Garfield Heights City Schools Newsletter - Winter 2011

GARFIELD HEIGHTS CITY SCHOOLS 5640 Briarcliff Drive Garfield Heights, OH 44125

A publication designed to keep an open line of communication with the community.

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Superintendent’s Message

www.gar fieldheightscityschools.com District Spotlight:

GHHS Students of Service Committed to Making a World of Difference Garfield Heights City Schools is home to many student organizations, but one that truly has become devoted to giving back to the community is the High School’s Students of Service (S.O.S), a student-based organization that has, for nearly 15 years, volunteered to serve and make a world of difference.

are regular kids, having fun, who like to help others. Students can learn more about S.O.S. by attending a meeting or visiting the community service office in Room 142.

A very special thanks to Ms. Karen Buckley, who has advised the organization since its inception, and who has been a dedicated Garfield Heights instructor for more than thirty years.

Open to all High School students who wish to volunteer, Students of Service is a group responsible for the initiation of several notable events and projects throughout the school year, including the K-3 Carnival, Garfield Clean-Up, Adopt-aFamily, and the yearly Winterfest Dance. Each one of these special projects underscores the essence of Students of Service, which is to provide a chance for students to apply what they learn in the classroom into meaningful service within their community.

Begun in 1997 as a student organization, the group eventually helped to advance the creation of an elective, for-credit course called Community Service. S.O.S. meets during the first Wednesday of every month in the cafeteria at 2:05 p.m., but their main purpose is in carrying out special projects that help others.

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“I love it…helping others out,” says Ryan Outler, the current S.O.S. president and a senior at the high school. Ryan is one example of many who have become four-year members of the group, and claims that S.O.S. is a group of students who

Pictured is-- Ryan Outler (President) Terrez Sanders (Vice President), Imani Yahya (Secretary) Tametria McGee (Public Relations) Kelly Curley (Executive Board)

Volume 5

Issue 2

Garfield Heights City Schools

The first quarter has come and gone and already we have much to be proud of in our district. At the high school, students continue to academically excel, and to learn the importance of community service through student groups like Students of Service and Tune into GHTV to watch new programming on the district!

National Honor Society. Under new leadership at the middle school, a new and enhanced environment of student leadership is being established. Staff and students at Maple Leaf and Elmwood continue to watch with excitement as their construction additions take shape. And despite being hit hard by unavoidable personnel and program cuts, our William Foster students still shine.

has shown remarkable support. We will need that sense of “we’re all in this together” to get through this rough patch.

The Garfield Heights Board of Education has resolved to keep moving forward with a return to the ballot in February 2011 for an operating levy. The levy will request the same amount as in November, $3.9 million annually for the next 5 years. Many in the community may be wondering why now? Why now when the economy is still on its heels and households are struggling to pay bills? The answer boils down to this: without new operating money, the gains that have been made in student achievement over the past few years will erode and may not be recovered for years to come. We have already made significant cuts ($4 million over the past two years) to those “outer edge” areas.

Without the passage of new money, those “outer edge” cuts will migrate into the heart of our programming for students.

The first quarter has also been a busy one. Throughout the quarter, the district treasurer and I met with numerous school and community groups where we outlined the challenges that lay ahead for our district. Although we are making progress in closing the gap as far as getting spending in line with estimated revenues for fiscal year 2011, we are expecting a shortfall of $1.6 million for FY 2012 and over $6 million in FY 2013. That along with likely, but still undefined state funding cuts of a magnitude we have never before experienced, dictates that more changes are in store for Garfield Heights City Schools.

Maintaining a strong school system is vital to maintaining Garfield Heights as a desirable place to live. It is not an exaggeration to say that the fate of the quality of education our current generation of students receives is at risk unless the community supports providing new revenue to our district.

Together, we will continue to work hard at providing the best opportunities for our children.

Superintendent Linda N. Reid

In past difficult financial times for the district, the community has pulled together to weather the storm and

Our district has always prided itself on the comprehensive programming it offers to students of all needs, starting with preschool on up through high school. These services, along with educational and co-curricular programs are in jeopardy if we move into the next few years without new revenue from a levy passage.

www.gar fieldheightscityschools.com

Board Brief

GARFIELD HEIGHTS CITY SCHOOLS BOARD OF Robert A. Dobies, Sr. EDUCATION President

Christine A. Kitson

June A. Geraci

Joseph M. Juby

Vice President Member Member

Liaison to City Curriculum & Instruction Board Representative to Liaison for Student Activities

Parent Involvement Liaison Cuyahoga Valley Career Center District Liaison

The current Garfield Heights Board of Education for The Garfield Heights City Schools can be characterized as a Board that is ‘committed,’ on a number of levels, to the community of Garfield Heights, and in making certain that the district will provide the best education possible for its students. For this edition of the ‘Board Brief,’ some of those commitments will be outlined in a brief manner. If further elaboration is necessary on any of these commitments, each of the members of this Board are committed to getting that information to you.

