Students do well on Ohio Graduation Test (06/14/07)

FORT RECOVERY - More than 95 percent of high school sophomores here passed each of the five sections of the Ohio Graduation Test.

Fort Recovery High School principal Dave Warvel updated school board members Tuesday night on this year's scores, released the last week of May.

Warvel reported that of the 80 sophomores that took the test in March, 96 percent passed the reading portion with three not meeting state standards, 99 percent passed the math portion with one not meeting standards and 100 percent of the students excelled the writing section. In science, 97 percent of the students passed the test with three not meeting state standards and 95 percent passed the social studies with four not meeting the state mark.

"We did really well again this year," Warvel said this morning. "The teachers work so hard to make sure these kids succeed. The parents are also so supportive."

Students who failed to pass a section or multiple sections of the test can attend learning intervention during the summer and take it again that summer, spring or fall of their junior year, Warvel said. If they don't pass their junior year, they can again attend summer intervention and take it that summer, or the spring or fall of their senior year.

Students are required to pass all five sections of the OGT to graduate, which includes multiple choice, short answer and essay questions.

In 2006, the sophomores 96.1 passed reading, 94.7 passed the math portion, 100 percent excelled in reading, 93.4 percent passed science and 90.8 passed social studies. Last year, 76 students were tested.

During their freshman year, students are given a practice OGT test provided by the state and the school also administers the Terra Nova Achievement Test, Warvel said adding that these tests help get students ready for the OGT.

"It's a reflection of efforts of students, staff and the community. The parents and their support is what helps our students achieve," superintendent David Riel said Wednesday about the this year's test results. "The parents need to be applauded too."

Also Tuesday, board members:

•Approved participation in the federal free and reduced price lunch program for the 2007-08 school year.

•Approved participation in the federal Title programs and other federal and state programs/grants for the 2007-08 school year.

•Approved the hire of summer school teachers, Michelle VanSkyock, Jennifer Grieshop, Anne Geier, Bob Heitkamp, Laura Pearson, Leslie Goettemoeller, Carrie Wellman, Joe Bruns, Bob Perkeybile, April Kaiser, Kathy Schwieterman and Robyn Armstrong.

•Accepted resignations from Brenda Kaup, Greg Snyder, Derrick Seaver, Chris Summers and Chris Hart.

•Approved a two year non-teaching contract with Barb Alig.

•Voted to employ Scott Mattraw and Chris Summers as a high school assistant football coaches, Dan Stammen as the middle school head girls basketball coach, Kristy Wendel as the football cheerleading advisor, Ryan Griffin as the director of instrumental music programs, color guard and summer band, Tracy Hein-Evers as show choir director, Robyn Armstrong as math science club advisor.

Also approved were Bev Monroe as art club advisor, Toni LeFevre as yearbook and newspaper advisor, Angelika Schade Hein as German club and Future Teachers Association advisor, Curtis Hamrick as Future Business Leaders Association advisor, Janice Osterloh as National Honor Society sponsor, Brad Evers as high school student council advisor and sophomore class advisor, Kathy Schwieterman as freshman class advisor and sports medicine club advisor, Bob Perkeybile as senior class advisor, Brenda Kaup as middle school student council advisor and Crystal Guggenbiller middle school science fair advisor and basketball cheerleader advisor.

•Approved the hire of Kyle Wendel as the volunteer bowling coach, Tracy Link as volunteer middle school football cheerleader advisor.

•Approved the middle and high schools student handbooks.

•Voted to employ Crystal Guggenbiller and April Kaiser as full-time teachers and Carrie Wellman as a part-time teacher.[[In-content Ad]]