Sara Bitter

After months of discussion, the Sycamore Board of Education will carefully consider funding options for the future at the April 29 meeting and is expected to make a decision regarding next steps.

As with all Board of Education meetings, the community is invited to attend in person or virtually as this important topic is discussed:

Board of Education Meeting
Wednesday, April 29 | 6:00 PM
Kenwood Learning Commons
11120 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Link to watch virtually: https://www.sycamoreschools.org/discover-sycamore/board-of-education

Throughout this process, the Board has remained, and continues to remain, committed to responsible fiscal stewardship, transparency, and thoughtful planning.

For an in-depth look at the district’s finances, please refer to the 2025 Financial Prospectus: https://goav.es/FinancialProspectus25

Pediatricians across the country are seeing firsthand how aggressive immigration enforcement tactics impact child health. The fear of a loved one being detained or witnessing violent confrontations in their communities causes increased anxiety, learning difficulties and even loss of sleep and appetite in kids. Pediatricians also understand the harms of detention on child health and well-being.

In a recent op-ed for USA Today, AAP leaders speak out on how these immigration enforcement and detention actions impact children. Read the full op-ed:
https://bit.ly/4aFFsay

Our parent organization, neighborhood bridges, launched on MLK Day in 2017 and what an incredible 9 years it’s been! They are now serving 68 communities across the country with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s insight driving our mission.

None of this would be possible without the tireless dedication of our area directors, advocates, volunteers, and donors. Because of you, students and families in our community receive the support they need—every single day.

Fun fact: Sycamore Bridges will celebrate our 7th anniversary in May. 💚💛

Happy New Year! 💚💛

Yesterday, I was sworn in for a second term as a member of the Board of Education for the Sycamore Community School District. I am looking forward to continuing my service to the Sycamore community over these next 4 years! I will continue to work to ensure that every child in our district receives the best education possible.

This is my Grandfather, Austin. He served in the US Navy and spent decades as a police officer. He survived a Kamikaze attack in WWII and a torpedoed ship in the North Sea. He is one of my greatest role models in life. He is the definition of what it means to be a hero. His life of service laid the foundation not only for the well-being of my family but for his entire community. I am grateful to all of the men and women who like him give so much for others. 🇺🇸

Thank you so much, Sycamore family! I’m truly humbled by your incredible support. This election was important for our kids and our community. We had an amazing number of volunteers—moms, dads, grandparents, neighbors, friends, teachers, and so many others in our community—who jumped in to help. I want to sincerely thank you for your time, energy, and commitment to our children, our community, and public education. Thank you for believing in our amazing school district. I also want to sincerely thank all of the school Board candidates for their years of service and dedication to our schools. Their commitment has helped build the strong foundation we’re so proud of today.

Once again, this was our win! Let’s keep working together to make this place we all love even better! 💚💛

Today is the day! Please get out and vote!🇺🇸💚💛🇺🇸

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many voters. We spoke about our amazing school district and how we can best continue supporting our students and teachers. A shared priority was our commitment to protecting public education for our children and for future generations.

I met many candidates who, just like me, value people, public education, community building, strong neighborhoods, fairness in the law, ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and upholding our democracy.

There are just 2 days left until Election Day. Our community deserves leaders who bring ideas, integrity, and collaboration. Let’s keep our focus on what matters most: supporting our students, our teachers, our public schools, our community, our democracy, and one another.

Let’s unite! Get out the vote!
💚💛

Happy Halloween! 🎃💚💛

A Note on School Meal Support for Our Families

We understand that some families are facing challenges, including those affecting government employees and others who may be impacted by the possibility of the loss of SNAP benefits. We want to assure you that ongoing school meal support is available for all eligible students.

Free and Reduced Meal Program:

Families who have already qualified for the Free and Reduced Meal Program this school year will continue to receive meals at no cost at school and do not need to reapply. Please note that any potential changes to SNAP benefits will not impact your student's eligibility for free and reduced school meals.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and have not previously qualified for the Free and Reduced Meal Program, please know that you can apply anytime. If approved, your status will remain active for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year.

How to Apply:

*Apply directly through PaySchoolsCentral: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

*Need help applying online or prefer a paper application? Find step-by-step instructions and other information here: https://www.sycamoreschools.org/families/child-nutrition/free-reduced-price-meals