B A Y
V I L L A G E
C I T Y
S C H O O L
A Report to the Community on the Business of Our City Schools
D I S T R I C T
J A N U A R Y 2 0 23
The Quality Profile Issue
The Purpose of Bay Village Schools
CRITICAL THINKERS who question, examine and make inferences. They are analytical, forward-thinkers who develop, evaluate and utilize effective problem-solving strategies to reach goals. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS who demonstrate innovation, flexibility and self-reflection. They are inclusive collaborators and seek to use multiple solutions for realworld problems. EMPATHETIC COMMUNICATORS who seek to understand and value all perspectives through observing, questioning and listening. They are impactful leaders who intentionally use traditional and emerging forms of communication to effectively engage others. ENGAGED CITIZENS who work to improve their community, and recognize national and global connections. They are meaningful contributors who embrace opportunities to lead and serve. RESILIENT LEARNERS who accept challenges and persevere through adversity with confidence. They are intrinsically motivated and use varied strategies to achieve growth and success.
Six-month Check-in with Supt. Scot Prebles: Passing the Levy, Strategic Vision Refinement and More Scot T. Prebles officially started his journey as Superintendent of Bay Village City School District on August 1, 2022. A lot has happened in those first six months – Home of the Rockets dedication, Bay High School Centennial events, the state report card, coffee chats, a school levy and more. We sat down with Supt. Prebles to reflect on the past six months in the district, and to see what’s next. Q. Your first six months as Superintendent have been action-packed; where should we start? First and foremost, I want to thank the residents of this fine city for their support of Bay Village Schools and for the passage of Issue 3. This is a large commitment and I want residents to know that the Board of Education, Treasurer Rohde and I do not take this support lightly. Second, it has been a pleasure meeting so many of you these last six months during football games, community events, coffee chats, PTA meetings and holiday concerts. I have worked in other high-performing districts. However, the outpouring of community support for Bay Village Schools and its students is truly one of a kind. My 100-day acclimation plan was successful because of all of you, and I thank you for taking time to introduce yourself, and to share your insight and history about our talented students, dedicated staff, impressive district and beautiful community. Q. The levy passed...what’s next? We are currently reviewing and refining the district’s Strategic Plan to enhance, invigorate and transform the things we do and how we do them. I know this community came together –
the Citizens Advisory Council, the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, the Writing Team and more – during the last several years and committed a lot of time to create some really impressive work. I met with about 60 dedicated and talented community members, parents and students in November during a Strategic Plan Focus Group to review the components of the Strategic Vision to gain insight on items they believe may be missing or could be streamlined. The input was admirable and instructive. Q. And what did that Focus Group Team of volunteers determine? They determined that there is an impressive foundation to build from and that we can take the Strategic Vision to the next level by adding specific studentcentered abilities and competencies that we’re calling the “Skills and Talents of a Bay Graduate.” The Focus Group team also helped pare down the district’s original seven Driving Factors to five overarching Priorities. They felt there is some redundancy and that the district needed more accountability tools to ensure students graduate prepared for the 21st Century, and that they are competitive during what is now known as the Information Age. Q. When will this refined Strategic Vision turn into a full-fledged Strategic Plan that the community will see and the district will roll out? These 60 folks who attended the Strategic Plan Focus Group pared themselves down to an advisory group of 13 – with representation from parents, residents, senior citizens and students. As members of the Strategic Vision Advisory Committee, they will meet 4 to 5 times over the Continued on back page
Bay Village Schools is proud to announce that nine Bay High School seniors have been recognized in the 2023 National Merit® Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships. Students are identified based on their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores.
SEMIFINALIST
2023 Merit Students Announced
Tess Smith Photography
Achieving at the State, Regional and National Levels
Annabella Mayer
C O M M E N D E D
(Annabella scored in the top 1% of the 1.5 million students who took the 2021 test.)
