Board of Education Update — September 25, 2026 Special Meeting

The September 25, 2026, meeting of the Board of Education included presentations on the following topics:

Issue 7

Superintendent Robert Hunt, Ph.D., shared an overview of Issue 7, the combined operating levy and bond issue on the November 3 ballot. 

Community members can learn factual information about Issue 7 through a number of opportunities this fall, including: 

• Guided building tours of Burbank, Hastings and Jones on September 23 and October 8 at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
• An FAQ video series on district social media and available at www.uaschools.org/Issue7
• Coffee & Conversation events on Friday, September 18 and Friday, October 23 at 9 a.m. at the Bob Crane Community Center
• Transitional learning space meetings for families of students currently in grades 2-6 at Barrington, Tremont, Wickliffe and Jones

State report card data

Chief Academic Officer Jaclyn Angle, Ed.D., Director of Elementary Education Michelle Banks, Ed.D., Director of Secondary Education Kristin Robbins, Ed.D., and Director of Data & Accountability Tammy Yockey, Ed.D., shared an update on the state report card data released last week. 

Upper Arlington Schools is one of 61 districts out of more than 600 districts in the state to receive a rating of five stars overall, and this is the fifth consecutive year that the district has received that rating. The district also received five stars overall for the fifth year in a row in the following categories: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing and Graduation. The district’s overall Performance Index score has also increased for the fifth year in a row.  Upper Arlington also exceeded or met expectations on 41 of 44 component ratings at the district and building levels.

Dr. Banks and Dr. Robbins shared an overview of the results from each building and the academic goal areas that are connected to those state report card results. Some celebrations include:

• Four schools had a Performance Index score in the top 2 or 3 percent of all schools in the state (Barrington Elementary School, Greensview Elementary School, Windermere Elementary School and Upper Arlington High School). Three other schools — Tremont Elementary School, Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School and Hastings Middle School — showed continued increases in their PI scores as well. 
• There is evidence of the strength of the district’s early literacy and MTSS programs, with a majority of K-3 students at three schools identified as off track at the end of the 2024-2025 school year moving to on track by the end of 2025-2026. 
• The percentage of students who are identified as gifted and receiving services increased to 98% at both middle schools with the implementation of the gifted cluster classroom model in the 2025-2026 school year.
• Hastings and Jones middle schools are seeing continued high achievement of students taking high school credit math classes while in middle school. 
• Upper Arlington High School is focusing on developing career pathways available to students based on student interest and needs — which connects to the College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness Component on the state report card.

The team also shared some legislative updates:

• The district is now required to notify families of and offer intervention for K-3 students who are not “on track” based on their results of math diagnostic exams.
• In grades 4 and above, students who score limited on either state English language arts or math test in 2025-2026 are required to have content intervention until scoring proficient on the next corresponding state test.
• The district has also begun the initial implementation of advanced learning opportunities for qualifying students in math in grades four and above. Approximately 560 students are enrolled in one of these enriched math opportunities.

Strategic plan implementation

Superintendent Robert Hunt, Ph.D., and team shared a brief update on the implementation of the Excellence & Innovation 2030 strategic plan, highlighting the work completed during the 2025-2026 school year and the ongoing work this school year in the priority areas of Engaged Learning, Culture & Climate and Connections. 

• Engaged Learning: First-year accomplishments include the work with New Solutions K-12 on scheduling recommendations, the implementation of Amplify CKLA as a new elementary ELA resource, the work on developing a professional learning framework, the implementation of expanded gifted services opportunities through cluster classrooms, and the review of progressive education that was completed at this time last year. The district is continuing curriculum review work, expanding from mathematics to science this year. The district is also continuing to explore AI and emerging technologies and STEAM, while fully implementing advanced math learning opportunities for qualifying students in grades 4-7 in response to new state requirements.
• Culture & Climate: Last school year, the district implemented a student voice policy and Amplify, a district-level student voice committee. That group will continue to help shape the student experience in the coming years. Another first-year accomplishment was the implementation of a staff climate survey and a student feedback survey aligned to the Profile of an Engaged Learner. The district is also beginning a three-year partnership with The JED Foundation focused on strengthening our systems, supports and resources related to student mental health and suicide prevention. In year two, the district will be continuing its work on onboarding and offboarding processes — for staff, as well as students and families.
• Connections: Accomplishments include the expansion of direct engagement opportunities and the finalization of a community-developed facilities master plan for the aging middle schools and Burbank Early Childhood School. In year two, the district is continuing to strengthen two-way communication with families, staff and community members through initiatives such as Coffee & Conversation and Golden Bear U, which launches later this school year. Upcoming Coffee & Conversation dates are available at www.uaschools.org/CoffeeConversation.

You may visit our Upper Arlington Schools Board of Education page to access the September 25 meeting agenda. To view the meeting presentation, please click here. For meeting dates and more information about the Board of Education, please visit www.uaschools.org/board.