This month, Grandview Heights Schools is joining more than 600 school districts across the state in celebrating School Board Recognition Month.

Too often, I think we forget that our school board members are also our neighbors.  They care about the community in which they live and work and want what’s best for our students. They give selflessly of their time and energy to make Grandview Heights Schools the best they can be. They make decisions that have long-lasting impacts on our students — what they learn, how they learn, who will teach them, what learning tools will be used, and what types of facilities will house their educational and extracurricular experiences.

The last year has been one of the most tumultuous in history for school boards across the country.  Particularly in the COVID-19 era in which we’re living, it’s important to remember that more goes into the decisions school board members make than any of us often realize. That’s why I‘d like to take a moment to recognize the efforts of the Grandview Heights Schools Board of Education. In recent years, these school board members have navigated a pandemic in the present while concurrently planning and building for our future.  They have been instrumental in the construction of our brand new Larson Middle School, the current renovation of Grandview Heights High School, and securing safety and security upgrades throughout all of our buildings.

I want to thank and congratulate Jesse Truett, who recently completed eight years of service on the school board.  Mr. Truett served as board president for four of those years.  Prior to his school board service, he served at Grandview Heights High School as principal for three years.  Mr. Truett’s legacy is alive and well both inside and outside of our classrooms.  He is truly an unyielding advocate for our district.  Our community, our school district, and our students’ learning experience today and into the future are better because of his service.

I’d like to introduce and welcome our newest Board of Education member, Katie Matney. Mrs. Matney, in addition to being a parent and school volunteer, served as co-chair of the successful 2018 levy campaign. I’m confident that her demonstrated leadership will keep us moving forward in our mission to maximize and personalize every student’s learning.

At the January 12 Board of Education meeting, members Eric Bode and Molly Wassmuth, who were elected to their respective second terms in November 2021, were sworn in along with Mrs. Matney.  Emily Gephart and Kevin Gusé round out our hard-working Board of Education.  Mr. Bode was elected to serve as President and Mrs. Gephart will serve as Vice President for 2022.

Being a good board member requires vision and the ability to foster relationships with a broad range of constituents with varying perspectives and views. I applaud each and every one of our board members for their open styles of communication and staying the course in putting students first.  I invite you to join me in recognizing and thanking our school board members for their dedicated service.  Oftentimes, a  simple thank you or handwritten note means more than you know.  Visit www.ghschools.org to learn more about our school board members, view meetings schedule, agendas, and news.