Board Chair Julie Kuhnhein opened the meeting at 6:30pm.

The Board shared the following:

• Testing is going well at all of the schools


• Spring sports are heading into districts


• HHS students were awarded $338,000 in scholarships on Senior Award night


• HHS theatre received 24 Cappies nominations


• Ella Peabody was awarded the Free Spirit Journalism Award


• HHS has 7 National Merit commended students


• Kelly Booth has earned the Auschwitz Legacy Fellowship


• Elise Carter won the 2025 Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award


• Last day for students is May 23


• HHS Graduation is May 27

Kentucky Personal Finance Challenge State Winners:
Isla Clark
Lily Clarke
Cameron Cole
Barrett Willingham

Nathan Dilts introduced the HMS students who competed in the Kentucky Personal Finance Challenge.  Students shared the challenge they were given to solve that led to their State Championship.  

Students included:

Isla Clark

Lily Clarke

Cameron Cole

Barrett Willingham



The Board thanked the students and presented each with a Certificate of Achievement and a "Champions" t-shirt.

Ahren Wagner introduced the HHS State Champions in FCCLA.  These students included:

FCCLA State STAR Winners:

Interior Design Level 2 - Alaina Wagner and Ellie Rogiers

Early Childhood Education Level 2 - Lily Frey

Newly Elected State Officer:

Vice President - Addyson Eifert

The Board congratulated the students and presented each with a Certificate of Achievement and a "Champions" t-shirt.

John Darnell introduced this year's Governor's Programs participants from Highlands High School.  Students included:

Governor's Scholars Program:

Rosalyn Brown

Brianna Horner

Adelaide Littner

Elizabeth Perkins

Emily Twehues

Graham Borden

Warren Deaton

Noah Gracey

Robert Koester

Dylan Spears

Governor's School for Entrepreneurs:

Lillian Foley

Jude Borden

Eliana Niese

Penelope Kolb

Governor's School for the Arts:

Jacob Hagerty - Drama

Elijah Hills - Film & Photography

Elliot Martin - Musical Theatre

Gabriel McDermott - Film & Photography

Annika McKenzie - Visual Art

Cole Noah - Instrumental Music (Percussion)

Gabriel Talbot - Film & Photography

Mrs. Brubaker introduced the students and they explained to the Board the submission process and their excitement for being named State Champions.  Students included:

Adalyn Armstrong-Cattani

Aster Bredwell

Gemma Cutajar

Luke Deegan

Skyler Frey

Caleb Hurley

Natalie Hinegardner

Parker Henegar

Adalyn Klosterman

Kara Laber

Kayla Lehn

Sophia Lippolis

Cydni Martin

Ava Muzumdar

Emmerson Orme

Ella Peabody

Jenna Richey

Kaitlyn Ryan

Mia Shrout

Sophie Taylor

Audrina Trauth

Merary Valdez Deleon

Ms. Neltner introduced the students from HMS to the Board members and noted this project stood out over all other projects in this category.  The students on the team included:

Charlie Wen

Julian Pedicini

Simon Villarreal

The Board asked questions about the project and congratulated them on their State Championship.  Each student was presented with a Certificate of Achievement and a Champions t-shirt.

Students from the HHS Broadcasting crew talked to the Board members about their mission to leave a legacy for future HHS students studying Broadcasting by raising money for improvements and additional equipment. Students presenting included:

John Exterkamp

Brennan Bucher

Hayden Rolf

Liam Delaney

Ashton Willis

Oliver Martin

Max Hamilton

The Board was very impressed and presented each student with a Rich in Tradition t-shirt.

Jerry Wissman shared with the Board the progress at Tower Park. He noted interior framing is already beginning in the locker rooms and that the stone base for the track is going down.  Mr. Wissman explained that soccer teams should be able to use the turf after dead period and that the anticipated date for building use is October.

• Morel Pay App 10

Order #2635 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Pay Application #10 to Morel Construction Co. in the amount of $980,761.50 for the Highlands Athletic Complex at Tower Park Project passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

Order #2636 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the LPC District Facility Plan Public Hearing Report and Final District Facility Plan passed with a motion by Mr. Clem Fennell IV and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

• 2025-2026 Cleaning Proposal - Woodfill and Johnson Elementary

Order #2637 - Motion Passed:  Approval to authorize the superintendent to enter into a cleaning services agreement with First Green Building Services at Johnson Elementary for the 2025-26 school year passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

Order #2638 - Motion Passed:  Approval to authorize the superintendent to enter into a cleaning services agreement with First Green Building Services at Woodfill Elementary passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

• Cleaning Proposal - Highlands Middle and High School

Order #2639 - Motion Passed:  Approval to authorize the superintendent to enter into a cleaning services agreement with First Green Building Services at Highlands High School passed with a motion by Mr. Clem Fennell IV and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

• 25-26 Bids for approval

Order #2640 - Motion Passed:  Approval to accept submitted bids for custodial supplies for the 2025-26 school year passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

• Surplus Property Bid Tabulation 5-12-2025

Order #2641 - Motion Passed:  Approval to accept submitted bids for surplus furniture passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

• Damn Yankees costumes
• Spongebob costumes
• SpongeBob Inventory

Order #2642 - Motion Passed:  Approval to declare the attached list of items as surplus property passed with a motion by Mr. Clem Fennell IV and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

• '25 CDIP May Board Meeting

Order #2643 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the CDIP for the 2025-26 school year passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

• '25 CDIP - Continuation of Learning

Order #2644 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the 2025-26 Continuation of Learning NTI Plan passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

• 2025-26 Salary Schedules Combined

Order #2645 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Salary Schedules for 2025-26 passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

• Tentative 2025-2026 GENERAL FUND BOE

Order #2646 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Tentative Budget for 2025-26 passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

• FY2025 Independent Auditor Contract

Order #2647 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Contract for Audit Services with Maddox & Associates CPA's, Inc. for 2024-25 in the amount of $23,000 passed with a motion by Mr. Clem Fennell IV and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

Order #2648 - Motion Passed:  Acceptance of the Bond of Treasurer Andrew Remlinger, Accounts Payable Lori Crawford and Payroll Mary Turner in the amount of $300,000 each passed with a motion by Mrs. Sarah Foster and a second by Mr. Jeff Beach.