Muriel Bourn
Abigail Dent
Elise Kelley
Band Director Recognized in National Magazine Congratulations to Band Director Darren Allen, selected as one of SBO+ Magazine's 23rd Annual “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” Allen was nominated and recognized for his work in making a difference every day for Bay students. He is one of only 50 music directors nationwide (and the only one in Ohio) to receive this distinction. Allen also directs the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, in which many of our Bay High students participate.
Andrew Mold
Senior Picked for All-State Jazz Ensemble
Jack Oster
Jackson Schelzig
Joseph Wagner
Nikolas Wassmer
Girls Cross Country Runs at State; Girls Soccer to Final Four Congratulations to Girls Cross Country for placing second at Regionals and qualifying for the State meet, where the team placed 10th. Kudos also to Girls Soccer who made it to the Final Four, to Volleyball for being a Regional Runner-up and to Boys Soccer for finishing as a Regional Semifinalist. Congratulations to all players and coaches on these very successful seasons.
Bay High School trumpet player Adam Ward was selected for the Ohio Music Education Association’s (OMEA) All-State Jazz Ensemble. This high school senior was one of only five trumpeters selected in the State, and this is the second year in a row Adam has been chosen. This year’s All-State Jazz Ensemble performs February 2-4, 2023 in Columbus at the OMEA Convention.
Bay Village Schools Faculty Named #1 in Cleveland Evans
Jacobs
Knapp
Dougherty
Bay High Soccer Standouts Congratulations to the following Bay High School students and head coach who were recently recognized for their soccer successes: • United Soccer Coaches Association All-Midwest team: Senior Million Evans, Senior Ethan Jacobs and Sophomore Tessa Knapp. • United Soccer Coaches Association All-American team: Ethan Jacobs (2 time) and Tessa Knapp. • All-American Senior Game: Million Evans and Coach Bobby Dougherty.
More than 100 Students Inducted into NHS Membership in National Honor Society (NHS) is the highest honor bestowed upon a high school student, recognizing outstanding performance in both the classroom and in the community. The Bay High School Chapter of NHS tapped 102 students for membership during its 83nd Annual Induction Ceremony this fall. These students represent the four pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.
Bay Village Schools was named the district with the Best Teachers in Cleveland, voted #1 in the Cleveland area, #4 in Ohio and #22 in the nation by Niche.com. The district itself was awarded an A+ rating. Niche.com is the website that researches, ranks and reviews the best U.S. colleges, schools, neighborhoods and companies.
Elementary Schools Recognized by State Organizations Westerly and Normandy elementary schools were both recognized by State Support Team Region 3 and the Ohio PBIS Network for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support programs. Normandy earned Silver status and Westerly earned Bronze.
Building Updates BAY HIGH SCHOOL Since 2018, BHS has won GreatSchools.org’s College Success Award, and with a win again in 2022, BHS maintains its Gold Status. This award recognizes high schools leading the way for college success. Part of this success includes the inaugural Alumni Career Night: a Focus on Health Care, coordinated by BHS Counselors and the Bay Alumni Foundation. We look forward to more of these partnership events showcasing alumni in emerging careers our grads may be interested in pursuing. Before winter break, Key Club and Youth Philanthropy Fellowship held toy and food drives, Key Club held a holiday lights bus tour with Knickerbocker residents and students will begin fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this month.
BAY MIDDLE SCHOOL In October, five seventh-graders called the “Mural Girls” (Ava Bottone, Kendall Hoerig, Addison Graham, Lola Horvath and Madelyn Lee), were featured on PBS for their art featuring ancient civilizations and world religions, and the Bay Middle School Boys and Girls Cross Country teams took third place at State competition. The longstanding Washington, D.C. trip returns this year after a hiatus due to COVID-19. Bay Middle School's eighth-graders will hit the road May 23-26 for an educational field trip to our nation’s Capital. On the way, students will visit the Flight 93 Memorial and Visitors Center in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Upon arriving in D.C., students will visit the National History Museum. Other attractions throughout the trip include visits to the MLK, FDR and Jefferson Memorials, the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, Mt. Vernon, Washington Monument, Holocaust Museum and Arlington Cemetery.
WESTERLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Westerly STEMFest continued this fall with the help of the Bay High Science & Robotics Club, who demonstrated experiments to get the third- and fourthgraders thinking about their own projects. In November, Westerly honored veterans with its annual Honor Wall called “Our STARS in the Fight for Freedom.” Students shared stars with information about their family members who have served our country. Before Winter Break, Westerly Aftercare children decorated ornaments for the residents at O'Neill Healthcare Bay Village, and fourth-graders continued a 20-year tradition by making blankets for families in need.
NORMANDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL For Veterans Day, Normandy celebrated local and family veterans with an assembly complete with the Bay High Marching Band, a parade and refreshments provided by the PTA. The Bay Buddy Program returns to Normandy this month. After a hiatus due to COVID-19, the Bay Village Senior Center and Bay Village Schools are collaborating to reinstate this intergenerational program. Senior citizen volunteers from Bay Village will be paired with Normandy students to assist in developing reading skills, to provide support and encouragement, and to build relationships with one another.
GLENVIEW CENTER for Child Care & Learning The Glenview Center Team recently completed a licensing visit, and received 100% compliance for both its preschool and school-age programs. This is a testament to the hard work Glenview’s team does every day to ensure the best care and education for the district’s “Little Rockets” and aftercare students. Students at Glenview Center are always looking for ways to connect with and give back to the community, and one recent way was through the Center’s Halloween candy drive. Glenview families contributed 108 pounds of candy that was donated to families and caregivers in our communities through the Village Project and Ronald McDonald House.
BAY VILLAGE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
Electing New Board Leadership During its January 10th Organizational Board Meeting, the Bay Village Board of Education’s first matter of business for the 2023 calendar year was to elect new officers. Dr. Scott Schulz was elected President and Dr. Andrey Stojic was voted Vice President. “As a Board, we are excited about the direction the district is headed with the refresh of our strategic plan and the knowledge we gained at the recent Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) Capital Conference,” said President Dr. Scott Schulz. “We have an incredible team of teachers and administrators, who have a genuine passion for serving our students and community. We look forward to taking Bay Village Schools to the next level while honoring our shared values and strategic vision.” Dr. Scott Schulz, President
The Board of Education also approved the following 2023 Board Meeting and Board Work Session schedule at the January 10 meeting. All Board meetings and Work Sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Education Office, 377 Dover Center Road. All meetings are open to the public. Jan. 23*, Feb. 6+, 27*, Mar. 6+, 20*, Apr. 3+, 17*, May 1+, 15*, June 5+, 26*, July 10*+, 24*, Aug. 7+, 21*, Sept. 5+, 18*, Oct. 2+, 16*, Nov. 6+, 20*, Dec. 4+, 18* * Denotes Regular Board Meeting
+ Denotes Board Work Session
Dr. Andrey Stojic, Vice President
January is School Board Recognition Month, and we thank our Board for its service.
Superintendent’s Choice Award Showcases Student Artwork at Central Office Supt. Scot Prebles recently initiated the Superintendent’s Choice Award by selecting one piece of art from each K-12 building. The pieces were chosen from the Fall District Art Show. The pieces will be displayed outside of Supt. Prebles’ office for one year. Congratulations to the following students and their teachers:
Normandy Artist: Molly Gillette Teacher: Jama Jennings The Holiday Dia de Los Muertos is the inspiration for this piece. Molly's artwork was influenced by Amate's bark painting of Mexico.
Bay Middle Artist: Martin Hausler Teacher: Greg Leininger During the time of this piece’s creation, Mr. Leininger encouraged Martin to see the essence and possibilities of painting in a 3-dimensional form.
Westerly Artist: Emma Roach Teacher: Debra Sanson The “fish design” drawing project was inspired by the children's storybook Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian.
Bay High Artist: Quinn Ryniak Teacher: Thomas Schemrich These characters in House of Cards were designed for a collaborative storytelling game. They were drawn digitally using Procreate and then printed out.
