Pilot Chromebook Repair Program Teaches Skills, Saves Money
Q & A with Superintendent Scot Prebles and Director of Technology Brian Reynolds
WWhat do you do when Chromebook repairs become a costly line item in the school district’s budget? If you’re Bay Village Schools, you turn Chromebook repairs into an opportunity for students to learn a valuable skill, while being efficient and saving the district money. We sat down with Supt. Scot Prebles (SP) and Director of Technology Brian Reynolds (BR) to learn more about the Student Chromebook Repair Pilot Program.
Q. How did the idea for a Student Chromebook Repair Program come about?
BR: An analysis of Chromebook repairs in the 2022-23 school year showed not only an increase in repairs, but also an increase in the cost of those repairs since most broken Chromebooks had to be outsourced to a third party. Costs for those Chromebooks to be fixed were incurred by the district, and some of those costs were passed along to district families, depending on the repair. Besides being costly, the turnaround time for repairs was slow and inconvenient, with only so many loaner Chromebooks available.
SP: Mr. Reynolds and his team saw the need, knew the capability of our students, and had the vision to make this an experiential learning opportunity for our students, while saving the district money. The fact that the program is in-house allows it to function efficiently, shortening the repair time.
eliminate the need for an outside Chromebook repair contract, which saves the district nearly $40,000 annually.
BR: Instead, we now only use this vendor on an “as needed” basis if breaks exceed our in-house capacity, or if the Chromebook is beyond repair.
Q. What type of repairs does the Student Chromebook Repair Team work on?
BR: Students work on repairs that run the gamut, from motherboard malfunctions and battery issues, to broken screens and hinges. The most common fix is probably missing keys.
Q. Will this pilot program continue for the 2024-25 school year?
BR: Yes! As a matter of fact, we will expand the program by adding a “Tech Apprentice” Independent Study course at Bay High School, and we will continue to recruit rising eighth-grade students to participate as members of a class at Bay Middle School.
SP: Mr. Reynolds will be the teacher of record for both the middle and high school courses. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in earning specific certifications for repairs, and who are interested in a potential career in Information Technology (IT).
Q. We hear the Chromebook Repair Program has become a model for other districts in the area...
Q. How many students were involved?
BR: During the 2023-24 school year, 19 eighth-grade Bay Middle School students and one Bay High School senior passed an online course to become certified in Acer Chromebook repairs. We hope to increase that number for the 2024-25 school year.
SP: The volume of broken devices and repairs fluctuates, but there is never a day when devices aren’t in need of repairs. Of course, these students and the repairs they perform are done under the guidance of professional technicians and teachers.
Q. How much money is this new Student Chromebook Repair Program saving the district?
SP: With the Student Chromebook Repair Program, we were able to
BR: I am proud to say that many of our neighboring districts have reached out to learn more about our successful pilot program, and we are sharing our model with them. We even had an Acer Chromebook representative request a conference call with us to learn how and why our program yielded so much success.
SP: Mr. Reynolds and his team have done an incredible job engaging our capable and talented students, teaching them a viable skill they can take into the real world after graduation. This program is being talked about throughout the state and beyond. In fact, we are in the process of creating a presentation about this new initiative that will be shared at upcoming statewide, and even national, conferences so other districts can empower their students with skills and experiential learning opportunities, while simultaneously saving taxpayer dollars. It’s a win-win!
Director of Technology Brian Reynolds oversees students repairing Chromebooks.
Recent Grad Honored with ‘Excellence in Education Student Award’
Congratulations to recent BHS graduate Katherine Anderson for receiving the Excellence in Education Student Award presented by the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio and State Support Team 3. This award acknowledges a student's academic and non-academic abilities and achievements, and the difference they make in their school and community.
The Educational Service Center (ESC) provides support for area school districts through its services, consortiums, programming and cooperatives. State Support Team 3 (SST3) is dedicated to providing exceptional educational support and services to its districts, families and communities. SST3 works collaboratively with Bay Village Schools to develop and enhance systems and structures supporting students with disabilities, early learning, literacy, positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and family engagement.
