|
Heads up! Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for Ridgemont Local. We found 3 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
|
Accepting Federal Money with Ideological Strings Attached
Under item D.7, the Board is voting to approve the ‘FY27 Federal Grant Consolidation Application Assurances.’ To receive federal funds, the district must agree to comply with all federal regulations, including controversial interpretations of Title IX that mandate policies on gender identity, pronouns, and bathroom access. This vote effectively trades local control and parental rights for federal cash, forcing a national political agenda into our schools.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a critical vote. Email Superintendent Brian Hogan at brian.hogan@ridgemont.k12.oh.us and call Board President Matthew Jennings at (937) 354-2141. Demand they answer: ‘Does signing the federal assurances in Item D.7 obligate our district to adopt specific gender identity policies without a separate public vote? Vote NO until the board can affirm our district’s commitment to local control.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Loss of local control over school policy.
|
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
|
New Policy Bypasses Parents on Sensitive Health Issues
Hidden inside the new Certified and Classified Staff Handbooks (Item D.2) is a policy that creates a formal pathway for school staff to counsel students on sensitive topics like ‘sexual behavior,’ ‘mental health vulnerabilities,’ and ‘family crises’ without first notifying parents. The policy directs staff to refer students to ‘certified specialists’ but omits the critical step of involving the child’s family. This system positions the school, not the parent, as the primary authority in a child’s personal life.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email Superintendent Brian Hogan at brian.hogan@ridgemont.k12.oh.us: ‘I demand Item D.2, the Staff Handbooks, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion. The policy on student counseling must be amended to require parental notification and consent before any referral to outside specialists.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Erosion of parental consent and notification rights.
|
| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
|
Vague Contract with Outside Education Agency
The agenda includes Item D.1, an agreement with the ‘Midwest Regional ESC’ for unspecified ‘Program Services.’ Educational Service Centers (ESCs) are frequently used by districts to purchase controversial Social Emotional Learning (SEL) or DEI training and curriculum. The agenda provides no details on what services are being bought or how much they cost, and the attached documents are key to understanding the agreement.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: Review the file ‘FY27 Program Services Agreement.pdf’ attached to Item D.1 in the Official Agenda linked above to determine if it contains sensitive policy changes. Email Superintendent Brian Hogan at brian.hogan@ridgemont.k12.oh.us: ‘What specific services, curriculum, or training is the district purchasing from the Midwest Regional ESC under Item D.1? Parents deserve to know before this is approved.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Unknown cost for potentially ideological services.
|
|