Through the Classroom Door: May 2012
Scott McKenzie's Blog Page
Not just yet
Posted 5/29/2012 at 7:57:16 AM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
The time is nearing when I will have to say goodbye, but for now I will focus on the “hello” of another.
I will retire in July after 34 great years with Groveport Madison. Instead of getting caught up in the emotions of my final days, I am energized by the spirit of Deputy Superintendent Bruce Hoover.
Bruce was selected by the Board of Education to take over when I leave. He joined our staff when he was named deputy in September 2010 and I know he will be a successful in his new post when I do say farewell.
Here’s why:
- Bruce is a life-long learner which is so important in the ever-changing field of education. He stays on top of the latest research, legislative changes and needs of the children in Groveport Madison.
- Bruce is a great listener. There is an old proverb that explains why we have two ears and one mouth. The wisdom is one should listen twice as much as one speaks. This speaks volumes of Bruce’s nature, and our district will be better for it.
- Bruce thinks and works with the “big picture” in mind. I have not met many individuals who stay focused on future goals while dutifully tending to the day-to-day operations of a large district like Groveport Madison. Many become swallowed by the minutiae of the day, but Bruce has an ability to keep the greater good in mind as hundreds of decisions are made. This ability will serve Groveport Madison as the district moves into the uncharted waters of educational reform.
- Bruce is enthusiastic about his work and doing the best for the students of our great school district. He is full of passion and dedication, and, for me has been a source of inspiration. He has a keen ability to motivate people toward a required action or cause. He is the kind of leader who will work alongside others to get a job done, rather than direct traffic.
On top of it all -- and perhaps why he has found much success during his career -- Bruce is very much a family-oriented person. He places a high priority on his immediate family and works to keep his extended family close.
Bruce Hoover is first and foremost a good man. He is my friend and the person to whom I can confidently hand over the keys of this district.
Your children will be served in the best manner possible as Bruce takes the reins this summer. You are in good hands, Groveport Madison!
P.S. For more about Bruce’s professional history, read the news about his selection as superintendent.
The time has come
Posted 5/25/2012 at 8:31:48 AM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
Graduation is one of the perks of this job. Each year I get to share in the excitement of one of life’s most significant rites of passage: earning a high school diploma.
It's hard not to be moved by the smiles, the laughter and tears of joy... And it’s not just the students who beam with pride! Parents, staff and the graduates alike all share the sense of accomplishment and gratification a commencement brings.
This year, about 400 Cruisers will be awarded a diploma. The countdown has begun as the district's 129th annual commencement gets underway at 2 p.m. next Sunday at the Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair Grounds.
Groveport Madison High School will send off approximately 330 seniors. In addition, nearly 90 students from Cruiser Academy, the district’s credit recovery program, are part of the Class of 2012.
The high school’s five valedictorians will speak to their classmates in a creative -- and collaborative -- approach, each highlighting a letter of the word S-H-I-N-E in their speeches. Beloved and retiring Teacher of the Year Jack Wills will also address the students.
The Class of 2012 has made significant strides. Some of the notable, though certainly just some, of the accomplishments are:
- Garnering close to $2.5 million in academic and athletic scholarships.
- Ruth Sleshi earning a Coca-Cola scholarship worth $10,000. She was one of 200 students nationwide to win among 70,000 applicants.
- Cameron Jones being named as the Franklin County representative of the state’s Franklin B Walter award; one is given in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.
- Eleven student athletes being awarded scholarships to play intercollegiate sports.
- Manda Moberly leading philanthropic efforts totaling more than $10,000 for Mission Ensign. The cause: raising money for teacher Kris Ensign who is suffering from cancer.
With feats such as these, it’s hard not to get caught up in the pomp and circumstance of it all. I might be just as eager as the seniors who finish up their finals today.
As they prepare for the Big Day, our students will turn in their books, clean out their lockers one last time and say their goodbyes. Next week, they’ll tighten their ties, select their best dresses and place their caps upon their heads.
Our seniors are ready to start their next journey in life. They are ready to pursue that next right of passage... whatever they have earned it to be.
No lazy days of summer here
Posted 5/22/2012 at 2:18:14 PM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
There are 8 days left of school, the kids are quick to tell me.
