Sophia Knaier was honored with the Senior Art Award for her exceptional sculpture of a hand holding a flower. She is pictured receiving the award from Superintendent Tony Thomas.
Submitted photos
CLAYTON — At the June 24 Northmont Board of Education meeting at Northwood Elementary, Treasurer Ann Ferraro discussed options for a new levy, indicating that based on current financial numbers, the board may not need to act until 2025.
Board Vice President Jane Woodie emphasized the need for community involvement in future levies, stating, “Too many people are getting the wrong information from discussions on social media, and people need to be educated and involved.”
Other board members agreed. Chris Pulos suggested it might be wise to wait a bit longer as “people are still hurting.”
Dr. Gerry Espeleta supported revisiting the matter later, while Board President Linda Blum highlighted the board’s commitment to students, noting, “We’ve always been a board who fights for our kids. It’s a balancing act, and I believe our community wants to continue to see our students receiving all the opportunities that we provide.”
Superintendent Tony Thomas added that waiting until May to go back on the ballot will mark ten years since the district last received new money, stressing, “Most districts cannot do that, and we know our community wants strong schools. That cannot happen without community support.”
In other business, the board approved the purchase of Chromebooks for a pilot program in the district. Assistant Superintendent Susanne Lintz explained that the district’s iPads are nearing the end of their lifecycle, and it’s time to evaluate what technology works best for students.
Several teachers in elementary buildings and one team at the middle school will pilot the Chromebooks to determine their effectiveness, aiming to make an informed decision for the 2025-26 school year.
2024 graduate Sophia Knaier was honored with the Senior Art Award for her exceptional sculpture of a hand holding a flower.
Knaier will be pursuing a focus on Architecture at Miami University in the upcoming academic year. The sculpture will be housed at the board of education office, 4001 Old Salem Rd., and the public is invited to see it during business hours.
Additionally, Nathan Dobles was sworn in as the Student Board Representative for the 2024-25 school year, marking the start of his tenure in this important role.
The board also approved a schedule change and will next meet on Monday, July 8, at Northwood Elementary instead of July 15.
