Due to the exceptional performance in the classrooms of the Reynoldsburg City Schools, the district received their highest grade from the ODE to date.
"We moved from a grade ‘B’ last year to an ‘A’ this year, but we won’t be satisfied until we get an A+," Superintendent Stephen Dackin said.
Each year, the ODE monitors the progress of school districts and sends out public report cards to indicate where they are succeeding and where they are failing.
"The areas that need improvement are fifth grade mathematics and reading, as well as eighth grade science and social studies," Dackin said.
To achieve an Excellent rating (or an ‘A’ in report card standards), a district must meet certain indicators that show how a district is improving, and the Reynoldsburg City School District met 26 out of the 30 indicators.
The district also met the department’s Adequate Yearly Progress, which it has not done in the previous years.
Of the schools in the district, six schools were graded as excellent (Baldwin Road Junior High, Graham Road, Herbert Mills, Reynoldsburg High School, Rose Hill Elementary and Slate Ridge Elementary). Three schools that were graded as effective (Hannah J. Ashton Middle School, Waggoner Road Middle School and Waggoner Road Junior High); and two schools were deemed to be excellent with distinction (French Run and Taylor Road).
The district was also second lowest in the expenditures per pupil category with $8,662 being spent per student.
"I think that’s a good thing," Dackin said.
"It means we are getting great academic results without spending a lot of money."
Kids Voting
The November election is rapidly approaching and a nationwide organization is looking to make a bigger impact in the democratic process.
Jeff Cabot, the executive director of Kids Voting Central Ohio, came before the board to discuss implementing Kids Vote for the upcoming school year.
"With the success it has seen in other schools, we thought ‘why aren’t we in every school district?’" he said. "We want to make it available to more school districts."
The idea of children voting came when people noticed how many adults bring their own kids along when they take their turn to vote, and because children can sometimes get bored easily, parents can entertain them by having them learn how to work the ballot.
"It was done for two reasons," Cabot said. "The first is, studies show that kids who participate are more likely to vote when they are older, and the second reason is it has a trickle down effect. If the child is doing it and going back home and talking about it, the parents are likely to pay more attention."
Cabot said Kids Vote is presented to all grade levels and the greater the level of understanding, the more issues will be added to the children’s ballot.
For instance, the kindergarten through second grade levels will only vote for the presidential race, while the students in high school will vote on the presidential election and even school issues.
"We fashion the ballot to each school district," Cabot said.
Cabot added he hopes to have everyone signed onto Kids Vote for this fall’s election.
Recognition
The board gave a certificate of recognition to Reynoldsburg High School student Jenelle Krumlauf for putting together a fashion show that raised money for the oncology center at Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
Krumlauf’s efforts raised $10,500 to go toward fighting childhood cancer.
"I am the mother of a cancer survivor, so this is very near and dear to my heart," board member Mary Burcham said.
"We truly appreciate what she and all those involved with Project Runway have done so much."
