Today Spring, 2013 - Northmont City Schools

Northmont Today
Published by the Northmont City School District
Upcoming Dates:
• Senior Recognition
May 2, 2013. 7:00 p.m.
High School Auditorium
• 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip
May 6-11, 2013
• Board of Education
May 13 & 28, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Northmont Middle School
• Baccalaureate May 19, 2013, 2:00 p.m.
High School Auditorium
• Graduation
May 26, 2013, 2:00 p.m.
Nutter Center
• Last Student Day
May 31, 2013
• Board of Education
Summer Meetings
will be held at the
Union Elementary PDC
June 10, July 8, August 12
Volume 38/3
Spring, 2013
Financially Speaking...
The governor finally released some details of his new educational budget plan
and according to the preliminary information, Northmont will not be receiving any
additional funding from the State. Northmont City Schools has worked proactively
to find savings for the district, as well as working with our unions to save on employee
insurance costs. The district recently took steps to become self-insured for workers’
compensation. By cutting out the “middle man,” the district will have projected
savings of approximately $150,000 per year.
Due to state mandated online testing, the district had to upgrade classroom
technology. By consolidating that purchase, we were able to receive a volume
purchasing discount that yielded over $155,000 in savings.
Working with our natural gas provider through the Educational Purchasing
Council (EPC), last year the district entered into an agreement that has projected
savings of 35-45% over a three-year period. This will reduce the projected natural gas
costs by approximately $375,000 over the next three years. The EPC is made up of
over 130 school districts in Ohio. Like the above example with natural gas, the district
has saved on purchases of everything from school buses to paper and other supplies.
Northmont City Schools has been identified as a benchmark district and a model for
urban/suburban school districts with similar incomes when it comes to low spending
and ensuring the district’s financial health. An annual report was just released by the
Ohio Department of Education that has calculated Northmont’s total expenditure per
pupil at $9,847 which is the 2nd lowest in Montgomery County.
The district has also been working on upgrading safety features in all of the
buildings. The original plan was to do the upgrades in segments, but due to savings
throughout the district in other areas, safety improvements can begin right away and
be in place in every elementary and the middle school by the beginning of the
2013-14 school year. All of the buildings will be equipped with cameras and entrances
that require visitors to be buzzed in upon arrival.
THOUGHTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT - Dr. Sarah Zatik
Big changes are being implemented regarding the State report card. These changes are not just as
simple as changing ratings from Excellent through Academic Emergency to grades of A-F. These
changes involve more rigorous grading than in the past. There will be additional categories graded in
the future. This year, two more areas will be added onto the report card. The “K-3 Literacy” category
will determine whether our students are reading on grade and are ready to move to 4th grade in
reading. The “Prepared For Success” category will judge whether Northmont students who graduate
are prepared for college or a career. Areas that make up this grade include AP enrollment, honors
diplomas, dual enrollment and the number of students receiving college credit, and the number of
students needing remediation. Please be patient with our district during these changes as they will
require adjustments to curriculum, teaching, alignment and staff development.
GREEN PRIDE
. . . throughout the community
DECA
Northmont’s DECA
(marketing) program
recently went to a
district competition
and came home with
50 trophy winners
in 53 categories!
Thirty-seven students
went on to the State
competition in areas
that include Public
Relations, Sports
and Entertainment,
Retail Merchandising, Food Marketing,
Human Resources,
Entrepreneurship,
Hospitality and
Tourism and many
more. Six of these
students will be going
on to the National
competition in
Anaheim, CA next
month. According to
Eric Wagner, DECA
advisor, “Eighteen
top ten and six
national qualifiers
- I’m so proud of all
my students and their
efforts!!”
Invention Convention
Julie Chitwood, the Gifted Intervention Specialist at the Middle School, gave her students
a unique challenge recently: Invent something that has never been invented and build a
prototype that can be presented and judged. Volunteer judges included local business
people, members of the School Board, and administrators. They observed the presentations. Students were scored on their research and their presentation and the top inventions
were chosen to attend the Regional Invention Convention at Wright State University.
Seven Northmont students received scholarship money for their inventions. Four of the
ten “Coolest Creation” Finalists were Northmont students. Congratulations!
Chairman’s Award - John Pierron - Believe it Butter ($250 award)
Winner’s Choice - Claire Pilgrim - Towel Pal ($50 award, Donato’s gift card)
Superior Scholar - Josh Ward - Step On, Step Off ($50 award)
Megan Boggs - Slap’Ems ($50 award)
Audrey Osudoh - I Gripp ($50 award)
John Pierron - Believe it Butter ($50 award)
Meredith Saylor - Tea Topper ($50 award)
Time Warner Coolest Creation Finalists -winner receives a $500 scholarship for the most online votes.
