New   End of Year Update 

Summer Communication Rhythm 

As we have done the last several years, you can expect to receive District Updates around the 15th and 30th in June and July. The WolfPack Hub is also your one-stop-shop as a West Clermont family! In addition, your child's principal will communicate with you once we get closer to school starting in August. 

Summer Office Hours 

● June - Beginning Monday, June 2nd through Friday, June 30th, the office hours for the district office and all schools throughout the district will be Monday through Friday, 8 AM-4 PM. 

● July - During July, all offices at the elementary schools are closed. The July office hours for the district office, middle school, and high school are Monday through Friday, 8 AM-4 PM. 

● August - All district facilities will resume regular office hours on Friday, August 1st. 

Re-Registration for Current Students 

Thanks to those parents and caregivers who have completed the re-registration process for next school year on the PowerSchool Parent Portal! We still need 65.88% of our students to be re-registered for the 2025-26 school year. If you have questions about the re-registration process or have difficulty logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your child's school office. You can find the contact information for every school at westcler.org/schools. 

USDA Summer Sun Bucks Program - "SUN Bucks" 

We wanted to share some important info about the USDA Summer Sun Bucks (formerly Summer EBT) program! This benefit helps families of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals by providing extra support for groceries over the summer. 

Who qualifies?

● Students ages 6–18 (no preschoolers) 

● Must be enrolled at West Clermont for the 2024–25 school year ● Must have received free or reduced-price meals this school year 

Have questions? 

● Visit: Ohio SUN Bucks 

● Call the hotline: 1-866-244-0071 (option 1) 

● Email: support@ohio-k12.help 

● Or contact the West Clermont Child Nutrition Office — we're happy to help! 

Upcoming District Closures 

In observance of federal holidays, the entire district will be closed on Monday, May 26th (Memorial Day), Thursday, June 19th (Juneteenth), and Friday, July 4th (Independence Day). 

State Biennial Budget 

Important decisions are being made in Columbus that could significantly impact the future of public education across Ohio—including right here in West Clermont. The state’s biennial budget isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about values. It determines how we invest in our students, support our staff, and plan responsibly for the future. That’s why we’re paying close attention to the proposals currently being debated at the Statehouse, and why we’re asking our community to do the same. 

In Ohio, the state budget process begins with the governor submitting a proposal to the General Assembly. The budget first moves through the House of Representatives, where it can be debated and amended. Once passed by the House, it goes to the Senate for further consideration and potential changes. If the Senate approves a version that differs from theHouse's, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences. The final version is then sent to the governor for approval. Currently, the state Senate is reviewing the House’s proposed budget and may introduce its own changes. 

In the Governor’s plan West Clermont is at risk of losing money. The Governor’s proposal takes West Clermont off the guarantee. The guarantee is a provision in the state’s formula that assures school districts will not receive less state funding than they did in 2019. Taking West Clermont off the guarantee would cause our district to lose 2.1 million dollars over the next two years.

The Ohio House version provided another amendment that would penalize districts with cash balances over 30% of prior-year expenses. These funds would instead be used as short-term property tax relief. But this cap could directly affect West Clermont by limiting our ability to plan ahead. Maintaining fiscally responsible reserves, much like a household savings account, is part of responsible budgeting. 

Without a fair and fully funded system, which includes preserving the guarantee, the impact on students is real: larger class sizes, outdated materials, fewer course options, and increased costs for families. Local taxpayers would be le to shoulder even more of the burden just to keep our schools running. West Clermont is proud of the education we provide. But we need a funding system that supports our mission—not one that undermines it. 

We’re closely monitoring this evolving situation and are actively engaging with our elected officials. But we can’t do it alone. We encourage our community to make their voices heard. Let lawmakers know that our students deserve a budget that reflects their worth. We invite you to join us in urging lawmakers to keep West Clermont whole, not allowing the state budget to reduce state revenue to our school district. This can be accomplished by: 

● Protect the guarantee within the state’s school funding formula providing financial stability. 

● Allow local communities to manage their own reserve funds responsibly. 

In the meantime if you want to write or call your elected officials here is a template you can use. 

West Clermont -Updated Broad Letter.docx.pdf 

The final budget must be passed by June 30. Once it’s complete, we’ll launch new community engagement efforts this fall to keep you informed and involved in the future of our schools. 

Policy Legislation 

Our district is also closely monitoring a bill working its way through the state legislature related to cell phone usage in schools. The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 158 that would require schools to create a policy banning students from using cellphones during the school day with some exceptions. This bill will now head to the Ohio House. If

passed there, it will head to the Governor for signature. We will continue to keep you updated on any policy changes.