District News

The Madeira City School Board approved Elizabeth Styles as the new director of Madeira Preschool at their May 19 meeting. She succeeds current director Mary Ann McPherson, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Elizabeth has spent over a decade in early childhood education, working as both a classroom teacher and a school administrator. Her background includes leading innovative preschool programs that focus on creativity, community, and child-centered learning. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and has spent her career helping young learners grow in both confidence and curiosity.

Outside of school, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband are parents to 11 year old Devin and 10 year old Drew who keep them busy with their various sports activities. Elizabeth plays volleyball in her free time and loves to read.  

“I’m absolutely delighted to join the Madeira community,” Elizabeth shared. “This is a district that truly values its youngest learners, and I’m honored to support the incredible work already happening at Madeira Preschool. I can’t wait to partner with our educators and families to build something really special together.”

The Madeira Schools Foundation (MSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and securing resources that enhance the education of students in the Madeira City School District. This volunteer organization comprised of parents, alumni and members of the Madeira community has worked to provide excellent opportunities, facilities, technology, and experiences to Madeira students for over 40 years.

The Foundation’s Distinguished Awards program honors and recognizes alumni, citizens and staff members who have made significant contributions to society, become respectable leaders, and are known as positive role models. This year's recipients were recognized at the their annual luncheon on May 8, 2025. Awards were presented to Scott Blackwelder ‘92 (Distinguished Alumni Award), Bob Kitchen (Distinguished Staff Award), and David Eberly (Friend of the Foundation Award). In addition to being honored at the luncheon, an engraved nameplate for each honoree is permanently affixed to the Distinguished Award Plaque in the main hallway at Madeira High School, and an engraved commemorative paving brick is also placed in the “Walk of Fame” entrance to Romano Court.

MSF also donates upwards of $20,000 annually in scholarships with monies raised by the annual auction, a golf outing, and more to graduating seniors and alumni to continue their education. This year’s scholarship recipients were also honored at the annual luncheon and most were able to meet their donor’s families. This year’s recipients are Daniel Konieczny (Steve Kramer Scholar), Morgan Starr, Natalie Cimpello, Nina Gravlee, Sonia Davis, Elizabeth Cuchra (John D. Rahe Scholars), Tommaso Caggioni  (Russell Emery Scholar), Ella Nugent (Firestone Scholar), Tommaso Caggioni (Adrick Family Scholar), Marissa Jordan (Entrepreneurship Student of the Year), Evan O’Reilly (Patrick Wood Scholar), Emma Prus (Nina Bechtel Knox Scholar), Kate Manzi (Matthew Simpson Art Scholar), Carson Shafer (Vinnie Englert Memorial Scholar), Francie DiMauro (Ed Hopping Memorial Scholar), Garan Smith, Sean Geers (Billie and Tim Yeomans Memorial Scholars), Owen Hilgeman (Wayne Smith Memorial Scholar), Isaac Kuester (William Koehler Family Memorial Scholar), Ava Henry (Bob Westermeyer Memorial Scholar), and Vivian Momper (Chris Flanagan Memorial Scholar).

Scholarship Winners (Not pictured: Natalie Cimpello, Nina Gravlee, Ella Cuchra)  
Distinguished Award Recipients (Pictured l to r: Scott Blackwelder, Bob Kitchen, David Eberly)

 

 

At its annual Academic Signing Day on May 6, Madeira High School (MHS) announced the 60 members of its Class of 2025 who have been named Top Seniors – members of the class who will graduate with a 4.0 or above GPA.

The MHS Class of 2025 Top Seniors and their future plans are: Tommaso Caggioni (The Ohio State University), Owen          Dixon (The Ohio State University), Isaac Kuester (The Ohio State University), Samuel McClain (Indiana University/Bloomington), Kate Monnin (University of Cincinnati), Kalley Alexander (University of Cincinnati), Conner Andrews (Purdue University), Addyson Barnes (The Ohio State University), Braden Blackwelder (The Ohio State University), Olivia Bodley (The Ohio State University), Olivia Bowles (Miami University), Emmie Brewer (University of Alabama), Melina Busken (Brigham Young University- Provo), Natalie Cimpello (Florida State University), Anna Cornejo (George Washington University), Elizabeth Cuchra (University of Cincinnati), Sean Cummins (The Ohio State University), Autumn Daley (Aveda Fredric’s Institute), Sonia Davis (University of Louisville), Katie Dickess   (The Ohio State University), Sebastian Feldkamp (University of Cincinnati), Nathan Gemmel (Purdue University), Nina Gravlee (University of Virginia), Molly Grontkowski (University of Cincinnati), Ava Henry (The Ohio State University), Evan Huber (Ohio University), Emerson Huber (The Ohio State University), Kameron Huon (The Ohio State University), William Jenkins (Ohio University), Christian Jennings (University of Cincinnati), Nora Katz (Miami University), Daniel Konieczny (The Ohio State University), Samuel Kyser (University of Tennessee), Jon Miguel Lawrence (University of California-Davis), Catherine LeRoy (The Ohio State University), William Manning (University of Alabama), Katherine Manzi (DePaul University), Lauren Mast (Ithaca College), Kayla Matsudo (Taylor University), Vivian Momper (The Ohio State University), Abigail Naegeli (Miami University), Wesley Nelson (Fordham University), Ella Nugent (The Ohio State University), Evan O'Reilly (The Ohio State University), Alene Otto (Miami University), Sasha Pinyayev (Ohio University), Lance Pollard (University Cincinnati), Emma Prus (The Ohio State University), Selah Reiber (Morehead State University), Cobi Ripberger (University of Cincinnati), Addison Rockwell (University of Kentucky), Eve Schilling (Miami University), Gianna Schueler (Franciscan University of Steubenville), Andrew Seremetis (Miami University), Leah Shults (Miami University), Morgan Starr  (University of Alabama), William Unger (Xavier University), Leo Vahue (The Ohio State University), Anna Wagner (Ohio University), Corinne Westbrook (West Liberty University).