BMS Power of the Pen Team Writers Impress at States
Congratulations to the following Bay Middle School Power of the Pen writing club students who qualified for the State competition at Ashland University: Nora French, Claire Jenkins, Allison Pistorino, Elizabeth Steele and Lily Young. Nora French (representing 8th grade) placed 19th overall in the competition, and was also ranked second out of six writers in the fourth Power Round she wrote in. Lily Young also made it to the Power Round, placing her among the top 54 writers in the State. This year’s State competition featured nearly 500 seventh- and eighth-grade students from 178 schools.
BHS Key Club Recognized at State Conference
Ten Bay High Key Club members attended the 2024 Ohio District Leadership Conference in Columbus where they participated in service projects, attended workshops, elected new officers and heard Keynote speakers. Bay High Key Club was also recognized for a variety of honors for its service projects and leadership roles from this past school year, receiving three first-place awards, two second-place awards and one third-place award.
Summer Programming
Did you know that more than 1,000 Bay Village students –from summer enrichment and STEM Camp to Mini Cheer and Basketball Camp – participated in academic and athletic programming this summer? Thank you to our educators and coaches for sharing your knowledge and time with our Little Rockets, Bees, Wolves and Rockets over summer break.
Attendance Amendment Reminder
Improving student attendance is a priority the district will focus on for the 2024-25 school year. Bay Village Schools has reduced the number of days a student can miss school before a physician’s note is required. That number has gone from 10 days to six days per school year, (three days per semester); otherwise it will be recorded as an unexcused absence.
Bay Village Schools believes that school attendance is fundamental to a student’s success–academically, socially and emotionally. Good attendance is important for a successful school experience, and by working together, we can ensure that Bay students are consistently engaged in high-quality educational experiences with teachers and peers that lead to current and future successes.
You’re Invited: Coffee Chats for the 2024-25 School Year
Community Coffee Chats have been a great way for parents and residents to meet Supt. Scot Prebles and Treasurer Meghan Rohde. These casual, yet informative events continue for the 2024-25 school year. Mark your calendars, and plan to attend at least one this school year to meet the Central Office Team and ask questions about the district.
• Tuesday, October 1 • 7:30-8:30 a.m. • Mojo’s, 600 Dover Center Road.
• Thursday, November 7 • 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. • Cuyahoga County Public Library-Bay Village Branch, 27400 Wolf Road.
• Friday, January 17, 2025 • 7:30-8:30 a.m. • Trust Coffee (formerly Java Bay), 27225 Wolf Road.
• Wednesday, March 19, 2025 • 6-7 p.m. • Board of Education/KT Allen Building, 377 Dover Center Road.
• Friday, May 2, 2025 • 10-11 a.m. • Bay Provisions, 328 Bassett Road.
Katherine Anderson
BHS Art Teacher Honored
The Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA) selected Bay High School Art Teacher Thomas Schemrich as a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Art Teacher Award. Only 13 art educators across the state received this award. Honorees will be recognized this November at the OAEA professional development conference.
Bay Village is Top 10 City, School District
Cleveland Magazine rates Northeast Ohio’s 77 suburbs as part of its annual Best Places to Live issue. The city of Bay Village ranked #4 this year, and Bay Village Schools again made the top 10 list, moving up two spots to #5 in the magazine’s 2024 annual top education ranking.
BHS Named ‘Best High School’
Bay High School has again been named a “Best High School” by U.S. News & World Report magazine. Bay High has consistently received this recognition since 2006. This year, Bay High is ranked #24 in the State, putting it in the top 2%.
Girls Lacrosse, Boys Track Shine at State Competitions
Girls lacrosse defeated Hathaway Brown in the State Semifinals to face Columbus St. Francis DeSales in the State Championship game on June 7 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. School may have been out for summer break, but the community came together to send off the team in style. The Bay Lady Rockets eventually lost to the Stallions 14-7, finishing a great season as State Runners-up in Division II lacrosse. Congratulations, also, to Ella Boehringer and Riley LaVogue for earning All-American honors, and to Coach Victoria Budzyn for winning NorthCoast US Lacrosse Coach of the Year. Recently, Cleveland.com named Riley LaVogue Player of the Year, Ella Boehringer and Ellie Bennett to First Team and Sophie Sharpnack to Honorable Mention. This was truly a season to remember.
