(Posted Nov. 11, 2015)
By Linda Dillman, Staff Writer
Members of the Jefferson Local school board plan to spend part of an upcoming work session deciding how to fill a looming vacant seat on the board.
Incumbents David Harper and Dr. Meg Hiss were the only two names that appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot. Three candidates were to be selected, but incumbent and Vice President Ed Shepherd’s petitions were rejected, along with other potential candidates vying for office.
“I messed up,” admitted Shepherd prior to the Nov. 9 board meeting. “It was just a clerical error. I forgot to write the date of the general election in a box on the form.”
Superintendent William Mullett said the board will discuss the situation in depth at a work session this week before making a decision on how best to proceed.
In other discussion, middle school Principal Debbie Omen reported on her staff’s efforts to address a recent notification from the Ohio Department of Education that the school is under a watch status for measurable objectives for two student subgroups for 2012-13 and 2013-14.
She said a school under “watch” must create a plan to close the gaps among low achieving subgroups. For West Jefferson Middle School, it means taking a closer look at students with disabilities and students who are economically disadvantaged.
“We’ve added a part-time math coach to assist the lowest 10 percent of students in their grade level,” Omen told the board. “In 2014-2015, we began teacher-based teams and in 2015-2016, we identified students in the two underperforming subgroups with data in relationship to students.”
She continued, “In 2014, we began Homebase as a way for students to gain extra help, and 92 percent of the teachers in the four core courses offer a minimum of an hour, once a week, of after-school help.”
Teachers are currently reviewing and revising their graded course of study.
Board members also approved:
- a recommendation to reappoint Joel Kocher to the Hurt-Battelle Library board of trustees;
- a $50 donation from Patsy Phillips to Norwood Elementary for Little Free Libraries; and
- the hiring of Dillon Harper as a volunteer assistant middle school wrestling coach.
