A new leader is set to take the helm at Columbia Intermediate School for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year! At this week's Board of Education meeting, the Kings Board of Education officially approved Mr. Josh Morrow as the next principal of CIS.

The search for a new principal began in February and drew over 80 applicants. After a thorough interview process, Mr. Morrow emerged as the top candidate. Feedback from the staff survey following the interviews highlighted his strong leadership qualities:

“Josh is genuinely positive and prioritizes building relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community.”

“His excitement and energy for educational leadership is impressive, refreshing, and contagious.”

Mr. Morrow currently serves as the principal of Lakota Ridge Junior School in the Lakota Local School District. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Education (2017) and Master of Education in School Leadership (2020) from Miami University.

Josh began his career as an intervention specialist at Lakota Ridge and later stepped into the role of assistant principal in 2020 before becoming principal. His career has been marked by a deep commitment to student success and collaborative leadership. He said, “I’m more than excited to join the Kings team. I know I’m joining a fantastic school district and staff at CIS. I’m looking forward to continued excellence and supporting relationships with our students, staff, and community.”

Mr. Morrow attended the Board meeting with his wife of nearly six years, Sophie, and their children, Jett (3) and Cameron (1 month).

We are excited to welcome Mr. Morrow and his family to the Kings community. We look forward to the future of CIS under his leadership.

Pictured: Mr. Morrow with his family and with Mrs. Lori Stovall, Assistant Principal at Columbia Intermediate School.

Kings District Treasurer, Mike Morrow, presented to the Board of Education at their regular meeting on April 15 as a continuation of ongoing dialogue with the Board about the district’s financial state. 

Mr. Morrow reiterated and explained a few key points. 

• $7,189,000 in Additional Revenues or Cost Cuts

The Board of Education and Administration has worked proactively to generate revenue or cut expenses totaling approximately $7,189,000 since 2022 without negatively impacting students.

• Inadequate State Funding

State funding to support our schools is inadequate, and all of the simulations coming through the state budget process give us no optimism that our financial outlook will change. We are a growing district, and the cost to educate students continues to rise. The challenge is that Kings is set to receive less money from the State this year than they did last year, and may receive considerably less money next year.  

• Uncertain Financial Future

Our vibrant district continues to experience student population growth. This ultimately forces additional expenditures to support our extremely diverse student population. Revenues are basically flat based on Ohio law and the current state funding calculations. The Kings Board of Education is currently considering asking the community for additional revenue through an operating levy or implementing cost reductions that will significantly impact students.

If you have any questions regarding district finance and the budget, please contact Mike Morrow at mmorrow@kingslocal.net.

We are excited to announce the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Kings High School Class of 2025! Please join us in congratulating Matthew McMahon – Valedictorian, and Michael Ivanov – Salutatorian!

These outstanding students were selected from an incredibly accomplished senior class in one of the most competitive academic selections in recent memory. Their dedication, leadership, and achievements truly embody the excellence of Kings High School.

Matthew, the son of Mary and Edward McMahon, plans to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he will study Mechanical Engineering. Throughout his years at KHS, Matthew showcased his musical talent as a saxophonist in the Kings Jazz Band. Outside of school, he serves as a lifeguard at a local swim club and enjoys riding and showing his horse, Wells.

Michael, the son of Anastasia Chastain, will attend the University of Cincinnati on a Pre-Med track, aspiring to become a physician. A committed musician, Michael has been a member of the KHS Symphonic Band for four years, playing both clarinet and piano. Born in Ukraine and fluent in Russian, he moved to the U.S. at the age of one. Alongside his academic and musical pursuits, he works at the Manor House Event Center.

Congratulations, Matthew and Michael! Your hard work, perseverance, and commitment to excellence have earned you this well-deserved honor. We are proud of your accomplishments and can’t wait to see all you achieve in the future!

Kings High School Graduation will be held on Sunday, May 18, at 4:30 p.m. at the Cintas Center.