Nine Bay High School runners qualified for the May 30-June 1 Track and Field State Meet at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. Those boys track athletes included the 4x200m team of Brendan Spellman, Jack Krueger, Jayden Perrine and Liam O’Leary who finished as State Runners-up. In the 3200m, Michael Hanselman made a strong move when he needed to and hung on for 4th place in the State. Also in the 3200m, Connor Spellman finished 14th in the State. The 4x100m team of Jace Knapp, Jayden Perrine, Jack Krueger and Liam O’Leary ran one of their best times of the year to grab 6th place in the State. The 4x800m team of Kieran Ripley, Connor Spellman, Michael Hanselman and Will Dunstan, finished in 8th place in the State and All-Ohio, with three of the four runners coming back next year. In the 800m, one of the deepest individual events, Will Dunstan finished 11th in the State. As a team, Bay High Boys Track finished 9th place in the state.
BHS Soccer Player Named Gatorade ‘Player of the Year’
In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade named rising Senior Tessa Knapp as the 2023-24 Gatorade Ohio Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She is also the first Gatorade Ohio Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Bay High School. The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Tessa as Ohio’s best high school girls soccer player.
In June, Tessa was also named Top Female Athlete of the Year by Cleveland.com during the news organization’s annual High School Standouts Awards. This two-time AllAmerican soccer player was honored for being a soccer standout, for her outstanding academic record, for inspiring others on and off the field, for embodying the spirit of a team player, and for her leadership and humility. Congratulations, Tessa, on these recent accomplishments.
BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATES
As Members of the Bay Village Board of Education, we had the honor and privilege of presenting 216 graduates with diplomas during Bay High School’s 98th Annual Commencement Exercises at Bay High Memorial Stadium. This was one of the largest graduating classes in recent history!
It was inspiring to hear from two members of the Class of 2024, student speakers Emma Lindway and Evelyn Ray. These student body leaders reflected on their time as students in this close knit district, and they credited their teachers, principals, families and fellow students for their support and guidance during their time in Bay Village Schools.
Board Member Dr. Scott Schulz used Bay Village’s proximity to the Rock Hall to share some fun and encouraging messaging in his remarks to the Class of 2024, choosing three songs from Rock Hall inductees whose titles might be helpful reminders as these graduates step out into the world: Come as You Are by Nirvana, Let it Be by the Beatles and A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. As our graduates head to universities like Duke, Pitt and Ohio State, or to serve our country by joining the military, or stay in Northeast Ohio to join the trades or the workforce, let us remember that “The best is yet to come,” as Supt. Prebles shared during his closing remarks.
Best of luck to all our graduates!
Dr. Andrey Stojic, Mrs. Amy Huntley, Mrs. Debbie Callihan, Mr. James Goodman and Dr. Scott Schulz
Central Office Staff Members Recognized for State, National Achievements
Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Year Wrap Up
The district’s financial year ended on June 30, 2024. For the General Fund, things ended very closely to the expectations outlined in the May Five-Year Forecast. The district’s operating expenses were just over $40.8 million. The district brought in close to $43.4 million from local taxes, state funding and other revenues. Since the district was able to bring in more money than it spent this year, there will be a carryover of over $2.5 million into the savings account for future expenses. The district continues to spend within its operating budget and spend closely to the expectations outlined in the five-year forecasts.
This is the second year in a row that the district is ending with a carryover. This carryover will help build cash on hand to help fund the district in the future when deficit spending occurs again at the end of the current levy cycle. The district is expected to carry over funds and build up its cash balance for the next several years.
As part of the strategic plan, the administration has been implementing and tracking efficiency and cost avoidance initiatives, which have increased the carryover amount to build up its savings. Prioritizing efficiency in operations and intentional spending in alignment with the strategic plan are ways the district plans to continue to spend below budget and increase the carryover of funds in the next several years.
The Board of Education would like to recognize Treasurer Meghan Rohde for her appointment to the Board of Directors for the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO). Meghan was honored by Katie Johnson, Executive Director of OASBO, and presented with a scholarship donation for her service to the OASBO Board. This $1,000 scholarship was presented to recent Bay High grad Annaliese Larsen at the late May Scholarship & Academic Awards Night. Meghan’s local funding story presentation and her process for review and approval of district expenditures were highlighted by the State Auditors and shared as best practices for other Ohio school districts to use. We are proud of her initiatives and activity within the state, and her commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability.
