Board Of Education Discusses School Ratings
BY KRISTEN SCHWEITZER — MIRROR REPORTER
Springfield Local Schools is effective, but will strive for excellence this school year.
During the August 27 board of education meeting, superintendent Kathryn Hott and board members discussed the results of the schools’ 2007-08 school year report cards from the Ohio Department of Education.
The district’s overall designation was effective, with Crissey and Holland Elementary receiving excellent ratings.
The state’s six designations are excellent with distinction, excellent, effective, continuous improvement, academic watch and academic emergency.
“We’re going to tackle the areas where we have some weaknesses in,” Hott said.
Among the areas needing improvement were social studies and science. According to Hott, the Ohio Department of Education switched test publishers this year, and many school districts struggled in these areas because of the switch.
The board identified changes in language as a major reason why schools were struggling with the science and social studies sections.
“We will sit down and analyze the terms and vocabulary to ensure children understand,” Hott said.
Hott said she would be willing to discuss the report card scores and answer any questions concerning the ratings. She can be reached at (419) 867-5605.
During the meeting the board also:
n Presented checks to the top three teams in the Springfield of Dreams batting contest. Checks were awarded in the amounts of $300, $200 and $100 for first, second and third place. The board also recognized Rob Gwozdz for his efforts coordinating the event and pitching.
n Heard Pat Wilson’s concerns about the ball diamonds off Albon Road. Wilson wanted to know if the school would be building a fence around the diamonds and adding speed bumps to the drive.
“I would definitely like to see some speed bumps through there,” said Wilson, whose property is located next to the diamonds.
Kenneth Musch, board member, told Wilson that the school would be putting a gate up to ensure people weren’t entering the area at all hours and that speed bumps were “an excellent idea.”
Musch also mentioned the school was working to get grants for lighting on the ball field.
• Approved the supplemental contract of Mary McManamon for special education.
• Approved the hiring of certified personnel Jill Owed, Springfield Middle School; Gary Fox, Springfield High School; and Iris Szelagowski, Springfield High School.
• Approved the hiring of certified substitutes Gary Beery, Holly Coffey, Thomas Clinkscales, Peter Crim, Leann Jasper, Michelle Lee, Liza Runyan, Amanda Esquivel, Melinda Wagon-Arrigo, Erin Gibson, Michelle Young, Lauren Mohamed, Theresa Zarnick and Kim Rupley.
• Approved the hiring of Kelly Sanford for food service and assistant.
• Approved the extension of service contracts for recommended staff members.
• Approved the hiring of Shelly Cousino for a temporary food service position at Springfield High School and Amy Kellar as a bus driver.
• Approved the hiring of four instructional support teachers for Dorr Elementary, Holloway Elementary and Holland Elementary.
• Approved the retirement of Dorothy Maier, food service at Dorr Elementary.
• Approved the hiring of six middle school evening school monitors.
• Approved the job description for the Springfield Alternative for Expulsion teacher position.
• Approved the attendance of Susan Santoro to the Special Education Leadership Conference in Columbus at a total cost of $365.
• Commended the volunteers for the summer reading program. Faculty, staff and students volunteered their time, making the program a great success, Hott said.
• Approved a contract with the Lucas County sheriff to hire two deputies, at a combined cost of $95,605.56.
• Approved the bus routes for the 2008-09 school year. The changes include a third bus to Penta Career Center and a preschool bus to Holloway.
• Approved the contracts for nursing services for the 2008-09 school year.
• Approved payments in lieu of transportation for 20 students in the school district who attend private schools.
The next board meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the district administration building.
Holland Officials Decline To Endorse Balanced Growth Initiative
BY KELLY J. KACZALA — MIRROR REPORTER
Holland Village Council decided at its August 12 meeting not to endorse the Swan Creek Balanced Growth Initiative.
Council heard from Kurt Erichsen, vice president of environmental planning at the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, and Marcus Ricci, of the Lucas County Soil and Water Conservation District, who sought the village’s endorsement of the initiative.
The project, funded by a grant from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, seeks to bring jurisdictions from three counties within the Swan Creek Watershed together to address common goals.
The watershed encompasses 205 square miles that drains into the Maumee River. The jurisdictions within the watershed include Holland, Springfield Township, Maumee, Whitehouse, Waterville, Swanton, Toledo, Delta, western Lucas County, Henry and Fulton counties, and 11 other townships.
The project has designated priority development areas and priority conservation areas within the Swan Creek watershed. It calls for the adoption of policies to guide both development and conservation within the watershed and improve or maintain water quality.
Maps were developed showing conservation and development priority areas. Communities can use the maps as a guide when updating their own master plans.
“The idea is to encourage land use planning based on the capability of the infrastructure and soil to identify the best areas for development and conservation, and backing it up by a set of incentives provided by state agencies,” Erichsen told village council.
Six state agencies and the Ohio Water Development Authority offer incentives to encourage development in priority development areas and conservation in priority conservation areas, according to Erichsen.
Recommendations for development were based on soil types and proximity to infrastructure, Erichsen said.
“In order to get endorsement for this program, we are required to have formal endorsement by 75 percent of the 23 jurisdictions representing 75 percent of the population covering 75 percent of the land area of the watershed,” Erichsen said.
Eleven jurisdictions have endorsed the program by approving resolutions.
Springfield Township trustees approved a resolution endorsing the plan on May 5.
Nearly the entire village of Holland is within a priority development area, Erichsen said.
“When you say development, that could be industrial development, commercial development or residential development,” he said.
In addition to the incentives proposed by the Swan Creek Balanced Growth Initiative, in the last two and a half years, the Lake Erie Commission has provided incentives, such as extra points on grant applications, for development and conservation in designated priority areas.
The commission is also proposing disincentives for development in non-priority areas, which would not be eligible for state funding at all.
“We vehemently disagree with that approach. That wasn’t the concept that we were given to understand. Our intent is, if they have disincentives like that as part of the package, to refuse endorsement,” of the balanced growth initiative program by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Erichsen said.
Regardless of the status of the incentives or disincentives, Erichsen said the balanced growth initiative is still a good planning tool to help jurisdictions because it combines 18 different criteria – including water, sewer, soils, wetlands and floodplains – into one map to help planners.
Holland village officials were unable to get some questions about the program answered, such as whether it could withdraw later from the program, whether the state would have the authority to deny grants to a community if proposed development does not comply with the initiative, or whether any one entity has veto power that could redirect funding to certain areas.
Village officials said they might consider endorsing the program once their questions are answered.
Erichsen and Ricci said officials could submit a list of questions to them that would get responses by the end of the year.
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