Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
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Home > Blogs > Springfield Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > May
May 2009
Three vie for Southeastern superintendent post
SOUTH CHARLESTON - Three educators will be interviewed in the coming weeks by Southeastern staff and school board members to be the district’s next superintendent.
Greenon Assistant Superintendent Tammy Carnahan, Holgate Local Schools principal Bruce Kidder and middle school principal David Shea, of Southeastern schools in Chillicothe, are the three finalists for the position, according to Treasurer Brad McKee. The three finalists were selected from a pool of 19 candidates.
The district’s former superintendent, John Abdella, retired in December and the position has since been filled by interim superintendents, currently Brian O’Mara.
The three finalists will met with staff members June 1 for the first part of the final stage of interviews, said McKee.
“Everyone’s going to be represented,” he said of that staff interviews.
Then they will meet with the board for the final interviews June 8.
“Hopefully, we’re going to hire a new superintendent at the June (16) board meeting,” he said.
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Schools and the swine flu
Clark County has its first confirmed case of swine flu in a 15-year-old student at Northridge Middle School.
Northeastern school officials are working with the Clark County Combined Health District and have decided not to close school when students return from the long weekend Tuesday, said Superintendent Rick Broderick.
In the first few days after the first cases of swine flu started popping up in the U.S., the U.S. Department of Education recommended closing schools with confirmed cases.
As we learned more, the USDE backed off that recommendation and said that schools that had closed could re-open. It is recommended that any students or school staff who have flu-like symptoms stay home for at least seven days, even if they start to feel better.
Scientists believe swine flu is spread person-to-person so some common sense tips will help prevent you or your child from getting ill, according to the CDC. The CDC recommends washing hands often, using a tissue when coughing and sneezing and staying home if you feel ill.
The CDC recommends:
Parents monitor school age children closely for any flu-like symptoms. Keep your child home and see a doctor if they do develop symptoms like a sore throat or a fever with a cough.
If your child’s school allows it, send a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a travel pack of tissues to school with your student.
-Exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and drinking fluids can improve your immunity to swine flu.
Visit the CDC for more information for families and individuals, home care or to check out recommendations for schools.
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Geocaching workshop for teachers offered by Avatec
Avatec will offer a workshop for teachers next month about geocaching, the popular game that combines technology and the outdoors.
Geocachers use clues and GPS coordinates to locate hidden treasurers in parks, cities and other areas. Here’s a story I did on geocaching in January. Two Springfield teachers, Dave and Bill Zeller, who are avid ‘cachers, are featured in it.
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO (May 19, 2009) - On June 6, 2009, Avetec will host its first Geocaching in the Classroom teacher workshop. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting sport in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers anywhere in the world. “During the workshop, teachers will learn to use GPS technology to engage their students while networking with other teachers in the area,” says Judy Steritz, Avetec’s Education Coordinator. “The instruction aligns with state standards and benchmarks so it will fit seamlessly into classroom curriculum.” The workshop fee of $150 includes a GPS unit to keep, GPS caches, a geocaching manual, an introduction to the sport, time to develop lesson plans and generate ideas for the classroom, and lunch. The workshop will take place in Avetec’s new facility in the Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park on Route 40 in Springfield, Ohio. Avetec’s new 37,000 square-foot facility houses state-of-the-art research capabilities, educational classrooms and office space that aids its mission to accelerate applied scientific and work to build the next generation workforce.
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Who wants to be Southeastern’s next superintendent?
Nineteen educators have applied to be Southeastern Local Schools’ next superintendent.
In the next couple days, the district will select a few candidates from the list to proceed to interviews with the board, scheduled for special meetings Tuesday, May 26, and Thursday, May 28, according to a meeting notice from the district.
The board will meet in closed session, as allowed under Ohio law for personnel matters.
I have the list of the nineteen candidates’ names, but I don’t have all of their current jobs confirmed, so some of them are just names. I’ll have the full details in Friday’s News-Sun and will update the blog as I get them.
The applicants are: Diane Blose-Ivory (Butler County Educational Services Center, Special Projects Coordinator); Fred Boring (Bellefontaine High School Principal); James Brady, Clinton-Massie Local Educational Services Director); Tammy Carnahan (Greenon Assistant Superintendent); Thomas Dimit (Educational Consultant, self-employed); Michael Eaglowski (Mad River Local Schools Superintendent); Jarome Farley (Madison Local Schools Gifted Coordinator and Teacher); Rick Glenn (unknown); Norm Glissman (Yellow Springs Superintendent);Stacey Griffin-Cooper (unknown); Kathy Henzie-Harper (unknown); Bruce Kidder (Holgate High School Superintendent); Dean Lynch (East Clinton High School Principal); Timm Mackley (Ohio Department of Education Consultant); Tony Meinerding (Holgate Local Superintendent); Guy Parmigan (unknown); Kenneth Schmeising (unknown); David Shea (Southeastern Middle School Principal in the Ross County Southeastern Local School District); Mike Yonnotti (Hamilton Local Schools Director of Transportation and Maintenance).
