(Posted Sept. 17, 2017)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
Enrollment is up slightly in the Jonathan Alder Local School District.
According to Superintendent Gary Chapman, enrollment is at 2,266, an increase of 40 students over last school year.
“We’re stable in enrollment,” Chapman said at the Sept. 11 school board meeting.
Over the past 12 years, enrollment has ranged from a low of 2,131 in the 2008-09 school year to a high of 2,307 in 2014-15.
This year’s breakdown shows 627 students at Plain City Elementary, 233 at Monroe Elementary, 341 at Canaan Middle School, 374 at the junior high, and 691 at the high school.
The senior class has 157 students this year. Figures do not include the 52 pre-kindergarten students who attend part-time.
The district reported the figures to the Ohio Department of Education on Sept. 11.
“We no longer have to report in October,” Chapman said. “We report the figures every day.”
Indoor track
Board members voted to recognize the indoor track program as a high school club sport.
Coach Justin Creps said the recognition allows students to participate in indoor events as “attached” to a school program. The “unattached” label is being phased out.
“If they qualify for state competition, they will be attached to a team,” said Creps who added that he is qualified to coach. “I can see that they do it safely.”
When questioned about practices, Creps said participants will run outside when temperatures are above 20 degrees.
He also said that Otterbein University in Westerville is allowing Jonathan Alder track athletes to use its indoor facilities starting in January.
Board actions
The board accepted two donations, including $1,500 for from Jennifer and Michael Bailey to go toward purchasing school meals for students in need. A donation of $160 went to Monroe Elementary from the Silent Hand Circle.
The board accepted two resignations, one from volleyball coach Matthew Craycraft and the other from eighth-grade spelling bee coach Brianna McCray. Kimberly Hayes was named interim volleyball coach; Cathy Corbitt was appointed as a volunteer coach for the team. Rebekah Miller is the new spelling bee coach.
The next school board meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Plain City Elementary.