Thank you to the community for its continued support of our schools. Our district is extremely reliant on its residents for tax revenues as its main source of income. The district greatly appreciates the community and its residents.
Please see Summer Facilities Update on back page
TIMES
2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR BUILDING
First day of school is Monday, August 19!
BAY HIGH SCHOOL
7:50 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. (M, W, F) 7:50 a.m. - 2:55 p.m. (T, Th)
The Board would also like to recognize Karen Misciagna , the district’s director of communications. At the Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA) annual spring conference, Karen was awarded with eight Achievement Awards, and was also recently honored with a National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Award of Merit. We congratulate Karen on being recognized by her peers and are very proud of her achievements. Karen is an indispensable part of our team, and we appreciate her efforts in keeping our staff, parents and community members informed of what is happening in our district. Effective communication is the foundation of our success.
BAY MIDDLE SCHOOL 7:45 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.
WESTERLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8:05 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.
NORMANDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8:35 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
GLENVIEW CHILD CARE CENTER 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
SEED A.M. Class: 9 - 11:30 a.m. SEED P.M. Class: 12:15 - 2:45 p.m.
BAY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS of 2024
GRADUATES in the top 5% of the class based on grade point average
To see a complete list of the 2024 Scholarships and Awards night booklet, please visit:
Evan Alexy
Brooke Anderson
Katherine Anderson
Owen Appenheimer
Ava Aschenbrener
Chloe Aschenbrener
Julia Barber
Nolan Barry
Kiersten Baumgartner
Fé Beatty
Addison Beggs
Aidan Behringer
Elizabeth Bennett
Bruce Berger
Aaron Bergstresser
Lucy Bisson
Katie Bly
Sylvia Boehnlein
Ella Boehringer
Samuel Brown
Scarlett Burens-Quinn
Connor Bush
Margaret Buttrick
Katherine Carney
Delaney Carter
Maya Clark
Gabrielle Cleaver
Cooper Conway
Sean Cook
Noah Cooley
Robert Corbin
Malachi Coursen
Christopher Cox
James Cox
Keith Crayton
Gianna Crimaldi
Olivia Curran
Colin Dalalau
Olivia Dasko
Owen Davey
Lucas Demko
Nicolas Doskoch
Brendan Dougherty
Jake Downing
Jaxon Dunn
William Dunstan
Scarlet Emery
Leah Ernst
Alexis Farrell
Andrew Feiszli
Laila Fiorentino
Sophia Fondriest
Daniel Franklin
Joseph Freda
Sarah Frindt
Mallory Fry
Jorja Fuchs
Laura Fuehrer
Jenna Galinas
William Genochio IV
Matthew Gerbracht
Wyatt Gillespie
Lucy Gillette
Hunter Giovannazzo
Nathan Glowe
Sydney Goodwin
Joshua Graham
Michael Groff
Joshua Hammond
Samuel Harrington
Helen Harvey
Leah Hausler
Sophia Henrich
Anton Hewko
Milo Hignett
Eva Hinojosa
Chloe Hoban
Grace Hoban
Grace Hopper
Brody Hunt
Ayisha Imran
Aaron Ingraham
Benjamin Jameson
Jillian Jaroszewicz
Matthew Jennings
Maia Jones
Alyssa Juhasz
Mariah Julian
Mallory Kaminski
Kyle Kandra
Kellie Keane
James Kelly
Bennett Kinat
Thomas Kirk
Jason Knapp Jr.