Bay High Wraps Up Yearlong Centennial Celebration Bay High School wrapped up its Centennial year celebrating 100 years of high school in Bay Village with a massive Homecoming celebration and the annual Holiday Choral Concert with the singing Christmas Tree and alumni invited on stage to sing. Homecoming 2022 honored all its traditions – the bonfire, parade, football game and dance – but this Centennial Homecoming was extra special with the unveiling of the new Alumni History Corridor by the Bay Alumni Foundation. This redesigned area next to the Bay High Auditorium is a museum-quality section containing exhibits and wall wraps, the latter featuring photos from the first 100 years of BHS. Make plans to walk through it the next time you take in a production or attend a sporting event. From the kick-off of the virtual Town Hall history presentation to the alumni Marching Band performances, thank you to everyone who participated in one of Bay High School’s monthly Centennial events.
Bay Village Education Foundation Awards Grants The Bay Village Education Foundation recently presented three grants worth nearly $3,000 to three teachers within Bay Village Schools. Congratulations to Ron Rutt, Technology Teacher at Bay High School; Jennifer Carney, Grade 3 Teacher/Garden Club Advisor at Westerly Elementary School; and Colin Lackey, Intervention Teacher at Bay Middle School. Thank you, Bay Village Education Foundation, for your support of our learning community. Grantee: Ron Rutt, Technology Teacher, Bay High School Project: Epilog Fusion Maker Rotary Attachment Award: $1,595 An Epilog Fusion Maker Laser is used in CAD (computer aided drafting) courses at Bay High School. This device enables students to transform their CAD designs into physical objects. The rotary attachment is funded by this grant. Grantee: Jennifer Carney, Grade 3 Teacher/Garden Club Advisor, Westerly Elementary School Project: Westerly Courtyard Update Award: $700 In addition to enhancing the school grounds, the Westerly courtyard is used by Westerly Garden Club. Funds from this grant will purchase materials to create a raised garden bed so students in wheelchairs can plant seedlings and weed. Funds will also purchase materials for a sundial, rain gauge, bird feeders/houses. Grantee: Colin Lackey, Intervention Teacher, Bay Middle School Grant recipient Jennifer Carney, left, with Bay Village Education Foundation Trustee Lisa Napoli. Project: Culture and Food Festival Award: $600 Funds will purchase foods from different cultures to be used in connection with a Cultures curriculum. Funds will also be used for the end-of-the-year International Festival, which allows students to demonstrate what they have learned, while working collaboratively to create presentations for visitors.
Kindergarten Information Night: February 1st Have a student attending Kindergarten next fall? Normandy’s Kindergarten Information Night is Wednesday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Normandy Cafeteria. Please save the date, and plan to join us in person for this important meeting for the Class of 2036.
Strategic Spending 2021-2022 The graphs below illustrate Bay Village Schools’ classroom spending and spending per pupil. With 72.8% of the district’s expenses going directly to classroom instruction, the district is clearly prioritizing its investment in academic excellence. Compared to other area school districts, Bay Village Schools focuses more of its funds on students’ classroom instruction versus other expense areas.
PERCENTAGE OF EXPENSES SPENT DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOM
Eficiency and Savings Update The district is constantly looking for ways to gain efficiency and save money in operations. Bay Village Schools saves money on its electricity and natural gas costs by joining with other schools across the state when
SPENDING PER PUPIL
purchasing these necessities. This greater purchasing power has led to more than $52,000 in savings on natural gas in fiscal year 2022. Anticipated savings on electricity is $187,000 for calendar year 2022 and 2023.
FIVE YEAR FORECAST
REVENUE COMPARED TO EXPENDITURES
The five year forecast was filed with the state of Ohio in November. The forecast is a tool that is created with the information available at the time of the filing. The graph (top right) shows the district's revenues, or money in, compared to its expenditures, or money out. The district is expected to have a balanced budget this year, meaning its revenues are greater than or equal to expenses. This is due to the additional revenue from the new 7.2 mill operating levy passed in November 2022. A balanced budget is expected for at least the next two years.
