FR working to offer certifications

FORT RECOVERY — There are different pathways available to graduation.

Fort Recovery High School is working toward offering another option for one of them.

Principal Bill Overla told Fort Recovery School Board on Monday that he and his staff are working on making Microsoft certifications available for students.

In addition to completing the required amount of credits, students in Ohio must demonstrate what they have learned through one of three “pathways” in order to graduate. Those are:

•Garnering enough points on end-of-course state tests

•Recording a remediation-free scores in math and English language arts on the ACT or SAT

•Earning an industry-recognized credential (or credentials) and reaching the required score on the WorkKeys test.

The certifications for various Microsoft software programs would go toward the industry-recognized credential pathway, thus opening another door for students.

“Not only is it a skill that we can give them and a certification that would benefit them, but it could be used in that capacity too,” said Overla told board members Nick Wehrkamp, Greg LeFevre, Anne Guggenbiller, Jake Knapke and Don Wendel.

The credentials would be offered through the school’s business program.

Overla added that his early research into the certifications shows that business teacher Matt Kerns is already covering much of the required curriculum.

The principal is planning to work with Northwestern High School in rural Springfield, about 25 miles northeast of Dayton, which is already offering Microsoft credentials. The goal is to run a pilot program during the 2020-21 school year.

Board members also heard from elementary school principal Kelli Thobe that she has implemented peer observation as part of its professional development efforts. The next round of observations are scheduled for February.

“We have so many great teachers doing wonderful things,” said Thobe, adding she believes the system also helps with collaboration between teachers. “I think that’s going to be something that they will truly learn from. … There’s just a lot that they can gain.”

The board also elected Wehrkamp as president and LeFevre as vice president for 2020.

In other business, the board:

•Welcomed new members Guggenbiller, Knapke and Wendel, who replace Jose Faller, Mitch Ervin and Mike Grube on the board.

•Was reminded that the state of the schools address is scheduled for 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at FRHS.

•Heard from superintendent Larry Brown that the Feb. 14 professional development day will focus on safety in the morning and curriculum in the afternoon.

•Approved the following: a new three-year contract with Rea and Associates for assistance with reporting data for the Medicaid School Program; Wehrkamp as its Ohio School Board Association legislative liaison with Wendel as the alternate; LeFevre as its student achievement liaison; Vicki Schmitz as public records officer; Brown as the school district’s purchasing agent; Brown to employ temporary personnel, casual labor and substitutes on an as-needed basis; Ennis Britton as legal counsel; Brown to enter into agreements for College Credit Plus; establishing the board service fund at $5,000 to pay fo expenses incurred by board members in the performance of their duties.

•Hired Jeanette Garlinger as a substitute teacher, Matt Reinhard as a substitute bus driver and Bob Heitkamp as junior high track coach.

•Accepted a total of $3,100 in donations, including $3,000 from Tom and Mary Pat Zitter that went to school activity funds, the scholastic bowl team, show choir and band.

•Appropriated $2,000, via a grant from Honda, to be spent for the LEGO League robotics program.