Kenston Schools has been actively working to address the transportation challenges we experienced earlier this year. While we have made progress, we know there is always room for improvement, particularly with communication.

We have reviewed and adjusted routes where possible to improve timing and safety, including moving some stops to reduce road crossings. An additional middle school–only route has been added, and while ride times can still be long in some areas, we continue to refine routes as new drivers are hired.

Stopfinder is now updated and working correctly for all buses. The only ongoing issues involve split households, and our technology and transportation teams are working directly with those families to resolve them.

To ensure timely responses, we ask that parents direct any transportation concerns, including behavioral issues on the bus, straight to district administrators. We need our bus drivers to report issues they are having so we can address them. This allows us to address situations more promptly and efficiently, without waiting for a Board meeting. 

We are committed to improving communication, strengthening safety, and providing the best experience possible for all students who ride our buses. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work through these challenges together.

The Kenston Local School District has been recognized as a high-performance district, receiving a 4.5-star rating and exceeding state standards on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) performance scale. This distinction highlights the district’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence and its efforts to prepare students for success beyond the classroom.

Each year, schools are evaluated by ODEW based on multiple components, including achievement, progress, gap closing, early literacy, graduation, and college, career, workforce, and military readiness. Kenston is proud of its strong results, particularly in Achievement and Graduation, which reflect the combined efforts of students, staff, administrators, parents, and the community. High expectations, coupled with dedicated instruction and student effort, continue to drive success.

The College, Career, and Military Readiness category is a newer measure based on students from more than a year ago, using a revised calculation system. A three-star rating indicates the district met the state standard. While Kenston is not satisfied with simply meeting expectations, it is actively working to enhance readiness opportunities. The district’s focus remains on meaningful experiences and offerings for students rather than ratings alone.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, the Administrative team, and our dedicated teachers and staff, I am incredibly proud of our students and their accomplishments,” said Superintendent Bruce Willingham. “We are about students and their experiences. When we do this work correctly, the test scores take care of themselves. The state report card is just one measure of success. Our Quality Profile provides a more complete picture of what Kenston offers and how our students perform across academics, the arts, athletics, and service.”

Kenston continues to pursue continuous improvement by exploring innovative curriculum materials, offering additional training for staff, and adopting new approaches to strengthen learning experiences. The district also celebrates the many accomplishments of students outside the classroom through athletics, extracurricular activities, and community engagement—achievements that reflect the true strength and spirit of Kenston.

“We will keep challenging ourselves to provide even more opportunities for every student to learn, grow, and succeed,” Willingham added. “We are grateful for our community’s ongoing support and partnership as we work together to prepare our students for strong futures.”

Dr. Bruce Willingham Jr., Superintendent of the Kenston Local Schools, shared a Permanent Improvement (PI) Fund update at the September 15, 2025, Board of Education Meeting. 

In November 2024, the community passed the Permanent Improvement Levy, providing the District with the opportunity to review and implement necessary updates across the campus. Throughout the past year, Superintendent Dr. Willingham and Treasurer Mr. Cales have shared numerous updates to ensure transparency and keep the community informed during the planning process. As a general reminder, PI Funds are available for projects on July 1 of each fiscal year. We are currently in the planning phase for the 26/27 school year. 

Dr. Willingham presented a review of improvements that have been made. Among the many projects completed, two originated from student Project-Based Learning (PBL) initiatives last year. Students recognized that safety remains a top priority around campus and identified the need for speed bumps. Additionally, at Kenston High School, students noted the lack of dividers between the urinals in the restrooms, which led to the installation of dividers. 

Numerous other Permanent Improvement projects have occurred on campus, including replacing the volleyball net system at Kenston High School, refinishing the Auditorium floor, the first phase of the three-phase project in repairing the Auditorium lighting, the Bomber Stadium track resurfacing, and updates to the Pole Vault pit landing system. The most significant portion of the PI funds was for the replacement of the Timmons Elementary School Playground. This was a significant undertaking, which included addressing drainage issues, providing age-appropriate equipment for our younger students, and accommodating future playground expansion. 

On Tuesday, September 16, Window Screens have begun to be installed at Timmons Elementary, with Kenston Middle School and Kenston High School receiving the screens in the coming weeks. These screens add an extra layer of protection to areas with a high concentration of windows. While students can see out, the screens prevent individuals outside of the building from seeing in.

There are many other projects that have been completed as well. Kenston is pleased to share that we came in under the projected budget, with the updates totaling around $1.54 million. The district will begin working this fall on recommendations, with a presentation to the board for approval and updates to the community.

Click Here to Visit the Kenston Foundation