(Posted Nov. 30, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
When he was named superintendent of Madison-Plains Local Schools earlier this year, Chad Eisler set a goal to quickly familiarize himself with the district.
“I’ve been meeting with people within in the school district, but I want to get out and meet with people in the community, too,” he said at the Nov. 20 school board meeting.
Towards that goal, he is coordinating a “listening and learning tour,” a series of meetings at which he will welcome input and questions from the public.
The first three meetings are set:
- Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Range Township firehouse, 13715 Main St., Sedalia;
- Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Mount Sterling Community Center, 164 E. Main St., Mount Sterling (Pleasant Township);
- Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Township building, 9100 Big Plain-Circleville Road, London.
“This is an opportunity for the public to talk to me and let me know their thoughts on the district,” Eisler said.
The meetings will be informal. Topics discussed will depend on the interests and concerns of the people who show up.
Eisler said he will be listening for feedback on the district’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats. Examples of opportunities are use of data to drive instruction and increased communications. Examples of threats are the budget crisis, aging facilities, and staff retention.
“I hope to do one of these meetings in each of the district’s townships,” Eisler said.
Student recognition
The school board recognized several students for their accomplishments, including the group that worked on the annual Martha Geib Memorial Cruise-in that raises money for scholarships for Madison-Plains and London students.
“(Martha) was a doctor who treated a lot of Madison-Plains kids,” Eisler said.
Kudos went to sixth-graders who worked safety patrol for the second nine-week period. They include Madason Dixon, Teegan Eyerman, Brayden Evans, Mackenna Mitchell, Dafne Perez Cortez and Holly Schiering.
Senior Ryan Goodman was recognized for serving as state treasurer in Business Professionals of America, a group he joined at Tolles Career and Technical Center where he attends part-time.
The board congratulated the eighth-grade football team and the eighth-grade volleyball team, each of which won Ohio Heritage Conference titles this fall.
Board business
The board approved an overnight trip for Civic English II students to Philadelphia and New York for March 27-30. The trip is designed to broaden students’ knowledge of the Enlightenment, the Revolution, immigration, urbanization and industry. Students and their families will cover all expenses.
The board named Patricia Baynes as a member of the Mount Sterling Public Library board.
The school board’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Dec. 18.
