(Posted Feb. 15, 2017)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
London Middle School is going all out when it comes to recognizing students for academic effort, character, and attitude.
Last year, parents expressed a desire to see more opportunity for student recognition. School leaders responded, initiating a Student of the Month program at the start of this school year.
Each month, teachers select five students per grade level as Students of the Month. That’s a total of 15 students per month in grades 6-8, explained Michael Crace, assistant principal, at the Feb. 14 London school board meeting.
In addition to academic performance, teachers consider how a student reflects the school’s three R’s—Be ready, be respectful, be responsible—as well as a student’s practice of Red Raider pride, from showing integrity to offering encouragement to fellow students.
Each Student of the Month receives a pizza lunch, T-shirt, certificate, wristband, pencil, and restaurant coupons.
Soon, residents in the school district will have a chance to provide feedback on how the district is doing. Superintendent Dr. Lou Kramer said the district polled students, parents and staff in December. Now, they want to hear from residents who don’t have children in the schools.
Kramer said the district might contract with the Ohio School Boards Association to conduct the survey this spring. He said use of a third-party vendor lends legitimacy to the process. The cost is $2,000. School board member Ed Maynor said he likes the idea of “hearing from a lot more people” through the survey.
Treasurer Kristine Blind talked briefly about Governor Kasich’s proposed budget and how it might affect school funding.
“I don’t think it’s going to change much from where we are now,” she said, about the government funding London receives. She cautioned, though, that the state budget process is in its early stages.
The board recognized Clayton Arvin for being named a National Merit Scholar Commended Student for scoring in the top 5 percent in the nation on the PSAT test. Nathan Adkins was selected for All-State Band and Ruth Peart was named to the All-State Choir.
The board approved the purchase of a 78-passenger Blue Bird school bus for $94,418. Kramer said the district will keep the bus it replaces as a spare.
