Fort schools push for improvement

FORT RECOVERY — Schools have been performing well academically, but there is always room for improvement.
Superintendent Justin Firks shared those thoughts in his State of the School Address to Fort Recovery School Board at its meeting Wednesday. He plans to deliver the same message to his staff Friday.
The board also heard concerns from a representative from NuWave Technology of Coldwater about bidding for a fire alarm system at the elementary/middle school and were informed about a tax abatement request.
Firks reviewed a variety of statistics with the board, noting that the one he values the most is the performance index (a rating of how well students perform on state tests).
Fort Recovery High School earned a B grade in that category, which Firks explained means the facility outperformed the average expected growth for a school year. (A grade of C equals one year of expected growth, he said.)
Fort Recovery elementary and middle schools each received a D, but Firks noted that those results were heavily affected by the number of students who opted out of state tests in 2015. Those students essentially count as a zero.
Firks told the board those grades would likely have been Bs as well if not for the opt outs and added that legislation has been proposed to change the formula.
In other areas, the high school received an A for its graduation rate, and the elementary and middle schools each earned A grades for their overall progress.
“Academically, we continue to be a very solid district,” said Firks, who is nearing the end of his first year at the helm after taking over as superintendent from Shelly Vaughn last summer. “Like any other place, we have things to work on. And those are part of our improvement plan.”
Among the areas, Firks noted the need to do more for gifted students in third through fifth grade. A plan is already in place to address that need next year.
He also expressed a need to make sure there is a focus on improving all students and to especially not forget those in the middle, as there tends to be a focus on the highest achievers and those most in need of help.
Firks also praised the district for its fiscal responsibility, noting that it has not had deficit spending since 2013.
“The high points of the district right now are financially we’re in really good shape,” he said. “I think our district finances show a reflection that we’ve been really good stewards to our taxpayer dollars. We’ve been fiscally responsible. We’ve spent wisely. We’ve tried to cut costs in areas where we can.”
One concern he expressed on that front, however, is that the number of certified staff members (65) is at its highest over the last five years while at the same time the student population has decreased to 896 this year from 967 in 2011-12.
Stephanie Ebbing of NuWave visited the board to ask about bidding for the fire alarm system at the elementary/middle school.
Her company turned in the lower of the two bids for the work, but was not selected because it failed to meet bid requirements in several areas.
Board members detailed some of their concerns about the bid, and Firks said he would have treasurer Lori Koch, who was not present at the meeting, call the company today to answer any questions in an effort to avoid similar problems in the future.
Firks also told the board that Fort Recovery Industries is requesting a 100-percent, 10-year tax abatement for an expansion at its facility.
Any tax abatement over 75 percent requires approval from the school board.
Though they did not vote on the issue, board members indicated that they would be in favor of the abatement.
In other business, the board:
•Heard from elementary school principal Tracy Hein-Evers that students will get to meet their teachers for the 2016-17 school year today. She also noted that there are expected to be 55 kindergarten students divided into three classes next year.
She also noted that about 50 first through fifth graders will be involved in summer school June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, and July 12, 14 and 26 at Fort Recovery High School. The Laffalot summer camp is scheduled for July 18 through 22.
•Approved an agreement to continue as a member of the Ohio High School Athletics Association; a contract with West Central Ohio Assistive Technology Center; a service agreement with Mercer County Educational Service Center; purchasing electricity through the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council; and a contract with Laffalot camp.
•Learned from high school principal Jeff Hobbs that students raised more than $1,600 through “penny wars” for the Kirsten Schlarman Scholarship Fund.
•Authorized the teaching of financial literacy and college and career readiness to students in seventh and/or eighth grade.
•OK’d a field trip June 20 and 21 to the FFA officer retreat in Columbus.
•Accepted donations totalling more than $1,500, including $1,000 from R&L Carriers for a scholarship.
•Hired Lisa Huelsman and Anthony Rogers as non-teaching employees and Erica Wolters and Judy Fortener as summer school teachers and subs. Also hired coaches for the 2016-17 school year with the lone changes in head coaching positions coming with Brendon Moody taking over for Nick Kallas in cross country and track and Matthew Kerns taking over for Brad Evers in boys golf. The board also approved a list of supplemental contracts for grade level chairs and club advisers.