Open Lines Newsletter - Spring 2024

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openlines

Spring ‘24

Dear Hilltopper Community,

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hardon Schools is committed to a multi-layered approach for its top priority—the safety, security and wellness of students and staff.

The District has a number of new safety and security initiatives funded by two (2) Ohio K–12 School Safety Grants awarded to the District in 2022–23. Together, the grants total approximately $499,000.

REGISTER FOR 2024–25

Examples of our latest initiatives:

Chardon Schools is excited to

Security Vestibules

welcome your Hilltopper in the

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Chardon Middle School—Fall 2023

fall. Convenient, online

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Chardon Early Learning Center—Spring 2024

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Munson Elementary School—Spring 2024

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student(s) is now open.

Chardon High School—Summer 2024

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Park Elementary School—Planning Underway

Your student must be five (5)

Surveillance

years of age on or before August 1,

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2024 to attend Kindergarten in

Security Services

2024–2025.

Of critical importance in the layered approach to safety and security are School Resource Officer, Jasen Elam; Chardon Police; and the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office. Effective spring 2023, the District increased law enforcement presence on all school campuses. Our partnerships with local law enforcement are strong and invaluable. The impact of officers building positive relationships with students and staff is immeasurable.

Staff member Tony Madden provides yet another layer of security at the high school. Mr. Madden, hired in August 2023, serves as the school’s parking lot attendant and provides campus security services. He is committed to building positive relationships and is highly regarded by our students and staff.

registration for your PreK–12

Visit the District’s Registration page to enroll your PreK–12 student for 2024–25.

Registration questions can be directed to the District’s Board Office Secretary, Christine Creviston, at 440-286-0402.

Weapons detection technology—all campuses—Winter 2023

Michael P. Hanlon, Jr., Ph.D. Superintendent

Mr. Tony Madden

SRO Jasen Elam celebrates with Park Elementary students excited about their newly earned books from Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine, the school’s PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) system that recognizes taking responsibility, offering kindness, and perseverance.

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The District’s K–12 Pledge contest gives students the opportunity to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at regular board meetings.

Literacy Night Hosts Super Bowl Champ

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UPCOMING EVENTS ■

May 11—Senior Prom

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May 17—Last Day—Seniors

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May 20—Regular Board Meeting

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May 23—Last Day—PreK–11

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May 25—Class of 2024 Commencement Commencement held at Memorial Field. Tickets required (allotted per senior). Rain date is May 26.

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June 17—Regular Board Meeting

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June 27—Regular Board Meeting (to close FY) Event details, additional events, and board meeting agendas and minutes can be found on the District website at www.chardon www.chardonschools.org schools.org.

www.chardonschools.org

hardon Middle School’s Family Literacy Night on March 7 featured keynote speaker Malcolm Mitchell—a retired New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion turned children’s author and Founder/CEO of Share the Magic Foundation. Community participants included Geauga County Public Library, United Way Services of Geauga County, and editor-in-chief Dillon Stewart of Cleveland Magazine.

Malcolm drew a standing room only crowd in the school gymnasium. His presentation to students and their families focused on his lifelong challenges with reading, his desire to conquer those obstacles, and emergence as an author and promoter of literacy.

Throughout the evening, Malcolm interacted with students, tossing the football around and autographing free copies of his latest book— The Magician’s Hat. Event chair and English Language Arts teacher Cher Culliton stated, “It was an amazing night seeing students enjoying all of the literacy activities throughout the building then gathering to hear Malcolm’s message.

We got so many books to donate [through the book exchange] to the United Way, and students walked away with a personalized journal.”

Family Literacy Night was made possible by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Reaching All Students Through Language and Literacy grant awarded to Chardon Schools in 2022.

Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell brought the keynote magic to Family Literacy Night at CMS on March 7, speaking about the power of literacy, overcoming adversity, and teamwork.

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FISCAL STEWARDSHIP Total revenue increased 1.93%, or

Did you know Chardon Schools taxpayers

$696,231, annually during the past 4-year

are protected by Ohio House Bill 920

period and, according to our State-filed

throughout this forecast? HB 920, which

November 2023 six-month forecast, is

passed in 1976, added a tax rollback to

projected to increase 1.2%, or $437,580,

shield property owners from unvoted tax

annually through Fiscal Year 2028. Real

increases, including property tax inflation.

estate has the most projected average

Under HB 920, as property values rise,

annual variance compared to the historical

tax rates auto-adjust to prevent exorbitant

average at $506,292.

spikes in property tax bills.

Deb M. Armbuster Treasurer/CFO

Sources of Revenue Over Time 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

REVENUE SOURCES STATE FUNDING

STATE FUNDING

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

2023

2023

2028

General Property Tax (Real Estate)

$ 24,816,872

$ 25,698,741

State Funding

$ 5,668,016

$ 6,335,380

State Share of Local Property Taxes $ 2,576,492

$ 2,561,211

Public Utility Personal Property

$ 1,125,361

$ 2,640,172

All Other Operating Revenues

$ 2,526,659

$ 1,973,795

Other Sources

$ 1,472,379

$ 1,165,730

Income Taxes

$

$

0

0

2028

2019–28 Year-Over-Year Revenues $50 MILLION

$40 MILLION

$30

$37,891,582

$38,223,872

$38,185,779

$41,345,890

$39,778,961

$39,700,523

$39,982,722

$40,375,029

$10

$37,004,483

$20 MILLION

$35,400,854

MILLION

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

MILLION

$0

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Much gratitude to Chardon Family Eyecare, Geauga Park District and Judge Eklund for their generous donations of eclipse glasses and viewers to our schools to help Hilltoppers safely view the total solar eclipse on April 8.

