High school gets $14,000 Teach Arts Ohio grant; visiting artist to paint three murals

The board heard that Madison High School has received a $14,000 Teach Arts Ohio grant to bring visiting artist Fred Deljudice to campus while the regular art teacher is on medical leave. The grant covers the artist’s time and will support a mural project meant to reinforce the district’s mission statements in prominent school locations.

A district staff member explained the grant title, Creating Endless Opportunities, and said, "The amount of the grant was $14,000 and that's to go specifically to pay for Fred's time." The staff member said the district is on track for renewal next year and described the program as connecting schools with teaching artists and community organizations.

Deljudice spoke about his mural concepts for the school and said he aims to involve student artists. He described three murals that correspond to the school mission: a welcome mural at the entry, a cafeteria mural reading "Live and learn with integrity," and an exit mural reading "Leave to love and serve." "I'm just grateful to be here," Deljudice told the board, and he described plans to have students work alongside him on the pieces.

The board received the presentation as an informational item; no additional funding request or policy change was made beyond the grant acceptance and the presentation of the artist's plan for student engagement.