Congratulations to Kings student teacher, Mia Henning, who has been awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate Special Education Award from the University of Cincinnati. This prestigious recognition is awarded to a student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and dedication to the field of special education. 

For the 2024-2025 academic year, Kings Local School District established a strategic partnership with the University of Cincinnati to cultivate future educators specializing in Special Education through a comprehensive pathway program – the Paid Teacher Pathway. This program is designed to support aspiring educators by providing financial compensation during their student teaching experience. This innovative initiative not only eases the financial burden on future teachers but also helps meet the staffing needs of the university’s district partners. Through her involvement, Mia gained valuable hands-on classroom experience while contributing meaningfully to the educational communities she served.

UC Special Education Program Coordinator, Dr. Kate Doyle, said "Mia’s commitment to inclusive teaching practices, her strong work ethic, and her passion for supporting all learners set her apart as a future leader in the field."

Mia is currently wrapping up her student teaching assignment at South Lebanon Elementary. She will graduate from UC in May, and she has accepted a position as an Intervention Specialist at J.F. Burns Elementary for the next school year.

Lorraine Hartke, Kings Director of Pupil Personnel, said, "The experience has yielded exceptionally positive outcomes for both Kings Local School District and the participating student teachers. We are enthusiastic about the continuation of this successful partnership with the University of Cincinnati into the 2025-2026 academic year."

Congratulations to our Kings Indoor Drumline, who recently placed 11th out of 52 at the WGI World Percussion Finals.

The WGI World Percussion Championship is the annual culmination of Winter Guard International (WGI) competitions for percussion ensembles. It's a competitive event where ensembles perform, judged on their musicianship, visual presentation, and overall artistry. 

The three-day World Championships evaluated more than 200 percussion ensembles. Kings performance entitled "That Which Guides Us," is an ode to the North Star. The show is related to things that help people navigate their way through life.

Check out their winning performance here.

The fourth graders in Jane Weed's class at Kings Mills Elementary School are now published authors! Each student chose their story theme, worked through the writing process, and submitted their completed typed story along with a hand-drawn illustration to accompany their text... the publishers did the rest. 

Way to go, 4th-grade authors! 

Over 30 Kings teachers and administrators recently participated in a unique professional learning opportunity focused on the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.

The idea for the AI Thought Leaders Cohort was born from Kings' ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of educational technology. For the past four years, district leaders have attended AI-focused conferences and trainings, while many teachers have independently explored the potential of AI in their classrooms. Recognizing a need for a more structured approach, the district launched this cohort to help build a strong foundation of AI knowledge across all schools, highlighting both the positive opportunities and ethical considerations AI brings to teaching and learning.

The group met seven times throughout the year under the guidance of Matthaeus Huelse, an AI Operations Specialist and Instructional Designer at Forward Edge, Kings’ educational technology partner. Matthaeus brings extensive experience to the table, having supported more than 25 school districts in developing thoughtful AI frameworks. He is also a podcast co-host and producer, known for sharing innovative ideas on using AI in education.

Through this partnership with Forward Edge, the cohort explored practical classroom applications of AI while working toward responsible usage guidelines. The ultimate goal: to empower staff to understand, apply, and model the ethical use of AI for both teaching and student learning.

Joy McGee, a Kings High School History teacher, uses AI to enhance her classroom instruction. "I use AI to create short comprehension and vocabulary quizzes. In AP European History, I've used Notebook LM and School AI to build study materials for the AP exam and classroom tests. During the AI Thought Leaders cohort, I especially appreciated learning how AI actually works, its environmental impact, and how it can support personalized learning," she said.

Anne Livingston, a KJH Science teacher, found the experience especially valuable as a new educator. She said, "It was so helpful to explore AI resources that can support lesson creation and differentiation based on my students' individual needs. I’ve already used AI to develop and improve some exciting new lab experiences for my science students!"

While the AI Thought Leaders cohort has concluded for the year, the work is far from over. The district is currently exploring new ways to offer professional learning around AI, potentially building on—or replacing—the cohort model used this year. What remains certain is that AI education will continue to be a priority, as Kings prepares both staff and students for a future shaped by innovation and technology.

