The Forest Hills School District Board of Education opened a public hearing Tuesday, August 4, on whether to allow two district employees to retire and return to their same positions before the 2026-27 school year opens in mid-August.

Debra Heimbrock and Deborah Walker are the employees seeking approval to retire and be reemployed, according to an official notice signed by Treasurer Alana Cropper on July 6. The board is using an expedited timeline under state law (ORC 3309.345), citing the need to have staff in place when classes resume.

Under Ohio law, the expedited process requires at least 30 days' public notice before the board votes and a public hearing between 15 and 30 days before that vote. The hearing took place at 4:30 p.m. at the district's Central Office, 7946 Beechmont Ave. The vote is August 19. The board will act on the reemployment requests at its next regular meeting, Wednesday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Mercer Elementary School, 2600 Bartels Road.

Revised transportation resolution also on the agenda

The board also took up a revised Resolution Declaring Impractical Transportation for the 2026-27 school year as a consent item. The resolution identifies non-public schools where busing is declared impractical; families of students at those schools receive payment in lieu of transportation under state law.

The board first approved the 2026-27 version at its Monday, June 29 meeting. The "revised" label indicates changes to the list of affected schools or terms since then, though the specific revisions were not available in the BoardDocs agenda.

First meeting under new superintendent

Tuesday's session was the board's first since June 29, after the scheduled July 10 meeting was cancelled. It is also the first regular meeting since Superintendent Suzanna Davis took over on Saturday, August 1. The agenda includes a superintendent's update. Board President Wendy Strickler presides over the five-member board, which also includes Erin Walczewski, Jason Simmons, Jeff Nye and Jeremy Ward.

The next regular meeting is Wednesday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Mercer Elementary School, 2600 Bartels Road, Cincinnati.