Proposed changes in the Ohio state budget are raising serious concerns for the future of public education across the state, including right here in Madeira. Recent versions of the House and Governor’s budget proposals dramatically shift funding priorities toward private and charter schools—while limiting how public school districts like Madeira can responsibly manage taxpayer-approved local funds.

Under the current House budget proposal that they literally spent 7 days developing, a never-before-seen cap would limit public school districts to holding no more than 30% of their annual budget in cash reserves. For Madeira, which follows a conservative, long-term financial strategy, this would mean being forced to return over $7.2 million in voter-approved funds—jeopardizing financial planning, increasing the frequency of school levies, and reducing the district’s ability to respond to emergencies or plan for facility improvements.

“There’s no cap on private or charter schools who receive public dollars,” said Superintendent Kenji Matsudo. “This unfairly targets public districts and penalizes communities that plan ahead.”

What This Means for Madeira Taxpayers and Students:

·       Loss of Financial Stability: Madeira would be forced to spend down savings and lose the ability to weather
        economic uncertainty.

·       More Frequent Levies: Without reserves, the district would need to ask voters for new funding every 1–2 years.

·       Undermining Voter Voice: Voter-approved levies from the past would effectively be reversed.

·       Staff & Program Risks: Rising costs without flexibility could impact staffing, student services, and facilities.

At the same time, Governor DeWine’s proposal redirects nearly $500 million in state funds to private and charter school vouchers—despite public schools educating 80% of Ohio’s children. Madeira would lose nearly $800,000 in state funding over four years, continuing a long-standing trend of shifting the financial burden to local taxpayers. “They are expecting us to tax ourselves even more while simultaneously telling us how to manage the resources we voted for,” said Matsudo.

The district’s financial model, based on transparent planning and community trust, has helped Madeira maintain excellence without frequent tax increases. This proposal would unravel that model—putting students, staff, and taxpayers at risk.

How You Can Help:
Madeira City Schools encourages families and residents to speak out. Contact your legislators and express your support for fair, equitable school funding and for preserving local control of public education finances.

- Senator Louis Blessing III: lblessing@ohiosenate.gov | (614) 466-8068

- Representative Rachel Baker: rachel.baker@ohiohouse.gov | (614) 644-6886

- Governor Mike DeWine: https://governor.ohio.gov/contact

Bottom Line:
This proposed legislation doesn’t reduce taxes—it shifts costs to local communities and threatens the stability of the public schools that Ohio families rely on. Madeira City Schools will continue to advocate for responsible, student-centered funding policies and protect the long-term investments our residents have made in their schools.

Additional Information: 

State Budget Update

Background & Governor’s Budget Proposal

Madeira Elementary School second grade teacher Nicole Prater has been named the Madeira City School District’s 2025 Educator of the Year. She will represent the district at the 2025 Celebrate Excellence event in May.

The Hamilton County Education Foundation (HCEF) sponsors the Educator of the Year program through its Celebrate Excellence Program. The Celebrate Excellence Award recognizes and honors excellent educators throughout the public school districts of Hamilton County by providing scholarships to teachers and educational professionals. Madeira staff, parents, and community members were asked to nominate a district educator who possesses a high commitment to student achievement, can challenge students at all levels, and extends him or herself to make a positive difference.

Mrs. Prater has been a second grade teacher at Madeira since 2001. She has a track record of excellence and is well known around Madeira for her teaching.

Madeira began participating in the HCEF’s annual educator recognition event in 2015. Mrs. Prater is the eighth educator to represent Madeira and the third after a three-year pause in the program due to the pandemic.

Previous Madeira representatives were Vince Rahnfeld (2024), Tammy Roberts (2023), Kristina Wanstrath (2019), Jennifer Bruening (2018), Tracy Alley (2017), Kelly Wing (2016), and Megan McKee (2015).