate Finance Committee.","taxTitle","Sycamore Community City, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",61490,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227325,"Sycamore reviews state‑prompted policy updates; public warns parental‑notification language may endanger abused children",630,3234000,3864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308&start=3234&end=3864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308/thumbnail_3234000.jpg","/articles/6227325/Ohio/Sycamore-reviews-stateprompted-policy-updates-public-warns-parentalnotification-language-may-endanger-abused-children","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227325-3aa7710df0acf248ebb5a61e4c6998fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775041946&Signature=KYVY6k~j3Kqbybrqg4u8l32CJZJLmJFhari1ucvcoMxHTRFbkDnYJMT1rGe2Lfyu3aP9Yxal6jhxv-qaALQztmClgGaq7wBPGICuqfzVu4CSxcGVTDT14aQ1jHZ5VRg4pB2fg-V6PhGqW1N-7RDuo3JTblpBcdt9LGENuAafV3DIUOIrGbW6G4ULwj0k6E4gj94sGkZQ-AB54sQo1~Jl4YDhKx4HRAomj8VzEN1APlLJgx5FPGHf3baT7wcDhrw2ROihjjDEIZyZNHoBz7yWRhXCokykP3Vz7BDhOJj5B1rCNqkAypfelWiyTB~K0uCoekbMN5C9rLUvYzoghIqETA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a regular meeting, the Sycamore Community City Board of Education reviewed a set of statutorily driven policy updates and accepted staff guidance to hold off on revising a religious‑release policy while legal counsel monitors pending litigation.

Administrators presented four policy items listed for first read: GBH/JM (student‑staff relations), IGBLA (promoting parental involvement), IKF (graduation requirements) and JGE (student expulsion). Officials said the district has updated draft language to reflect recent state guidance and the parental‑notification provisions known as the “parental bill of rights.”

“Parents should be engaged upfront with all of those conversations,” an administrator said while describing the IGBLA draft, which requires parental notification for changes to a child’s mental or physical health services and permits parental opt‑out of certain instruction for K–3 students. The presentation noted the district will continue staff training, especially for counselors and mandated reporters.

Administrators also said they were told at 3:45 p.m. the district should “put the brakes” on advancing its religious‑release time (RRTI) policy to the board because of pending litigation involving model policy language developed by outside vendors. The administration said it will not return the RRTI language for first read until counsel gives clearer direction.

Public comment at the meeting focused on the parental‑notification language. Amy Shaiman, introduced as a resident from Acrewood Drive, told the board that mandatory notification provisions could deter abused or at‑risk children from seeking help. “When you put notifying parents ahead of a child's safety ... you are unintentionally intentionally endangering those children,” Shaiman said, citing CDC statistics and urging the district to craft language that preserves safe, confidential reporting pathways.

Board members said they share the goal of protecting students while complying with state law. The board approved two separate, related items on the consent agenda during the meeting: a resolution authorizing OSBA to standardize clerical updates across district policies and an updated Special Education Model Policies and Procedures resolution (version 1.02) that administrators said reflects feedback from statewide roundtable sessions. Both approvals passed on voice or roll‑call votes with recorded ayes.

Administrators said legal counsel will continue to work on the RRTI language and will return recommended language when the counsel confirms it complies with litigation guidance and state requirements. The administration also highlighted ongoing staff training to implement parental‑notification provisions while minimizing harm to vulnerable students.