63 Honor Society Inductees

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ixty-three Chardon High School students earned the prestigious honor of induction into service-

oriented national honor societies this

Thank you Chardon community for your support earlier this spring of Chardon High School Drama’s musical production of “Into the Woods”.

school year.

National Technical Honor Society and National Honor Society are nationwide organizations that recognize students who meet and maintain specific academic criteria and exemplify the pillars of Scholarship, Community Service, Leadership and Character.

Congratulations to CHS seniors Congratulations to Chardon High School senior Charlotte Jons on her Ohio Speech and Debate Association State Champ title in Program Oral Interpretation for a second consecutive year.

Taylor Holt and Nathan Suszynski and junior Thomas Cole who were inducted into Auburn Career Center’s NTHS chapter on February 21 and to the 60 CHS sophomores and juniors sworn into the CHS chapter of NHS on March 6.

A full list of this year’s NHS inductees can be found on the Chardon Schools news page at chardonschools.org

www.chardonschools.org

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NEW K–2 REPORT CARDS SUPPORT GROWTH MINDSET

Dr. Klein stated, “Traditional grades do not accurately reflect student progress. Our revised report card works to ensure that we are accurately communicating student progress with

EXCITING NEWS —with the District’s

student performance in a more detailed

rollout of standards-based report cards,

manner than traditional letter grade

K–2 students and families are no longer

reporting can accomplish. M represents

seeing a simple A, B, C, D or F letter

initially launched in Kindergarten

mastery, P indicates progressing

grade for each subject area. The new

beginning in 2022–23 followed by

towards mastery with some support,

assessments, which retain full alignment

first- and second-grade in 2023–24.

and E indicates emerging with difficulty

with State standards, support an

The rollout continues with plans for the

and a need for practice and support.

enhanced growth mindset, providing a

RESEARCH AND ROLLOUT

future implementation for the fourth

The District’s research and development

grade.

clearer picture of a student’s areas of mastery, progress and emerging growth.

our students and families.”

The revised report cards were

third-grade launch in 2024–25 and

of standards-based reporting was

Munson Elementary principal

initiated in 2021 by a committee of

Mathew Prezioso stated, “The goal of

WHAT IS A STANDARDS-BASED REPORT CARD?

Chardon elementary school teachers,

our development committee was to

intervention specialists and admini-

give parents an accurate picture of

Standards-based reporting identifies

strators working with consultants from

where their children are with each

clearly defined learning targets within

the Educational Services Center of

standard. We have done this with the

each subject area, communicating

Northeast Ohio together with Assistant

new report card. I have received much

Superintendent Ed Klein.

positive feedback from our families.”

$3.5M in Washington Street Renovations in ’24

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hardon Schools has embarked on the design and phase planning for the Washington Street 400, 402 and 404 property. The acquisition of this property was approved by the Chardon Board of Education in May 2023.

The new property allows for a multi-year relocation project, consolidating transportation, maintenance and business affairs operations into one shared location.

Recent developments include the Chardon BOE’s approval at the April 2, 2024 special board meeting of Millstone Management Group as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) and of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) for the design.

The District anticipates approximately $3.5 million in renovations to the Washington Street site by the end of this calendar year.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Affairs Steven Kofol elaborated, “Among the undertakings the

District hopes to complete as part of that $3.5 million investment is the site work—all underground utilities potentially the rear building and the transportation section of the front building.”

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CHARDON LOCAL SCHOOLS 428 NORTH STREET CHARDON, OH 44024

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHARDON, OH PERMIT #13

CHARDON L OCA L S C H OOL S

openlines A Newsletter for the Chardon Community

Mission Statement We commit to high achievement for all students.

#WeAreChardon

BOARD OF EDUCATION

www.chardonschools.org

PRESIDENT Karen L. Blankenship

440-285-4052

VICE PRESIDENT Todd R. Albright

E-MAIL communications@ communications@chardonschools.org chardonschools.org

MEMBERS Andrea L. Clark James E. Midyette III Carmen J. Paterniti

@ChardonSchools

SUPERINTENDENT Michael P. Hanlon, Jr., Ph.D. TREASURER/CFO Deb M. Armbruster

@ChardonHilltoppers

EDITOR Kelly A. Misch Communications Director

@Chardon_Schools

The spring sports season is in full swing.

Go Hilltoppers!

Tune in to News Channel 5 at 11:30 AM on May 11 to catch Chardon High School’s 2024 Academic Challenge Team—Juniors Connor Mosher, Lily Meyer and Kayla Schneider—in action against Marion L. Steele High School and Rootstown High School.