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PROGRESS 2013
February 23, 2013
TROY DAILY NEWS/PIQUA DAILY CALL
Milton-Union Schools focused on the future BY VIRGINIA RAMMEL the new common core stanMilton-Union dards which become operaSuperintendent tional in ‘14-‘15. Incorporated in the stanThe vision of “Every dards are higher expectaStudent, Every Day” contions for interdisciplinary tinues to shape activity at problem-solving, coupled Milton-Union. The board of with requirements for education and the dedicat- more writing and technoloed staff remain focused on gy. New state assessments providing its students a will be written to align vibrant, safe and educawith the standards. Two tional place in which to new courses – Science, learn. Inside its technologi- Technology, Engineering, cally-advanced facilities, Math (STEM) and Robotics students thrive. - were added this year at Academic progress: the high school and middle school levels. Both courses Even though the district and each of the three allow students to experience the world of structurbuildings earned an “Excellent” rating the last al design and programtwo years, Milton-Union is ming. In addition, high school students have mulforging ahead to better equip its students for their tiple options to earn credits by combining traditionfuture through rigorous al classes with on-line and coursework and more focused staff development. dual enrollment courseTeachers continue to study work.
An all-day, every-day kindergarten program reinforces the value of early learning and entering school ready to learn. Helping to ready students for their school experience is the Council on Rural Services; it offers two sessions of on-site Head Start. Head Start is a preschool program for children between three and five years of age. Both programs give youngsters more time to develop the skills necessary for future school success. Extra-curricular and cocurricular opportunities appeal to many of our students. The Milton-Union “Band of Pride” continued its tradition of excellence at the fall marching band state competition. Students also participate in the “Center Stage” show
Building
choir and entertain audiences at the spring musical. MATHCOUNTS is an after-school math program for middle school students designed to enhance their problem-solving skills. Athletic teams give students another arena to showcase their skills. Milton-Union athletes garnered three SWBL league titles this past fall – tennis, boys’ cross country and football. Qualifying for the state playoffs in five of the last eight years, MiltonUnion played in the regional finals falling to the state champions, Clinton-Massie. Building its Future The opening of our new 217,000 sq. ft. K-12 complex was celebrated at the ribbon-cutting ceremony this past October. This facility is the result of years of research and planning by the Board of Education, staff and community members. The new facility is rated LEED Gold — the second highest rating offered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification is the most recognized global standard for high performance buildings that are efficient, cost-effective and better for occupants and the environment. LEED credits are awarded in five categories: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Milton-Union earned LEED points in a variety of ways: its high efficiency HVAC system, solar panels, a 15 KW wind turbine, 75,000 gallon rainwater storage
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Quality Life Styles
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STAFF PHOTO/ANTHONY WEBER
Workers from Steve R. Rauch Excavation and Demolition bring down the remaining 1938 built structure at the former site of the Milton-Union High School.
tanks and solar thermal panels. Large courtyard and classroom windows allow for natural light while window solar shades divert the sun’s rays to the back of classrooms, reducing the need for artificial light. Classrooms are also larger with more abundant storage space. Each teaching area is equipped with a myriad of technology – Smartboard, short-throw projector, voice-enhanced sound system, blue-ray player and educational video distributing centers. Fiscal Responsibility – Doing More with Less As with most school districts in Ohio, we strive to continue our programming while receiving less funding from the state. We examined and continue to assess every area for costsaving measures. According to the latest data on the Ohio Department of Education Expenditure Flow Model, Milton-Union spent over $300 less per pupil in 2010-2011 than the prior year. These efforts led Milton-Union to being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics with the top rating in the state for highest achievement at the lowest cost.
As we continue to shape our future, we are confident that with the cooperation of all constituents, Milton-Union will continue to be led by its vision of “Every Student, Every Day.” We are Moving Forward Together… MILTON-UNION’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS The following is a list of achievements MiltonUnion Schools have accomplished over the past year: • Met 26 of 26 indicators on the ‘11-‘12 Ohio Department of Education Report Card • An “Excellent” rating for two consecutive years • 100 percent of MiltonUnion teachers are certified in their teaching area • The 2012 graduation rate (97 percent) is the highest ever • With more students sitting for the college entrance test (ACT), the 2012 composite score of 23.1 is the highest in Milton-Union’s history • This past year’s graduating class received more than $2.5 million in scholarships • Milton-Union is recognized nationally for the highest achievement at the lowest cost • In addition, MiltonUnion spends the least amount of money per pupil in the county (ODE Expenditure Flow Model)