CASH BALANCE
The graph (bottom right) shows the district’s cash balance in its savings account over the past several years, and its projected increase and decrease throughout the current levy cycle. At the beginning of a levy cycle, a school district typically brings in additional cash to build up its cash balance. This puts the district in position to handle the latter years of the levy cycle when deficit spending is expected to occur. The graph shows that the district is expected to have a healthy cash balance to meet the district’s operating needs into the future. Please keep in mind that the financial picture and outlook of a district can change throughout the year as new information becomes available.
2021-2022 OHIO REPORT CARD The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released its state report card results on September 15, 2022, and for the third year in a row due to COVID-19, the ODE did not release a traditional report card with grades. Instead, this year’s report card had a star system, and the achievement component was measured by a performance index vs. indicators met. The district received 5-star ratings in the following categories: Student Achievement, Gap Closing and Graduation, and Bay High School received an overall 5-star rating. Bay Village Schools continues to be one of the highest-performing districts in the state of Ohio, ranking #16, which puts it in the top 2% in the state.
Performance Index With a Performance Index Score (PIS) of 104.9, Bay Village Schools was up from 102.4 the year before, ranking in the top 2% of Ohio’s school districts, ahead of districts such as Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Beachwood, Hudson, Kenston, Aurora, Avon, Orange and Avon Lake. The performance index represents whether student performance on state tests met established thresholds and how well students performed on tests overall, according to the Ohio Department of Education. This is based on state tests for third grade through high school.
104.9 PIS
Closing the Gap in Bay Village: All Subgroups Exceeded Goals
The Gap Closing component of the report card shows how well districts are meeting the performance expectations for the most vulnerable populations of students. Bay Village Schools is proud to share that each subgroup exceeded its targeted goals by an impressive margin. The red dot indicates the expected target score set by the state. Our students are exceeding in every subgroup for achievement.
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
Bay Village City School District 377 Dover Center Road Bay Village, OH 44140
PAID CLEVELAND, OH PERMIT #1
Board of Education Dr. Scott Schulz, President Dr. Andrey Stojic, Vice President Amy Huntley Beth Lally Paul Vincent District Office Scot Prebles, Superintendent Meghan Rohde, Treasurer
ECRWSS 44140
POSTAL CUSTOMER BAY VILLAGE, OH 44140
440-617-7300 www.bayk12.org
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next two months. They will learn about the district’s operations, finances and educational programming; they will engage in a Priority Statement review; and they will prepare the final 2023-2028 Strategic Plan document for Board affirmation this spring. The district will then roll out this transformed Strategic Plan come July 1, 2023.
and soft skills. For example, demands for skills in the emerging biotechnology and growing healthcare fields are critical, and prevalent with opportunities right here in Ohio, but we cannot forget the human factor. Our Bay graduates need both to set them apart. Q. What’s more important, the Academic Skills or the Soft Skills? Both. We know in the real world there is a set of skills and talents students need to be proficient – critical thinking and analytics. But we must also be mindful that human interaction is also important. Yes, we live in a digital world, but it is not a way of life. We're trying to create a balance, knowing it’s the intellectual property that humans bring to the table vs. the machinery world. We’re looking to challenge students to be self-reliant and resilient in a culture where they feel safe and valued. We’re looking for more efficient ways to use a car, not make a fender. All while being mindful of our carbon footprint.
Q. What do you see as the primary objective over the next 4 to 5 years? Simply put – academic excellence. We know, and will be mindful of, the things that make Bay Village Schools great, and will measure these attributes against expectations for young adults in the 21st Century. The district recognizes that the demands of graduates in the Information Age include competencies of both academic skills
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Q. Any final thoughts? Two come to mind. One: We are challenging kids to be self-reliant and resilient, creating a culture where they feel safe and valued, and have a wholesome experience in the classroom and in extracurriculars. Two: Doing this while also making sure the community voice is important and honored as we move through this strategic vision process. Great opportunities for Bay students lie ahead! You can follow Supt. Prebles on Twitter: @BaySchoolsSupt
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