I know they are excited about summer break, but I have my sights set on summer school. We offer a number of learning opportunities for our students each year in the district and I am eager to see some of our classrooms stay abuzz with activity.
The district also provides free lunches to students throughout the summer months as part of a federally funded program. The meals are served through the cooperation and coordination of community volunteers and local SE Chamber businesses in an effort headed by Groveport Councilwoman Donna Drury.
While this will be sure to keep things lively for the weeks to come, it also fills a major need for many. More than 50 percent of our district’s population is considered economically disadvantaged so a daily, solid meal will fill bellies and feed the soul by providing financial relief for those families.
Lunches will be served beginning Tuesday, June 5 through Aug. 10 at Middle School North, the Junior High and two satellite sites (Three River Villas, 2800 Booty Dr. in Madison Mills and Independence Village Park, 3075 Arrowsmith Dr., Reynoldsburg). The program is paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Ohio Department of Education. Lunches are provided to any child from infant to 18-years-old; registration and documentation are not required.
As part of our commitment to ensure we meet the needs of all of our students, some of our summer school courses are designed to provide opportunities for them to be successful where they may have fallen short during the school year. We want to make certain all are equipped with the tools and knowledge to be productive learners.
The following classes will be offered this summer:
- Ohio Graduation Testing Intervention
Registration ends Friday. Seniors will have first priority to reserve a spot in the class which will run from June 11-15 at Groveport Madison High School. The five sections of the test (reading, math, writing, science and social studies) will be administered June 18-22 to students needing to pass one or more sections of the required test.
- Third Grade Reading Summer School
Letters will be sent to parents of children who do not pass the reading Ohio Achievement Assessment that was given earlier this spring. Scores are expected to be delivered to us by mid to late June. This two-week learning opportunity for current third-graders is scheduled from 9-11 a.m. July 23- Aug. 3 at Asbury Elementary School. Transportation will be provided to all students who need this intervention.
- Junior High Summer Transition School
Math and reading classes will run for students entering ninth-grade from July 16 to Aug. 4 in two sessions, 7:30-9 a.m. and 9:30-11 a.m. Students who qualify are those who do not pass one of these classes in school or one of the portions of the Ohio Achievement Assessments. Special education sections are also offered.
- Cruiser Academy Summer School
Pre-testing for students entering grades 9-12 who are deficient in credits or at risk not earning necessary credits required for a diploma will be held from June 4-8. Students must reserve a spot by calling Amon Dobbins at 237-8756. Classes will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 11-29.
- Kindergarten Enrichment Camp
Held at Dunloe and Sedalia Elementary from 8:30 a.m. - noon, Aug. 6-10 for children who enrolled for kindergarten this coming fall.
- Physical Education Summer School
Offered through Cruiser Academy toto any student that needs it as an accelerated credit opportunity, for credit recovery or summer school activity. Contact the school for more details at 614-237-8756.
I know students think of summer as a break from school, so they may not look forward to hitting the books. However, my applause goes to our families who make these opportunities a priority each year by helping their children build the supports to their learning foundation. With every step the base gets stronger and stronger and will shape the academic success they deserve.
Just the facts for a critical need
Posted 5/17/2012 at 10:09:09 AM by Chris Bowser [staff member]
Now that the Board of Education has made a decision to place a
substitute levy on the Aug. 7 ballot, I wanted to share the facts with
our residents as a guide to making an informed decision for the
district's critical need.
Why does the school district need a levy?
The Groveport Madison Schools’ levy on the Aug. 7, 2012 ballot is an operating levy necessary to fund our schools’ day-to-day operating expenses. This includes things like textbooks, utilities, teachers, and classroom materials.
How much more in taxes will residents pay with this levy?
Residents’ taxes will not increase with passage of this levy. It is a substitute levy which replaces the school district’s existing emergency levy (set to expire on Dec. 31, 2012) and keeps taxes as they are today for current property owners.
What is a “substitute” levy?
A school district can substitute or replace an existing emergency levy – without increasing taxes – with a substitute levy. A substitute levy is identical to the existing emergency levy it replaces with one exception – as new homes or businesses are built in the district, they will be taxed at the same rate as current property owners – and the school district will be able to realize some additional revenue from the new growth only.
How much do residents pay for the existing emergency levy?
