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(This article, edited and printed with permission, featuring a review of 2008 accomplishments, appeared in Bexley News on December 24, 2008) 1/10/09 District can build on its 2008 successes The Bexley City School District has several highlights to recall this year when it comes to its recognized academic success as well as installation of 87 Smartboards, but it has seen its share of controversy with the heated discussion of implementation of all-day kindergarten that started off 2008.As the books close on 2008, some of the big stories of the year are remembered below. All-day kindergarten fails In March, the Bexley Board of Education elected not to pass a resolution to begin an all-day kindergarten program in the district after parents showed concern about how the program would be funded. Members of the Committee for All-Day Kindergarten urged the district to reconsider its funding of the option as some parents could not incur the cost of the program. The committee chairwoman, Marlee Snowden, collected signatures for a petition. The board later decided to hold off discussion of the program until the next levy campaign, possibly in 2010 or 2011. The idea to offer such a program grew out of a proposal by Bexley Superintendent Michael Johnson at a January board meeting. Many people were in support of the program, but the catch was that parents would be responsible for the expense, which was estimated at a cost of about $237 per child, per month on a sliding-scale basis. A sliding-scale option would allow for free and reduced prices to students eligible for free or reduced lunches. Officials reported that the program could cost $400,000 a year, not including special costs and a one-time cost associated with additional desks and other necessary supplies. Overall discussion regarding all-day kindergarten dates back to 2003, and included another round of discussion a year later. Academic success continues The Ohio Department of Education recognized the district with its eighth consecutive “excellent” rating when it released its 2002-08 state report card in July. Several proficiency categories are evaluated when it comes to a district’s rating, taking into account the passage rates on proficiency tests given to specific grades. The rating is also based on additional state indicators met, such as graduation and attendance rates. In Bexley’s case, the district met 29 of 30 indicators for a 96.7 percent rating. Variables in the rating comes from test passage results, attendance and graduation rates, aggregate attendance, performance index and Adequate Yearly Progress in varying student subgroups. Bexley High School earned more individual recognition after breaking school history with 240 students who took 424 Advanced Placement Program exams given through the College Board. Sixty-eight students received some type of AP Scholar designation after tests were taken in spring of this year. The breakdown included 24 students earning AP Scholar recognition, 15 students earning AP Scholar with honor and l6 students received AP Scholars with distinction. Scores of three 2008 graduates put them in the National AP Scholars category. The number of students with AP Scholar recognition in comparison to 64 students in 2007, 43 students in 2006, 38 students in 2005 and 18 students in 2004. A hike in AP Scholar students could be because of a policy passed in 2004 where the high school pays the fee associated to take the tests. The high school bid a fond farewell to 191 graduates in June, with 81 receiving diplomas with honors and 40 joining the Cum Laude Society. Success wasn’t confined to the classrooms of Bexley High School, however. The high school’s football team made its first appearance in prep football postseason tournament action, advancing to a Division III opener at Logan Elm Nov 1. The Lions lost the game in overtime, 21-14. Smartboards are a smart move In September, the district completed its installation of 87 Smartboards. The Bexley Education Foundation made the project a reality through a grant of $375,000 it gave to the district for this purpose. The district now has a Smartboard in every classroom, including speciality classrooms such as music, art and special education, as well as the library. Such a feature makes Bexley the only district in the area with a Smartboard in each classroom. All teachers have been trained to use the Smartboards as 10 district staff members, including at least one staff member from each school, went through a Smartboard certification process over the summer. Smatboards are designed to benefit all students with accommodation to different learning styles. Author visits engage community The Bexley Education Foundation kicked off its inaugural Bexley Community Book Club effort, with a goal of proving the importance of life-long reading. The club selected Pete Hamill as the 2008 featured author. In preparation for Hamill’s April 30 visit, the club hosted discussions, book readings and book fairs. Hamill, the author of 10 books and former editor in chief for both the New York Post and New York Daily News, interacted with students at a forum then attended a private dinner reception and book signing at the high school’s Schottenstein Theatre. The book club picked short story guru Tobias Wolff as the featured author for 2009. Wolff will visit the school April 27. Creative writing and literature students will have interactive sessions with Wolff, with a public lecture to follow. Wolff has been the recipient of awards such as the PEN-Faulkner Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and a 1993 film, This Boy’s Life, was adapted from a memoir Wolff wrote on his adolescent years. Kudos for Blanchard Bexley chemistry teacher Rose Blanchard was presented with the 2008 Robert A. Glick Bexley Educator of the Year Award in a surprise ceremony May 2. In addition to her work in the classroom, Blanchard was highly involved with the Bahamas’ Andros Island as she worked to donate about 40,000 books to libraries at Andros Island schools. She joined the science department in 2001, and was nominated for the award by department members, Craig Kramer and Scott Logsdon, the 2002 Educator of the Year recipient. |
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