First and foremost, the district is committed to providing the highest level of education to its students as possible. Despite the failure of recent attempts at new operating money, which ultimately means reduced programming and limited educational opportunities for students, our students continue to excel. In fact, looking at our student population, you might say that despite the funding decreases, our students are holding their own. The Board is committed to seeing these students advance from one grade to the next, with as much educational opportunity as the budget can allow. You, the community, play a great role in helping to fund enhanced educational experiences for our great students.

Next, apart from its students, creating a positive learning environment, from bricksand-mortar improvements to teachers, is a commitment that the community can expect from this Board. If you look at the construction enhancements at Maple Leaf Intermediate School and Elmwood Elementary School, it’s easy to understand

Talking Finance$

Finally, the district is committed to transparency. In order to make our meetings more accessible, the Board has rotated meeting locations on a regular basis, so that you can attend. Most recently, we met at Elmwood Elementary and the Middle School.

Doing so is a direct effort to making us responsive to you. Furthermore, the Board is committed to listening to the community—and it has been for the last several years.

When in the past, you asked the Board to make cuts to district operations before asking voters for new money, it complied. In the last two years, more than $4 million has been cut from our $35 million budget, including the cutting of more than 70 staff members. Without new money for the schools, unfortunately, MORE CUTS WILL COME. Some will presume the suggestion of additional needed cuts is the normal threat, but you, will ultimately tell us what kind of school district you want to have in Garfield Heights and our decisions will be reflective of that. The need for new money is truly NOT a threat. The need is REAL. As a Board, we remain committed to doing the very best we can with the direction and objectives our community gives to us. We remain optimistic, that as a “TEAM,” we will meet our aspirations.

GO BULLDOGS!

With district financial bulldog, Allen Sluka, Treasurer.

What we Know What You Should Know About Currently, the GHCS receives 55% of its What We Don’t Know

The financial picture for public school districts across the state of Ohio is in a current state of uncertainty. As some of you may know, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the method by which public school districts are funded to be unconstitutional.

Until inaction becomes action by our lawmakers to remedy the funding mechanism, we are mandated to ask voters for more money or else implement drastic, painful cuts to operations.

Member Community Liaison to Faith-based Initiatives Legislative Liaison

why this Board is excited about the future of education in Garfield Heights. These improvements are overdue, with the growth in our student population, and come at NO COST to the taxpayers of Garfield Heights. A positive learning environment also means attracting and keeping good teachers in our district. GHCS has GREAT teachers, who have sacrificed in light of levy failures. Despite budget shortfalls, the Board remains committed to maintaining an enlivened school environment.

District Financial Report:

Allen Sluka Treasurer/CFO

Gary Wolske

overall funding from the State of Ohio.

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What we Don’t Know

Whether or not the state will continue to fund the district at that level?

The State currently faces an $8 billion budget shortfall, and an administration committed to not raising taxes to making up that money.

Where the cuts in state spending will come from to make up that $8 billion gap?

The State budget cycle ends June 30, 2011.

How deeply the above cuts will affect the funding of public education in Ohio?

State law requires local school districts to balance their budgets by the end of the year.

To what degree the district will receive money, or be forced to cut even more?

The Garfield Heights Board of Education has made the commitment to balance the budget, no matter what.

What the district will look like for students in terms of educational programs and opportunities?

All of the district financial information is available to the public at anytime, online or by contacting the district.

Whether or not the community can access the information and understand its impact?

The GHCS has cut over $4 million from its budget over the last two years, including the cutting of 70 teachers or staff and across-theboard wage freezes.

What the long-term impact of these cuts The task of financial planning for school will be on our students’ education? districts can be challenging at times, and unlike family financial planning, The Board of Education has placed an operating The value that the community places on its districts are subject to prevailing winds levy on the February ballot in 2011… students’ education? of the political and economic climate.

Ultimately, You Control what we “Know.”