Property owners currently pay approximately $25.40 per month per $100,000 of property value with the existing emergency levy. With passage of the August substitute levy, property taxes will remain the same as they are now.
How much will the levy generate for our schools?
The substitute levy will generate the same amount as the emergency levy it is replacing – $7.7 million – its first year, and a minimum of $7.7 million annually each year after that. As new homes or businesses are built in the district, they will be taxed at the same rate as the current owners – and the school district will be able to realize some additional revenue from the new growth only.
How long will the levy last?
The substitute levy is for a continuing period of time. Voters will not have to renew this levy, and the amount they pay will not increase over time.
What if the levy does not pass?
The loss of $7.7 million in funding will have an immediate impact on educational programs and student services. By law, school districts cannot operate with a deficit, and therefore more than $8 million in cuts (approved by the Board of Education in February) will be necessary, including:- cuts to textbooks, technology, and classroom materials
- cuts to foreign language, library services, and art
- cuts to gym and special education
- elimination of 24 teachers and staff for the coming school year
- an additional 109 positions eliminated the following year (2013-14)
- student busing for all high school students will end January 1, 2013
- elimination of all athletics and extra-curricular programs in 2013-14
Has Groveport Madison Schools done anything to try and cut their costs?
Yes. Since 2009, the school district has made more than $5 million in cuts to balance the budget. Teachers and administrators have taken salary freezes and increased their share of health care costs. The district’s transportation contracts were renegotiated at a savings of almost $1 million per year for the next five years. Through the Energy Conservation Program (HB264) the district has taken steps to reduce energy consumption and utility costs and is projecting a savings of approximately $463,000 per year. Additionally, state and federal grants (totaling close to $1 million since 2009) have been utilized to fund important classroom technologies.
Please let me know (by email or phone 614-492-2520) if you have other questions along the way. We want to be sure you understand the facts behind the district's critical need so you can make an informed decision at the polls on Aug. 7.
A little goes a long way
Posted 5/14/2012 at 6:41:19 AM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
A well-designed play will add a strong defense this fall.
The Board of Education approved a new student participation fee schedule at its Thursday meeting. The proposal could generate more than $170,000 based on current participation levels and prevent reductions to our quality extracurricular programming.
The change comes as a result of the district's $8-million deficit caused by a November 2011 levy failure, reductions in money from the state and a decrease in property tax collections.
Beginning this fall, fees will be:
- $150: High school athletics and cheerleading (Does not include $25 drug screening charge.)
- $100: Jr. High/Middle School athletics, Jr. High/Middle School cheerleading, choir, Cruiserettes, marching/pep band and theater/drama
- $25: Student council, school newspaper, National Honor Society, mock trial, Spanish club and yearbook
We've not changed fees in quite a while. In that time, costs to operate the programs have risen in terms of equipment and materials, fuel for transportation and grounds/venue maintenance.
The district looked long and hard at various fee structures before recommending the one approved by the Board. The goal was to establish fees that wouldn't prohibit students from participating and that are comparable to districts in the area (and even more specifically our division of the Ohio Capital Conference).
While the increases were needed, we’re pleased our new schedule does not have the steep hikes seen at nearby districts. Some of those districts have found it necessary to dramatically raise their pay-to-participate fees.
The participation fee in Pickerington at $375 for high school sports is more than twice that of ours. The same is true in Reynoldsburg where fees are $345. Students in Gahanna and Newark pay $200.
The fee increase is just one part of a sweeping plan to bring the district's finances back into the black for the next couple of years. The board also approved roughly $4 million in reductions for each of the next two school years which will bring significant cuts to course offerings, books and classroom materials, stop 9-12 busing and eliminate more than 130 teaching and other staff positions.
We have a chance to reverse the cycle -- and even restore some of the cuts -- if voters renew our current levy on the Aug. 7 ballot. If not, we will find ourselves in a deeper hole and will be forced to eliminate athletics and extra-curricular activities for the 2013-14 school year.
We appreciate the community's support and look forward to watching our stars continue to shine in our schools on and off our fields and stages for a long time to come!
Never a flickering flame
Posted 5/7/2012 at 9:55:39 AM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
They are often the first to school each day and the last to leave. At home, most burn the midnight oil.
They are the light that make our students shine. They are the stars who help our children soar.