A few members of the cohort explained their work at this week's Kings Board of Education Meeting. Watch here.

Pictured is Matthaeus leading the cohort in an AI activity.

The second-grade students in Mrs.Heather Combs' class at South Lebanon Elementary had a fun time sharing their entrepreneurial skills this week.

They were given the chance to be both a consumer and producer as they created their own stores and shopped at each other's stores. This fun project taught them economics while incorporating Math, Writing, Reading, and Team-building skills! 

To begin the countdown to the end of school, the class is beginning their Alphabet Countdown. Each day, the students are invited to bring a stuffed animal that corresponds with the letter of the day. The only rule - it must fit in their backpack!

Mrs. Combs said, "So much learning!"

After over two years of planning, the time is here! We hope you'll join us as we break ground for the new Kings High School building on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

The ceremony will take place on the KHS baseball field.

To learn more about the KHS project, visit www.kingsfacilities.org.

Come on, babe, why don't we paint the town... and all that jazz! 

Step into the dazzling, fast-paced world of Chicago: Teen Edition, where ambition, fame, and justice collide in a high-energy spectacle of song and dance! This electrifying adaptation of the Broadway classic brings all the glitz and glam of the roaring '20s to the stage—filled with show-stopping numbers, sharp-witted satire, and a thrilling tale of crime and celebrity.

Follow the captivating journeys of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly as they navigate the headlines, the courtroom, and the jazz-infused underbelly of Chicago, all while delivering unforgettable performances of hits like "Cell Block Tango," "Razzle Dazzle," and "All That Jazz."

With a fresh, dynamic cast and a story that’s as relevant today as ever, Chicago: Teen Edition is a must-see production that shows just how far someone will go for fame. 

There are four opportunities to see the show – April 24, 25, and 26 at 7:00 p.m. and a 2:00 p.m. matinee on April 26. Tickets are on sale now at www.kingstheatre.net/tickets. Chicago: Teen Edition is rated PG-13.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year has begun. To enroll for kindergarten, your child must turn five by August 1, 2025.

Visit the Registration tab on our website.

Preschool registration is open for the 2025-2026 School Year. Your child must be 3 years old by August 1, 2025, and be fully potty trained in order to register. (children with disabilities do not have to be potty trained)

CLICK HERE to register.

Don't miss out on buying your high school student this year's yearbook. Visit yearbookforever.com and search Kings High School. Parents can purchase space in the yearbook to leave a special message for their students. See the example below.

Visit the KHS Yearbook Facebook page for updates and reminders.

Board Members

Kings Board of Education (L-R): Janelle Groff, Board Member; John Skerl, Board Member; Deb Cowan, Board Member; Stacie Belfrom, President; and Peggy Phillips, Vice-President.

The Kings Board of Education meets twice a month. They hold a Work Session on the second Tuesday of the month and a Regular Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month.

All meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. and are livestreamed on the Kings Youtube channel.

Visit the Board of Education page on our website for meeting dates, meeting recordings, and agendas.

If you aren't following us on our social media channels, you are missing out! Don't miss one bit of news!

Make sure to follow us on social media!

Keep in the loop on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram

In an effort to be "green," the District does not send paper flyers home. We use a platform called Peachjar that houses flyers of community programs and resources. 

Parents receive approved flyers via email, and they are posted on our digital flyerboard for easy retrieval. Any organization can distribute information to our community by creating an account!

We are looking to bolster our Kings Alumni database. Are you a Kings High School graduate or know someone who is? Please share the form with your fellow graduates. This will help our reunion committees and keep you updated on what is happening at your alma mater!

Please complete this Alumni Roundup Form.

Kings Athletics is building an Athletic Alumni Network to reconnect with former student-athletes, share updates on our programs, and provide opportunities for alumni involvement. Whether you want to attend events, be involved, or simply stay informed, we would love to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our Athletic Alumni Contact Form.