Carmen Kopko
Annie Korth
Payton Krafchek
Julia Krieg
Zachary Krol
Beckett Krueger
Jackson Krueger
Keira Krumbine
Nina Lade
Lindsay Lakatos
Clara Lang
Michael Larimer
Anneliese Larsen
Riley LaVogue
Madeline Leek
Danielle Lentes
Ryan Lesh
Emma Lindway
Nicholas Lucak
Holly Lucas
Lane Maddux
Sean Mahoney
Cole Manos
Kayla Martin
Kadence May
Jack McAlea
William McCale
Brady McCall
Kathleen McDermott
Kathryn McFarland
Anne McMerrell
Gianna McQueen
Jackson Meade
Casey Medley
Ella Mehl
Margo Melby
Addisyn Miksanek
Riley Millett
Dominic Minichello
McKenna Missler
Katherine Mold
Ilyana Morgan
Ewan Moss
Brian Murphy
Darwin Murphy
Mary Catherine Murtaugh
Gretchen Nagel
Connor Nasman
Caitlin Neeson
Lily Newton
Maximilian Newton
Riley Nicholl
Leanna Nugent
Aidan O'Keeffe
Liam O'Leary
Carter Ormsby
Simona Overfield
Joseph Palmowski
Elise Papp
Donald Parsson
Maxwell Peachman
Lillian Pellow
Molly Petrigan
Ava Phelan
Grace Pierce
Sara Powers
Aidan Pruitt-Humphreys
Alyssa Rados
Andrew Rankin
Evelyn Ray
Gwyneth Rees
Charles Rice
Anthony Rocco
Gabriel Rodriguez
Johnny Rodriquez
Kaylin Rosler
Samuel Ruese
Quinn Ryniak
Tristen Sabo
Camilla Saccany
Dylan Schlass
Nicholas Schneiderman
Grant Schrock
Eric Schultz
Joshua Scott
Grace Sedivec
Sophia Sharpnack
Meghan Sinnema
Henry Sjoberg
Brendan Spellman
Olivia Spirollari
Anna Stafford
David Stalder
Sophia Stalder
Matthew Stasek
Madison Steckel
McKenna Story
Madeline Stuhm
Mason Sullivan
Daniel Surdy
Kayla Surovi
Nicholas Szekely
Collin Taylor
Faith Teutschbein
Sophie Thomas
Ryan Ticak
Ava Toth
EvanTrnavsky
Lucas Underwood
Lucienne Visocky-O'Grady
Paden Voytek
Emily Wander
Brayden Wank
Lily Weber
Mac Weingart
Archer Williams
Isabella Wyman
Thalia Wynocker
Christopher Yaacoubian
LoganYeager
David Zipfel
Leah HauslerFé Beatty
Isabella Wyman
James KellyFaith TeutschbeinEvelyn Ray
Owen Appenheimer Sophia HenrichBrendan SpellmanAddison Beggs
Ewan Moss
Bay Village City School District
377 Dover Center Road
Bay Village, OH 44140
Board of Education
Dr. Andrey Stojic, President
Amy Huntley, Vice President
Debbie Callihan
James Goodman
Dr. Scott Schulz
District Office
Scot T. Prebles, Superintendent
Meghan Rohde, Treasurer
440-617-7300
www.bayk12.org
Explore. Engage. Empower.
The Bay High Experienceships Program is a new initiative that promotes career readiness for students. The goal is to empower every student with the skills and information needed to make informed decisions about their future by providing opportunities for experiential learning. The term "Experienceship" encompasses the goal of engaging students with realworld experiences like internships, career shadows, mentorships, speakers, worksite tours and more. For more information, please contact College and Career Readiness School Counselor Meghan Holden at Bay High, or visit https://bit.ly/BHSExperienceship.
Bay Village Schools will hold its second annual State of the District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 18 at Bay Middle School Library. All community members are welcome to hear more about year two of the district’s Strategic Plan, as well as updates on finances, curriculum and facilities.
Plans to Maintain, Enhance Existing Facilities
After a three month process to assess the district’s facilities, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) sent its final audit report to the Board of Education in April 2024. Since then, the district has collected additional historical data and will conduct further reviews to validate OFCC’s audit assessments.
A facilities advisory committee made up of community representatives will meet to consolidate audit findings into overarching existing facility categories and priorities. It is hoped committee work will be completed by September 30, 2024. In October/November, community conversations will be scheduled for residents to attend. The goal of these meetings is not to discuss new facilities, but rather to learn from the community its priorities for the district’s existing facilities.
Part of the district’s strategic plan and budget involves investing in buildings and grounds. Here are some of the capital improvement projects our facilities team and their vendors completed this summer:
• The addition of 33 parking spots at Bay High School (pictured).
• Upgrades to exterior doors at Normandy, Bay Middle and Bay High schools.
• Resurfacing of the Bay Middle School parking lot.
• Sidewalk and curb repairs at Bay Middle School.
• Fixing, filling and sealing the Westerly parking lot.
• Completed HVAC work in the Community Gym with the collaboration of the City.
If you have questions, ideas, or would like to subscribe to the Bay Village Schools Enewsletter, please email photos@bayk12.org .