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School reformer sees chance for change in Springfield
Some kids, like Geoffrey Canada, get lucky; most kids don’t.
Canada, one of the most prominent figures in today’s education reform landscape for his work with the Harlem Children’s Zone, spoke Friday, May 15, for the Nehemiah Foundation and through a Safe Schools Healthy Students presentation.
Canada credited his success in Harlem - one of the country’s poorest areas where all students in the Harlem Gems pre-school program have tested ready for kindergarten for seven years - with programs for the whole child that involve the family and the community to ensure success.
“I’m really excited about the possibilities here in Springfield,” Canada, a native of South Bronx, told a crowd of about 75 at the Heritage Center Friday night.
Growing up, Canada knew he needed to get accepted to one of four elite New York high schools or end up at his neighborhood school, “a terrible place for kids.”
He got lucky when he was able to move to Long Island for high school with his grandparents, despite not scoring high enough on the necessary exam to escape his neighborhood school.
Now he dedicates his time to creating a culture in Harlem where poor kids will receive an education that prepares them for success.
“I am convinced that our country is going to continue to waste millions of children- literally millions of children- by not improving the quality of their education and their lives in general,” he said.
Canada - who uses the word “my” to describe every one of the 7,500 students a year served by his programs - stressed strategies for success that had worked in Harlem, like beginning early, following kids through college, partnering with parents, community support and involvement, using data to identify strengths and weaknesses and redesigning schools for success.
He ended his speech with two challenges: to think outside the box and to make opportunities available for children.
“You never know what will save a child,” he said.
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State board splits on Strickland support
The state board of education split 15-3 on a resolution in support of proposed education reforms this week, with Clark County’s elected representative casting one of the three dissenting votes.
State board member Jeff Hardin, of Milford, said he voted against the resolution expressing support for the reforms because he finds it too constricting and does not think there is enough research and evidence behind the House-revised proposal from Gov. Ted Strickland. Hardin was elected in November to represent District 10, which includes Clark as well as Adams, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Gallia, Greene, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties.
Hardin acknowledged that his vote, along with that of his fellow dissenters Susan Haverkos and Robin Hovis, went along party lines but said other Republicans voted in support of the resolution.
Carl Wick, member at-large from Centerville, said he disagreed strongly with the original version of the resolution but knew it had the votes on the 19-member state board of education to pass.
Instead of voting against it, he worked with the opposition to make changes to the resolution that took the focus off Strickland’s specific reforms, he said.
Instead, the final resolution supports the spirit of education reform for Ohio, but not the specifics of Strickland’s plan, which would focus on a six-year implementation of programs like all-day kindergarten, increased teacher training, 21st century skills and basing funding on what students need to have a quality education, said Wick.
Look for more in Friday’s News-Sun.
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Springfield board agenda for May 14 meeting
The agenda’s light for Springfield City School’s board meeting Thursday evening.
Mostly routine business with a couple of resolutions to continue partnerships like healthcare at Keifer Alternative School and running a credit recovery program in conjunction with OIC.
The meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday at the city forum. See the agenda after the jump.
May 12, 2009
TO: Members of the Board of Education
FR: Dr. Donald R. Thompson, Superintendent
RE: Board of Education Meeting, Thursday, May 14, 2009, 6:00 p.m. in the City Forum, 76 E. High St., Springfield, Ohio
REVISED AGENDA
5:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER by the Board President
ROLL CALL by the Treasurer
EXECUTIVE SESSION [Purposes: 1) the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee, student, and/or school officials; 2) preparation for negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of employment; and any other business which may lawfully be considered at this meeting.]
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Welcome by the President
Hearing of the Public
Recognitions
Presentation
• Academic Data Update by Crystal Aker, Educational Researcher
Board Reports
Board Discussion
Treasurer’s Items for Consideration and/or Action:
Treasurer’s Report
A-1 To approve/accept consent items below as indicated ( ) in the A-Section [A-2 through A-4]
A-2 To approve previous Board Meeting Minutes
A-3 To approve and accept cash donations to Fulton Elementary School, Snowhill Elementary School and Roosevelt Middle School’s music department
A-4 To approve establishment of a new student activity fund budget for the new Springfield High School (Writers’ Circle)
- Recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools:
Personnel
B-1-5 Resignations, appointments, salary adjustments, etc.