Ending: The board did not adopt new disciplinary or parental‑notification policy language at the meeting; instead members approved housekeeping and model‑policy resolutions and directed staff and legal counsel to proceed cautiously on RRTI and related parental‑notification rules.","The board discussed several legally required policy updates (IGBLA, GBH/JM, IKF, JGE) and delayed changes to religious‑release language after legal counsel flagged pending litigation; a public commenter urged the district to preserve confidential routes for students seeking help.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227330,"Sycamore board signals support to launch planning for later high‑school start times",1678,518000,2196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308&start=518&end=2196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493001-d09d2490644d86a47e58e520eaceb308/thumbnail_518000.jpg","/articles/6227330/Ohio/Sycamore-board-signals-support-to-launch-planning-for-later-highschool-start-times","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227330-d87170d4b688dba2477bfa80ddbc7b90/orig.mp4?Expires=1775041946&Signature=F5g-peH7D2ZmSo6YowBXAmGAtube94D05BPVN2bJSpE6qAi8zjDigUFM0oHb4LsQVBCEuKk8euy9CFJE--YE5k4aKk3CBDr~VO64bnnk-wbUAVZistsEmKSeRj0R71EhYhFRVTH34XEpzBGM8krCI7cI25~DlBOhijbTuKhEOmhKvCj17sBg~89Krmc0Fmcp7edveT-AeSK-sfNT8CtxjI~Bt2quu4ouw8V9Wja7g5iggNrA9fRwIrcpsUhUMP4R0Ta6cvuU~XyYpAMxjlApBJcEVyVkv7i3V3Ayby23snogzbc-UTSNxPTpjOojbEyJuBL7bNxJXQDjemM1Z09UTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sycamore Community City Board of Education members heard a 45‑minute presentation on later school start times and signaled support to begin district planning after parents, students and health‑care partners described evidence linking later starts to better sleep, mental health and lower teen crash rates.

The presentation, led by Ayla, a Sycamore High School sophomore, and other community volunteers, cited recommendations from major medical organizations and proposed a two‑to‑three‑year rollout so a change could take effect in the 2027–28 school year. “For every 1 to 2 minute of a start time delay, students will actually get 1 to 2 more minutes of sleep per night,” Ayla told the board, summarizing the group’s review of sleep studies.

Why it matters: The presenters said the district’s current high‑school day begins at 7:20 a.m., with first bus pickups near 6:01 a.m., a pattern they described as inconsistent with adolescent circadian shifts. They cited statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association recommending middle and high schools start no earlier than about 8:30 a.m., and urged the district to pursue a later start as a public‑health and safety measure.

The presentation and the discussion focused on three questions: 1) Would students actually sleep more if bell times changed? 2) What transportation and extracurricular adjustments would be required? and 3) how to build community buy‑in. Presenters proposed a two‑to‑three‑year implementation timeline that begins with a planning and community‑engagement phase, including town halls and stakeholder meetings.

“A delayed start for our junior high and high school will allow for that,” said Kristen Anderson, a choir director and parent who participated in the community team. The group also described consulting with pediatric sleep specialists and Start School Later, a national advocacy group; the presentation noted local capacity from a children’s hospital expert who would assist the district’s planning.

Board members repeatedly praised the evidence while raising logistical concerns. Board member Dr. James said he was “supportive of starting the process” and urged the district to focus on the necessary nuts and bolts, from bus drivers to extracurricular schedules. Board member Mrs. Bitter said she supported the health rationale but stressed that “I am never going to be in favor of taking transportation away from our students for this,” and asked the administration to preserve bus service for students who rely on it.

District staff told the board administration will lead the work and return with an engagement plan by the end of the summer. The timeline presented by the volunteers and discussed with the board included: an initiation and chartering phase in the coming months, an extended year of community education and listening, logistics and transportation planning during the following year, and a recommendation to the board in mid‑2026 with implementation aimed at the 2027–28 school year. Presenters cautioned the exact target date could shift based on stakeholder feedback and operational constraints.

No motion to change bell times was taken at the meeting. Instead, the board collectively authorized administrators to begin structured planning and community outreach to evaluate options. District staff said they will convene transportation and scheduling experts, engage community partners and present a clear outreach and planning timeline for board review.

The board’s next steps are to accept a draft plan for community engagement and return a progress update at a future meeting. The district asked community members to expect town halls and outreach in the next school year and said volunteers who helped compile the research would assist the administration with stakeholder contacts and engagement materials.

Ending: Advocates framed the issue as a student‑centered public‑health intervention. “Let’s start planning now so that by 2027, we can proudly say that we have put Sycamore students first,” said Isla, a student presenter. The board’s decision to begin planning does not change bell schedules immediately; any change would require later board review and formal adoption after the recommended planning and stakeholder process is complete.","Students, parents and community members presented research showing later start times improve adolescent sleep and safety; the board agreed to begin collaborative planning, with administrators to return by summer with an outreach plan and logistics workstream.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sycamore treasurer warns state budget proposals could force larger levies after 2026

Sycamore reviews state‑prompted policy updates; public warns parental‑notification language may endanger abused children

Sycamore board signals support to launch planning for later high‑school start times