They are our teachers, and Groveport Madison is blessed to have such a great lot.
This week, they will be showered with thanks in celebration of National Teacher Appreciation week. The first full week in May has been set aside each year since 1972 as a time to recognize and pay tribute to teachers across the country and their endless efforts to educate.
I know the Groveport Madison staff works tirelessly to ensure our students are learning to their fullest potential. They look for best practices in instruction, research latest curriculum, and give their hearts and soul to their profession.
When the lights of the classrooms go out each day, they pack their bags and go home to pour over lesson plans and homework assignments, organize projects to ensure students can meet specific learning objectives, and scour libraries and websites for additional resources.They are always looking for ways to do things better, improve upon their delivery and discover ways they can best meet the needs of all their students. Their work is truly never-ending.
Our staff must also adapt to changes at the state and national levels as new standards and expectations are established. Right now, our teachers and administrators are working to be sure our courses of study meet the new national Common Core benchmarks and are devising new approaches as part of our commitment to the federal Race to the Top funding program.
Under the guidance of Deputy Superintendent Bruce Hoover, the district will have transformed by 2014 the way we use data and information, train and support our teachers and administrators, connect with and meet the needs of our students, and engage community members. Improved learning that delivers college- and career-readiness for all of our students is the focus of the plan.
I am proud of how much our teachers do and praise them for the commitment they have made on behalf of our Cruiser family. I know they makes sacrifices at home in order to give their fullest to the students who sit before them each day -- whether it is the same class of 25 or up to 130 or 140 in a day at the middle and high school levels.
The lights in our classrooms might go out each day, but I know the flame never flickers for our teachers. Thanks for all you do; you are deeply appreciated.
Reply Posts
Dear Response to Never a Flickering Flame
Posted 5/14/2012 at 6:40:17 AM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
My pleasure! Thank you!! Scott
Response to Never a Flickering Flame
Posted 5/7/2012 at 6:39:14 AM by [anonymous visitor]
Thank you very much!!!
Always on the go!
Posted 5/3/2012 at 8:36:43 AM by Scott McKenzie [staff member]
My mind is racing and it's not because May is one of the busiest times of the school year.
The Capital City Half Marathon is Saturday and I am ready. It will actually be the second 13.1-mile race this year and I plan to finish regardless of how long it takes.
I raced last weekend, too, in the Cardinal Orthopaedic Institute’s third annual Spirit Sprint 5K. I joined the crowd with nearly 200 others representing Groveport Madison Schools -- and we won!
The district earned nearly $7,000 for participating in the unique race where school districts take home most of the purse. We had 198 registered Cruisers which was a strong finish in a close race with Gahanna's 189 participants. We especially thank Steve Petros, our athletic director, for his organization and motivation of our group.
It was really moving to see so many people showed up in support of the district at a 5K -- and our Cruiser cheerleaders even lined the streets and cheered every runner as they crossed the finish line. As a runner, it's always exciting to see the various people at an event.
Races typically draw a diverse crowd and that is good for the heart and soul because there is encouragement every step of the way -- even from perfect strangers. The people make running fun, as exercise should be.
Sure, you will have your folks who participate for the competitive edge, but that's not why I do it. It's a lifestyle. I strive to be healthy in body and mind. It’s an attitude toward exercise the Board of Education wants us to encourage of the community.
Two years ago, the Board asked district leadership to make sharing this message with our students, parents and residents a priority. We have had great success and can now put money where our mouths are!
Our country faces an acute condition when it comes to obesity, and -- specifically in our interest -- childhood obesity. Our nation’s youth are faced with dangers of decreased mobility, high blood pressure and early-onset diabetes.
Children in diminished health face so many more risks than their fit peers, which can, in turn, impact their performance in school. As a community leader, the district wants to do its part to help educate our students and parents about the risks.
We have encouraged group participation in events like the Sprint Spirit 5K and have set individual goals to lead by example. Staff members have found ways to make exercise fun for our students by hosting contests and offering rewards. Some of our schools have even gained national attention because of their devotion to showing youth how to live -- and stay -- healthy.
Running is in my blood. I have been hitting the roads since 1976. It's a lifestyle I’ve chosen to live, but will tell you it’s never too late to lace up your running shoes!