- Resolutions
C-1 To approve/accept consent items as indicated ( ) [C-2 to C-8] [NOTE: C-9 and C-10 are not consent items.]
C-2 To authorize membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the schools listed below for the 2009-2010 school year. It is agreed that these schools will conduct their athletic programs in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws and Regulations of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Springfield High School (Grades 9 - 12)
Hayward Middle School (Grades 7- 8)
Roosevelt Middle School (Grades 7- 8)
Schaefer Middle School (Grades 7- 8)
C-3 To enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Clark County. Springfield City Schools and OIC benefit from a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Grant from the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services. The purpose of the grant is to provide an alternative school for students who have credit deficits and who are at or below 100% of poverty (in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Labor). The term of this agreement shall be July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. The Springfield City Schools’ share is not to exceed $198,070.00. This will be paid from the General Fund.
C-4 To agree to pay an annual assessment fee in the amount not to exceed $4,000 (forty cents ($.40) per student times the average daily membership ADM as reported by the participating member to the State Department of Education with a minimum fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00) and a maximum fee of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). Thereby, the member remains eligible for all of the benefits afforded to the “Associate Membership” by the Metropolitan Educational Council.
C-5 To approve an Educational Trip for Snowhill Elementary School students to Glen Helen, June 2 - June 5, 2009. Students will be chaperoned by staff members. The trip will be paid in full by an anonymous donor, a fundraiser, and families of students. There is no cost to the General Fund.
C-6 To approve the agreement between the Springfield City Schools and Springfield Regional Medical Center to provide full service medical care to students and members of the student’s families assigned to Keifer Alternative School. Clinic personnel will monitor the administration and use of physician prescribed medications for students. Cost of the agreement not to exceed $45,000.00 and will be paid from the FY09 Alternative Education Grant. There is no cost to the General Fund.
C-7 To authorize the Springfield City School Administration to enter into an agreement with Marilyn Brigati to conduct professional development training up to five (5) days between May 1 - June 30, 2009, for Lincoln Elementary staff, on lesson planning, intentionality and purpose in literacy across the content areas for grades 3 through 5, specifically with the SIRI-R (adolescent) training. Cost of this agreement not to exceed $3550.00, to be paid through Title I. There is no cost to the General Fund
C-8 To donate items to the Springfield City Police Department. The estimated value of said items is $50.00.
C-9 To approve the job descriptions as listed below as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools. This is no cost to the General Fund.
Fixed Assets Secretary (Part Time - 4 Hours) Clerk Typist 4
Accounts Payable Clerk - Clerk Typist 7
Student Activities Technician - 7A
Para-Professional
Attendance Office Secretary - Clerical 6
Department of Academic Services Secretary (Part Time - 4 Hours) Clerk Typist 4
Preschool Secretary - (Part Time - 4 Hours) Clerk Typist 4
High School Secretary - Clerk Typist 4
Plumber
C-10 To approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the Springfield City School District Board of Education and the Springfield Education Association to amend the school calendar due to calamity days.
- Other Board Business (old, new, and communications)
• Comments from Superintendent
• Comments by Board Members
ADJOURNMENT
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District selects four to interview for director position
Four educators are interviewing for the chance to be Springfield High School’s first permanent campus director.
A finalist will likely be selected by the end of the month to take the reins at Springfield High for the 2009-10 school year, said Interim Superintendent Don Thompson, who is interviewing candidates with incoming Superintendent David Estrop.
“We have good quality candidates to pick from,” Thompson said. “It’s a matter of matching up skill sets to the job and continuing to research the candidates’ job performances.”
The four candidates are:
James Schoenlein, principal of Kettering-Fairmont High School, in Kettering, a Dayton suburb.
Christopher Shaffer, principal of Whetstone High School, Columbus City Schools.
Stephen Heck, former executive director, Indiana Association of School Principals.
Larry Gray, principal of Willow Run Middle/High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
See Thursday’s News-Sun for more details.
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Congressman talks to local students
U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, spoke to South Vienna Elementary fourth-graders this morning about the legislative process, Abraham Lincoln and a time capsule that will hold the students’ essays for the next 50 years.
Two of Nona Alleman’s social studies classes participated in a program to write essays about the 16th president that will be entombed in a time capsule for the next fifty years as part of the bicentennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln, born Feb. 12, 1809.
Austria, who will also write an essay on the selected theme of what Lincoln means today, collected the essays today and will take them back to Washington, D.C. to join the commemoration activities, he said.
Look for more on the students’ time with Austria in Tuesday’s News-Sun.