Consequently, there are certain things that school districts know, and can plan for, and other things that District Financial Information Available Online! remain uncertain in the world of school finance. To Visit www.garfieldheightscityschools.com, Allen Sluka the upper right is a summary of those, “knowns,” Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer and click to Center for Finance, for all the and “un-knowns.”

Garfield Heights City Schools info that you need!

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Middle School Students Truly Taking Ownership of their Building

part of something special after the first nine-weeks of school, and are coming together in newly formed leadership capacities as well to help improve student growth.

With the onset of the second quarter, new ideas for student leadership and involvement are well underway that were implemented early in the school year for students of Garfield Heights Middle School. A brief walk through the facility and some friendly interaction with the “student leadership team,” reveals a renewed spirit for success and achievement…. and also a sense that the students truly feel like they are taking ownership of their school.

“The atmosphere at GHMS is definitely taking a turn in a positive direction,” says Middle School instructor Kelli Buttolph. “We are focusing more of our attention on our students who are doing their job on a daily basis. These students are starting to see that their positive choices have rewards and that they are role models to other students.”

Voluntary programs that place students at the heart of their implementation have taken hold in the building that is home to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Among them is the ‘student leadership team,’ a cross-section of the building student population whose volunteers have been the catalyst for several new, student-driven programs. Right now, the student leadership team is sponsoring a canned food drive to gather food for homeless people, a Toys for Tots initiative, as well as a Coats for Kids drive. Currently, eighteen students are part of this team, and the group only stands to grow in the future.

“This is not my building,” says newly hired building principal Joe Nicklos.

“This is an amazing group of kids who voluntarily came together to start programs that encourage students to get more involved in their building and their community.”

Other student-led volunteer initiatives include the creation of a student ambassadors club, which is a select group of students who greet visitors to the building and escort them to their destination inside. Student ambassadors also greet and engage new students in the district. Even more, an “Art Club” has formed, devoted to giving a makeover to the walls of the Middle School with creative paintings, decorative murals and other forms of artwork.

In all, new student-driven and teacher-driven initiatives are sparking a renewed excitement for the Middle School experience in the Garfield Heights City Schools.

Not only are students learning in a fresh, enhanced atmosphere, they’re The GHCS Board of Education hosting its taking ownership, and pride, in the regular monthly meeting at the Middle School. work they’re performing. For more information about the Middle School, please contact them at 216-475-8105.

Construction update! CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAU

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Beginning in January, student leaders plan to deliver an authentic ‘council report,’ to city leaders at one of the City of Garfield Heights’ regular meetings of City Council. Beyond this, student leaders have already begun to discuss community service opportunities for next school year as well.

Lacy Todorovich and Jessica Neundorf stand in front of student-made artwork for their building.

This blend of student-driven initiatives and programs has helped to enliven the overall mood of not only the student body, but the teaching staff. Clearly, teachers feel

GHMS students give an update to the Board of Education at a recent board meeting.

OSFC funded.

No cost to the district.

The gymnasium walls are completed and the floor has been poured at Maple Leaf.

The addition at Elmwood is nearing completion.

Maple Leaf Students Earn “Bulldog Coins” Students at Maple Leaf Intermediate School are being further incentivized to improve their grades and enhance their study habits, with ‘Bulldog Coins,’ pretend currency that, once saved-up, permits them to exchange the coins for rewards, prizes or extra food.

“This program is part of our “Positive Behavior Intervention Support” approach that rewards good behavior and positive study habits,” says building principal, Gwen Abraham. “At this point in the school year, with the first quarter behind us, teachers in our building are already seeing the positive results.”

Specifically, students at Maple Leaf can earn ‘Bulldog Coins,’ which are $.50 cent sized plastic coins, for various academic accomplishments. Students who receive an “A” on an important test, who complete all of their homework assignments for a given length of time, or who pass accelerated reading examinations are all eligible for ‘Bulldog Coins.’ Any student who demonstrates a marked academic improvement are eligible for ‘Bulldog Coins’ as well.

When enough ‘bulldog coins’ are accumulated by a student, the opportunity to spend those coins on special gifts that have been donated to the school, is presented at lunch time in the school’s gymnasium.

Students typically purchase dollar-store items, and sometimes, have the chance to purchase extra icecream.

In all, the program is designed to show the value of hard work, to incentivize students to go ‘above-andbeyond’ and to academically perform. Best of all, similar programs are underway at other buildings in the district. You can learn more about the ‘Bulldog Coin’ program by calling Maple Leaf at 216-662-3800.

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