Our district continues to actively respond to our community’s demand to make our schools safe. Within the last week, our district along with at least six other districts in Butler County, expressed interest in joining a proposed county school financing district (CSFD) that could provide an alternative funding source for school safety and security. As a member of the CSFD, Edgewood City Schools would be permitted to participate in a county-wide tax levy exclusively for school safety, security, and mental health services. Superintendent Russ Fussnecker and Treasurer Randy Stiver will discuss the proposal at the next Board of Education meeting on Monday, June 25. They will ask for approval of a resolution to join the CSFD – a required first step in the process. If the Edgewood board approves, voters can expect to see a 10-year, 1.5-mill county-wide levy on the November 6 ballot. Levy proceeds would benefit only those school districts that vote to participate in the CSFD. Ohio Senate Bill 226 gives educational service centers the authorization to create the CSFD. Butler County would be the second in Ohio to use the new law, which took effect March 30. Stark County ESC has a levy on the August special election ballot. We invite our Edgewood families, staff, and community members to attend Monday’s meeting to learn more about this opportunity. The Board meeting will take place in the Heritage Room at Edgewood High School. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

The attached press release was issued from the Bulter County Educational Service Center on June 18. This release explains how a new Ohio tax law permits educational service centers to create "county school financing districts (CSFD)" allowing them to levy a countywide tax exclusively for school safety, security, and mental health services. Edgewood, along with many other districts in Butler County have expressed an interest in participating in the CSFD.

Please be aware, repair work has been scheduled to take place over the next couple of weeks in our Edgewood High School gym and in our newer Edgewood Middle School gym. While this work is underway, these gyms will not be available for use on the following dates: EHS gym- Closed Thursday, June 21 through Monday, July 9 EMS gym (adjacent to Cougar Lobby) - Closed from Thursday, June 28- Monday, August 13 (these dates were updated on 6/19) We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions, please contact John Thomas at: john.thomas@edgewoodschools.net. Thank you for your patience while this work is being completed.

Nick Hobson, Rance Hickman, and Allen Burton recently earned their Eagle Scout rank. Nick earned this rank by designing and building a rolling gear rack for the Seven Mile Volunteer Fire Department. The rack will house the fire fighters' protective gear so they can easily access their equipment when responding to an emergency call. Rance earned his rank by building a storage supply unit for the Art Central Foundation. This unit will provide the Foundation with a place to store supplies as well as a place for students to dry their pottery. Allen's project consisted of building easels for the Butler County Fair. Only 4% of Scouts earn the rank of Eagle. Eagles must earn 21 badges that range from camping to cooking to lifesaving or emergency preparedness. Congratulations to these 3 young men on their outstanding accomplishment!

Earlier this spring, Mr. Ben Johnson's AP Biology class visited several sites in Chicago, including: the collections at the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

Did you know this date has been designated as our Flag's birthday? Although the Fourth of July celebrates America's birthday, the idea of an annual day specifically intended to celebrate our Flag, originated in 1885, by a Wisconsin schoolteacher, BJ Cigrand. The effort of this schoolteacher, along with other over the decades, led to June 14 being designated as the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777- the date when the "Stars and Stripes" were officially adopted as the flag of the USA!

This year's commencement ceremony was held on Saturday, May 26 at Millett Hall, in Oxford. 298 seniors received their diploma that day. We wish each of our graduates great success and happiness in whatever you pursue. Always remember, #OnceACoug.... always a Coug! Check out all the photos from graduation.

On May 25, the last day of school, the Trenton Police Department recognized the 2018 "Character Spotlight Award" winners from the 1st Grade Class at Babeck Early Childhood Center. Congratulations to Jocelyn Baker and Benny Tyler for winning the Trenton PD’s 2018 “Character Spotlight Award.” We would also like to congratulate Josie Witt, Tanner Oaks, Emma Joseph, Victoria Anglin, Gigi Jennings, and Emma Kellett for being nominated for the award by their teachers. This is the third year that Trenton PD has partnered with Babeck Elementary for the "Character Spotlight Award" for a first grader. This award is presented to a student who best demonstrated the characteristics of the Trenton Police Department's Mission Statement throughout the 2017-2018 school year. Each first grade teacher was asked to choose a student in their class that they felt met these criteria and to submit a letter of recommendation, and TPD staff votes on the winners. Newport Aquarium donated tickets for each child as prizes for the third year in a row – thank you Newport Aquarium! Here is the Trenton Police Department Mission Statement: We, the Trenton Police Department, are committed to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and dedication to our community.