Order #2649 - Motion Passed:  Approval to accept resignation from Noah Gibson as board member from Fort Thomas Independent Schools Board of Education effective May 12, 2025, creating a vacant seat passed with a motion by Mr. Clem Fennell IV and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

Julie Kuhnhein shared the HOF Inductees for 2025 will be introduced at the Blue/White Scrimmage on August 15.  The dinner and induction ceremony will be held on August 16.

• '25 CDIP Professional Learning Plan

Keith Faust shared highlights of the Professional Development Plan for each building, including the use of cadres again for 2025-26.

• Spring '25 STAR BOE Report

Keith Faust shared with the Board that Spring STAR Data indicates our students continue to grow and the number of students meeting proficiency remains high.  The Board was pleased with this information and thanked Mr. Faust for sharing the results.

Order #2650 - Motion Passed:  With all Board members having had the opportunity to review and pursue any questions about all of the items contained therein, approval of the consent agenda passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mr. Clem Fennell IV.

• Minutes - 04-14-2025 - Board Meeting

• 10 2025 BOE REPORT

• FOOD SERVICE SUMMARY 2025 SCHOOL YEAR

• 8th Month Attendance 24-25

• 10 2025 REG CHECKS

• Custodian Job Description DRAFT
• Director of Operations - DRAFT
• DoSE job description DRAFT

Employment of the following Certified Employees
Sydney Drew – Elementary Teacher – WES
Rebecca Eaton – Physics Teacher – HHS
Jason Gay – Instructional Technology Specialist – HHS
Madison Griffith – English Teacher – HHS
Christina Hudson – Elementary Teacher – MES
Elizabeth Keefer – Elementary Teacher – WES
Audrey Kinney – LBD/MSD Teacher – WES
Chad Niedert – Director of Operations – CO
Emma Russell – English/Language Arts Teacher – HMS
Aaron Sary – English/Social Studies – HHS
Stephanie Walsh – Elementary Teacher – MES
Elizabeth Winkler – Mathematics Teacher – HHS

Employment of the following Classified Employee
Lindsey Cook – Elementary School Secretary – MES

Employment of the following Extra-Service Positions
Jenny Miller Horn – Girls on the Run – MES
Nina Kearns – Student Council – HHS

Employment of the following Paraprofessional Employees
Tanner Hough – Head Boys Wrestling Coach – HHS
Dustin Preble – Assistant Track Coach – HHS
Caroline Toennis – Girls Varsity Assistant Soccer Coach – HHS

Notification of MOA with CPE for the following Certified Employee
Allison Roth

Resignation of the following Certified Employees
Summer Arthur – Elementary Teacher – WES
Susan Messmer – World Language Teacher – WES

Resignation of the following Classified Employee
Heidi Vermeil – Library Media Assistant – HHS

Resignation of the following Extra-Service Positions
Katie Hood – Literacy Leader – MES
Marti Jo Houlihan – Literacy Leader – WES
Katie Mills – Literacy Leader – JES
Stephanie Pinguely – Literacy Leader – WES
Aimee Shadwell – Literacy Leader – JES
Katie Smith – Literacy Leader – MES

Resignation of the following Paraprofessional Employees
Laura Estill – Freshman Cheerleading Coach – HHS
Ellie Fangman – Drama Technical Director – HHS
Jordan Figgs – Woodwind Tech Coach – HHS
Linda Glover – Odyssey of the Mind Coordinator – Districtwide
Tony Marquardt – Color Guard – HHS
Zac Rohlfer – Academic Team Coach – WES

Letters of Reasonable Assurance of Employment to the following Substitutes for 2025-26

Authorization to Apply for Emergency Substitute Certification for 2025-2026

• Allison Berkley
• Christine Biltz
• James Carney
• Christine Armstrong-Cattani
• Keith D’Ambra
• Jessica Duke
• Theodore Englehard
• Mary Ganote
• Laney Hensley
• Tye Lembright  
• Laura Meier
• Emily Morel
• Donald Parks
• Amy Pendery
• Corinne Ruschman
• Keiley Schoellman
• Chelsea Shivers
• Grace Silcott
• Bridget Smith
• Christy Wallenhorst
• Kelsey Wenstrup
• Emma Young
• Elizabeth Zaebst

Continuing Contracts to the following Certified Personnel for 2025-2026

Limited Contracts to the following Certified Personnel for 2025-2026

Letters of Reasonable Assurance of Employment to the following Classified Employees for 2025-2026

• Title III MOU BW Dayton and FT 05.2025

Order #2651 - Motion Passed:  Approval to enter into Executive Session at 8:11pm per KRS 156.557(6)(c) passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

Order #2652 - Subsidiary Motion Passed:  Approval to exit Executive Session at 9:30pm per KRS 156.557(6)(c) passed with a motion by Mr. Jeff Beach and a second by Mrs. Sarah Foster.

Board Chair Julie Kuhnhein adjourned the meeting at 9:31pm.