Claire Pilgrim - Towel Pal
John Pierron - Believe it Butter
Audrey Osudoh - I Gripp
Sydney McGilton - Throw Jo
back l to r:
Jon Jewitt, Jacob Ward, Will Rand, Sydney McGilton,
Megan Boggs, Josh Ward
middle l to r:
Carson Wagoner, John Pierron, Madi Glass,
Connor Cummins
Front l to r:
Meredith Saylor, Audrey Osudoh, Claire Pilgrim
Academic Challenge Three-peat!
For the third time in four years, Northmont’s Academic Challenge team has brought home
the gold! Northmont’s team is ranked number one in the State of Ohio and number twelve
in the country. The students recently competed at The Ohio State University in the NAQT
State Championship and retained their state ranking. The team will be traveling to
Washington, D.C. for the National History Bowl which they won last year. Sophomores
Sam Blizzard and Tori Amos, along with junior Erin Laing and senior Jonathan Yagisawa
are now qualified to go on to the NAQT National Championship in Atlanta and the PACE
National Championship in Maryland. Way to go Team!
EXCELLENCE
. . . throughout the district
Construction Update
The construction trailers have arrived at the Early Learning Center and the High
School, and the traffic pattern at the High School has been reconfigured. Dirt is
moving at both locations and the footer will soon be taking shape at the ELC. The
question has been raised as to why both buildings will not be move-in ready at the
same time. The ELC is due to open in the fall of 2014 and the High School will
be completed in the fall of 2015. The High School is a much bigger building, so
it will take longer to complete. Also, at the High School, the construction crews
are working while school is in session and students and staff are present. Since the
ELC is starting with a clean slate, the prep work has also been less complicated.
Even though dirt is moving at the High School, the official groundbreaking will
take place on Friday, May 17, at 11:00 a.m. by the freshman baseball field. This
ceremony will involve local and state dignitaries. The public is invited and
encouraged to attend. All aspects of the building project are currently moving on
time and under budget.
Preschool Update
A big thank you goes out to the Northmont Preschool families for being patient and
supportive during the transition of the preschool program this year. We appreciate
the willingness of the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities
to lease classroom space to Northmont during the 2012-13 school year as they
work to transition their adult programs into Northview School later this spring.
Unfortunately, Northview is unavailable for lease for next school year. Meanwhile,
the highly anticipated Kleptz Early Learning Center project continues to proceed
on time and under budget with an expected completion date for the 2014-15
school year. In preparation for the 2013-14 school year, Northmont sent a team in
search of a temporary preschool site for one year. After visiting numerous sites
and researching various options, the committee made its recommendation to the
Northmont Board of Education to lease space in Westbrooke Village Elementary
School. This newly constructed school is currently using only one wing to house
four preschool classrooms for the Trotwood City School District. Northmont
will have exclusive use of an entire wing of the building, which was designed for
early learning programs. The facility meets the needs of the Northmont Preschool
Program as well as the stringent licensing requirements for the Ohio Department
of Education. Located near the Trotwood/Northmont school district border, it is
approximately 2 1/2 miles from the Northmont Board of Education office. An open
house was held on March 7 to introduce current students to the new facility.
Northmont Board of Education
Northmont City School District
4001 Old Salem Road
Englewood, OH 45322
Information Line
937-832-5032 or
Superintendent@northmontschools.com
www.northmontschools.com
www.facebook.com/NorthmontCitySchools
Spring, 2013
SAVE THE DATE!!!
High School Groundbreaking
Ceremony
Friday, May 17, 2013
11:00 a.m.
@ the High School by the
Freshman Baseball Field.
The public is invited to attend.
Non-Profit Organ.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1002
Dayton, OH 45401
ECR WSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
The Northmont Education Foundation sponsored
its annual auction on Friday, March 8, 2013 at
Meadowbrook Country Club. With over 280 people in
attendance, the auction raised over $38,000 for grants
and scholarships to support Northmont students and
staff. “A Community Night of Giving” involved live and
silent auctions that included a class ring from Josten’s,
premium parking spaces at the High School, and a 50”
TV. Past grants have supported such programs as After
Prom, Link Crew, and Seminar’s iPad program among
others. The NEF strives to fund new and innovative
programs that are not funded through the regular
budget.
Our Mission:
The mission of Northmont City Schools is to provide
students an exceptional education with diverse
opportunities so they maximize their potential and are
productive, responsible citizens.