What a wonderful day it was for our 58 Kindergarten students and their families! Take a moment to watch our graduates sing and sign "It's a Wonderful World". It's the best thing you'll watch today! Thank you to Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Turner, Ms. Loomis, Ms. Shackelford and Ms. Beckett for creating such a delightful ceremony. It will be remembered by all who attended.

The final Drag Race competition for the 8th grade Automation and Robotics class took place on May 22. Students designed, built, wired, and programmed a car to go as fast as possible for 20 feet using only the available VEX parts. Each period had a double elimination competition and the winners competed in the gym. The representative from each period were: period 1: Luke Smith and Zack Cornett period 2: Josh Geisz and Matt Laimo period 3: Alexis Ledford and Aniston Hunter period 4: Nate Martin and Jaden Andino Period 3's Alexis and Aniston won and represented semester 2 in the Championship. They raced the winner of Semester 1, a car designed and built by Mackenzie McIntosh and Auna Fenstermacher. The 2017-2018 champions are Mackenzie and Auna. Their car, named Pheobe, crossed the line before their Semester 2 competition. Congratulations to all the competitors and the champions!

Typically, a Job Fair is where individuals interested in working for a company can speak to a recruiter about employment opportunities. As part of a career exploration project, our EMS students were challenged to conduct a Reverse Job Fair.

Over 200 5th Graders, from Seven Mile Elementary and Edgewood Elementary, had a chance to recently experience the annual 5th Grade Bike Trip. These students learned about the history of Trenton and other surrounding areas as they rode nearly 14 miles throughout our community. Students also learned about important historical events and people from this area, including veterans who made our country great. A sincere Thank You goes to all the deputies from the Butler County Sheriff Department who kept our kids safe on the road, along with our EES and Seven Mile teachers and parent volunteers who helped to make this trip a success!

We are fast approaching the last day of school and would like to remind you to please pick up any medication that your child has been taking at school. It is our district’s policy that students may not transport medicine to and from school, and an adult must be responsible for the medication due to safety reasons. If you have already counted out the medications and know that there will be none left, you will not need to come to the clinic. Any medications left at school after June 1, 2018, will be destroyed and discarded. Continue reading for important information pertaining to prescription and non-prescription medication for next school year, including a Medication Permit form for 2018-2019 school year.

Our Edgewood Champions, along with their buddies, staff & volunteers will never forget this year's All Champions Day! From the opening parade, to the Dance Party and all the events in between, we had the Best Day EVER!!! We can't thank our Edgewood/Butler Tech DECA Inc. partners enough for hosting such an incredible event for our all special needs kids from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. Everyone was wiped out by the end of the day, from all the fun, but they were all smiles as they left Kumler Field! Check out all the photos and the video (courtesy of Butler Tech) of our kids having a blast!

Our Edgewood/Butler Tech FFA co-hosted a Honor Flight to Washington D.C. providing over 50 veterans with the opportunity to visit several war memorials. Brooke Smith and Hunter Bontrager were selected as guardians for this flight and accompanied the veterans to each of the sites. Upon returning from their day long trip, our FFA team was there to welcome the veterans home. It was an experience that will never be forgotten by our students or the heroes who took this Honor Flight. Thank you FFA for all your efforts to raise $10,000 for this year's Patriot Project. We are so proud of your efforts and honoring our heroes. Check out all the pictures from this event.

Monday, May 21 is "Vehicle Day" at Edgewood Elementary School. There will be police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, helicopters, SWAT vehicle, Humvee, and a tractor for our kids to see "up close and personal". We want you to be aware of this planned event in case you see or hear these vehicles on Monday at EES.

Please join us on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. for our Baccalaureate service. This will be held in the Heritage Room at EHS. Our Edgewood Ministerial Association is hosting this annual faith-based interdenominational service to celebrate our graduating Senior class. The recipient of the EMA Scholarship will also be recognized during this service. Everyone is welcome!

Congratulations to Edgewood's Top 10 Scholars of 2018! These students were honored on May 14 at the first Top 10 Seniors event. A special luncheon was held followed by a collegiate signing event. Parents, friends, along with each student's most influential high school teacher were invited to celebrate the accomplishments of these young men and women. Collectively, these students have been awarded over $435,000 in scholarships. We are so proud of each of you and wish you all the best! Congratulations to Emilie Abrams, Jeremiah Beeler, Jacob Clear, Jarrett Crowthers, Blake Haynes, Megan Maloney, Sam Muse, Alissa Smith, Ben Souders, and David Winter!

It's hard to believe but next school year will start in 3 months! So to get prepared, all the 1st Graders from Babeck Early Childhood Center took a tour of where they will be going to school next school year, Edgewood Elementary. It was exciting to check out their new school.

Attention Seniors! To help you prepare for your final exams this next week, please refer to the following information: