QUALITY PROFILE
2023-2024
Letter from the Superintendent
Dear Community Members,
As I reflect on the 2023-2024 school year, I am filled with immense pride in our district's achievements and the dedication of our staff and students. This Quality Profile captures the essence of our journey, highlighting significant accomplishments across academics, student supports, finances, and facilities. Our staff members have tirelessly fostered essential skills and mindsets such as empathy, communication, adaptability, responsibility, and critical thinking in our preschoolers through high school seniors. This commitment to excellence is evident in every classroom and program. We celebrate our students' grit and perseverance, qualities that shine through their achievements and growth. Our staff's relentless dedication ensures a nurturing and challenging environment where every student can thrive. This profile provides a glimpse into the heart of our district a community driven by passion and commitment to education. Together, we continue to build a brighter future, one student at a time. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We look forward to another year of success and growth.
With gratitude and pride,
BCSD Administrative Team
Jason A. Niedermeyer, Superintendent
Mark Pepera, CFO/Treasurer
Kathleen A. Verhest, Assistant Superintendent
Patrick Geschke, Director of Educational Programs and Innovation
Donna Spencer, Assistant Director of Education
Claire Trujillo, Assistant Director of Instruction & Intervention
Ellen Foster, Instructional Coordinator
Heidi Armentrout, Director of Personnel
Dr Stephanie Morgan, Director of Student Services
Leann Alferio, Special Education Coordinator
Jenn Young, Special Education Coordinator
Peggy Wolfe, Management Information Specialist
Kent Morgan, Director of Business Affairs
Lori Sinick, Transportation Coordinator
Robert Kelly, Facilities Operations Manager
Robert Verhest, Assistant Facilities Operations Manager
Roger West, Assistant Tech Director
Dawn Allar, Community Relations Coordinator
BCSD Board of Education
Mary Weinhauer, Board of Education President
Kim Goessler, Board of Education Vice President
Glenn Gilley, Board Member
Alison Hanudel, Board Member
Laura Mullen, Board Member
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Our District At A Glance
6,101 STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL TO 12TH GRADE
88.5%
EIGHT BUILDINGS FOR PRE-K TO HIGH SCHOOL: Applewood
Serving the Communities of Brunswick, Brunswick Hills & Portions of Hinkley Township
SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF BRUNSWICK,
HILLS & PORTIONS OF HINKLEY TOWNSHIP
EMPLOYEES
BUSES IN
FOOD SERVICE
Finances and Facilites
The Brunswick City School District prioritizes responsible and transparent stewardship of taxpayer funding. As part of our strategic plan, BCSD is committed to maintaining a sustainable and transparent financial framework. This commitment ensures that district resources align with our school district’s mission and vision to foster a lifelong love of learning through rigorous curriculum, relevant experiences, and meaningful relationships.
AUDITOR OF STATE AWARD
In 2024, the Brunswick City School District continued its legacy of excellence in financial management by earning the prestigious Auditor of State Award for the fourth consecutive year. This accolade, achieved by less than 6% of public entities, highlights our commitment to transparent and strategic spending. Through rigorous adherence to fiscal laws and auditing standards, BCSD consistently demonstrates exceptional financial reporting. Our proactive approach ensures that every dollar spent aligns with our mission to provide quality education.
RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION
BCSD achieves top-tier academic results, ranking in the upper 30% for academic achievement while maintaining fiscal responsibility by spending less per student compared to the state average and comparable districts.
MANAGED ASSETS
$261,424,875 $261,424,875
6 elementary school buildings, 1 middle school, 1 high school, 230 acres
FUNDING SOURCES
Similar to all Ohio public schools, over 60% of our funding comes from local tax dollars BCSD raises these funds through operating levies
The Brunswick City School District is the 3rd largest employer in Medina County and the largest school district. In the 2023-2024 school year, 701 employees served 6,101 students.
Auditor of State Keith Faber presented the BCSD Treasurer’s Office the Auditor of State Award
SPENDING VS. ACHIEVEMENT
By effectively utilizing resources and implementing innovative educational strategies, BCSD consistently exceeds state academic standards, demonstrating that quality education does not necessarily equate to higher spending. This efficient allocation of funds ensures that every dollar is strategically invested in programs and initiatives that directly contribute to the educational success of our students. Our district serves as a model for balancing financial responsibility with educational excellence. We are committed to providing top-tier education in a cost-effective manner. This approach highlights our dedication to both academic success and fiscal responsibility, establishing us as a leader in delivering high-value education to our community.
UNDERSTANDING CASH RESERVES
Brunswick City School District keeps less money in reserve than the state average and other nearby districts. This shows our commitment to using funds efficiently. We spend money directly on current educational needs rather than keeping extra savings, which demonstrates our careful use of taxpayer dollars. We only ask for the money we really need to provide the best education for our students. Our lean budget reflects our dedication to being financially responsible while meeting our students' needs.
INVESTING IN EXCELLENCE: OUR EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATORS
BCSD’s outstanding academic achievements are directly tied to our highly qualified and experienced educational team. Our staff's dedication to excellence is reflected in both their professional credentials and their commitment to continuous growth 16YEARS 16YEARS
The return on our investment in quality educators is evident in our district's achievements:
Placement in the top 30% of Ohio public schools
4.5-star overall district rating on the most recent state report card
Consistently high student achievement scores
Strong graduation rates
Professional Excellence: Our staff consistently pursues advanced training and certifications. Teachers regularly integrate innovative teaching methods and technology. Many serve as mentors and curriculum leaders.
By maintaining competitive compensation and professional development opportunities, we ensure that Brunswick students continue to benefit from exceptional educators who choose to build their careers in our district. Our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent directly impacts student success and maintains our tradition of educational excellence.
Academic Achievement
Students are at the center of everything we do! BCSD strives to prepare all students to communicate effectively, think critically, show empathy, demonstrate adaptability, and live responsibly by developing meaningful relationships while providing engaging and impactful instruction so that all students can pursue their dreams and achieve their aspirations.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Every year, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce releases report cards for public schools to provide insights into school performance. These report cards highlight achievements, pinpoint areas for improvement, and encourage community discussions. The report cards use standardized test data to assess achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation rates, and early literacy. Schools receive ratings from 1 to 5 stars, with 3 stars meeting state standards, 4 stars exceeding them, and 5 stars significantly exceeding expectations. Proudly, the Brunswick City School District earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars for the 2023-2024 school year!
While report cards are important, they only provide one piece of information. Our school district has many positive things happening every day that cannot be measured by a report card. These are the intangibles that make BCSD a unique and special place.
Congratulations to the students and staff of our district for their relentless dedication to excellence!
Only 169 of Ohio’s 607 public school districts earned an overall rating of 4.5 or higher, placing our district in the top 30% of public schools in
EXCELLENCE IN ACTION
Excellence in Action
2024 National Merit Commended Scholars
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BY THE NUMBERS
18 Advanced Placement Classes Offered
6 Project Lead the Way Classes offered at the Middle School & High School 450+ students participated in College Credit Plus during the 21-22 school year.
Class of 2022: 3 National Merit Finalists & 2 National Merit Commended Students
Class of 2023: 4 National Merit Finalists & 2 National Merit Commended Students
Class of 2024: 6 National Merit Commended Students
30 High School Course offerings connected to Art, Music, and Physical Education
Class of 2021: 97.7% Graduation Rate
PROJECT LEAD THE WAY: Brunswick Middle School and Brunswick High School have been honored as Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools for the 2023-2024 academic year, underscoring our dedication to preparing students for the future through rigorous curriculum and relevant experiences. This prestigious recognition highlights our exceptional implementation of PLTW's curriculum, which equips students with real-world skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
BHS students participate in a PLTW Biomedical career day
By offering comprehensive engineering and biomedical science pathways, we empower students with the in-demand knowledge and skills essential for a rapidly evolving world. Our schools' commitment to increasing access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs places us among an elite group of schools nationwide. In collaboration with the Medina County Career Center, these courses cultivate problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative skills, ensuring our students are well-prepared for both higher education and career success.
PROGRAMS SUPPORTING BCSD ACADEMIC GOALS:
AVID: (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program that helps students prepare for college and careers It provides challenging classes and support to help them succeed and reach their full potential
EARLY BIRD FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Learning a second language in middle school can greatly benefit students Multilingual students often do better in reading and math At Brunswick Middle School, 8th graders can take high school-level Spanish, French, and German This helps improve their grades and lets them explore more classes in high school, including AP courses for college credit.
SWEET TREATS
: Brunswick High School's program helps special education students gain real-world job skills through a hands-on baking business. They learn by taking orders, baking, and delivering, preparing for life beyond school.
EXCEL GIFTED PROGRAM: The Brunswick City School District identifies and supports students with high ability. We provide a special curriculum to help them develop talents, explore interests, seek challenges, and appreciate their abilities, fostering lifelong learning.
103 Brunswick High School students earned recognition by the College Board as Advanced Placement Scholars. This prestigious honor highlights their exceptional performance in Advanced Placement exams, where they demonstrated mastery of college-level coursework and critical thinking skills. Such success is a testament to the students' dedication and perseverance, as well as the support from their families and the Brunswick City School District staff.
Excellence in Service
Sixteen Brunswick High School students embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). As part of the LLS Student Visionaries of the Year program, they aimed to raise awareness and funds for blood cancer research. Through innovative events and community outreach, they garnered immense local support. Their dedication paid off, raising over $85,000 a testament to their commitment and the generosity of Brunswick residents. Only two student groups in northeast Ohio raised more. Additionally, team captain Maggie Romano earned the Pillar of Research Award from LLS.
Our district is committed to honoring those who choose service over self. Whether hosting military commitment ceremonies for students or supporting active duty families, BCSD celebrates military service.
Brunswick High School proudly hosted the 3rd Annual Medina County Military Commitment Ceremony, honoring 21 students joining the armed forces. The event featured a keynote by Commander Mike Dovilla, U.S. Navy Reserve, and was organized by BHS Counselor Jaime Camino, with Principal and Army Veteran Keith Merrill hosting.
Brunswick High School also received the prestigious Purple Star designation, recognizing our dedication to supporting military-connected students and their families through relocations and transitions.
The BHS Students honored include: Teddy Gurtsak( United States Air Force ROTC Scholarship), Torron Phillips (United States Marine Corps), Manny Popov (United States Marine Corps), Brian Rhodes (United States Navy), Andrew Tick (United States Navy) and Dylan Witkowski (United States Marine Corps)
Tech Tuesdays is a program that fosters intergenerational connections and community service. Brunswick High School students involved in VOFT (Volunteer Opportunities For Teens) collaborate with senior citizens from the Medina County Office of Older Adults, helping them navigate technology. Seniors gain valuable skills while our student volunteers develop empathy, adaptability, and responsibility. The most rewarding outcome is the meaningful relationships that transcend generations. This initiative exemplifies the spirit of community, as our students make a difference, one Tech Tuesday at a time.
BCSD offers numerous service opportunities for students, fostering a culture of empathy and community involvement. From K-Kids at Huntington Elementary School to Key Club at BHS, students across all buildings actively engage in volunteering. These experiences not only contribute to the community but also help students develop leadership and a sense of responsibility, preparing them to be compassionate and proactive citizens.
BHS student Maggie Romano is recognized at the LLS Awards Dinner
BHS students help seniors with technology
EXCELLENCE IN ACTION
Excellence in Arts
PERFORMING ARTS HIGHLIGHTS:
BCSD’s theater departments had an active year BHS performed Aesop's Fables, Mean Girls, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
BMS staged Frozen Junior, including a matinee performance for community senior citizens. Attendees enjoyed coffee and donuts before the performance and had an opportunity to meet the cast
Kidder Elementary launched a Drama Club, introducing younger students to acting and performance. These productions engaged various audiences, from kindergarteners to senior citizens.
VISUAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS: Brunswick High School students Ella Barker, Raegan Remendowski, Chloe Bowser, and Sydney Gensler earned the “Best of Medina County Art and Law Contest ” Izahia Bailey and Kainoa Piskach earned “Best of Medina County” in the High School Art Show BMS PLTW teacher Megan Gubanich and Art Teacher Kellly Harrison created a STEAM curriculum that combines science, technology, engineering, and math with art. Huntington Elementary School Art Teacher Erin Kraly earned the Division Level Award for elementary school by the Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA)
ORCHESTRA HIGHLIGHTS
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Brunswick High School orchestras had a successful year, participating in the Baldwin Wallace String Festival and earning high ratings at the OMEA State Orchestra Event. The Freshman Orchestra received additional instruction from a CWRU professor.
Brunswick Orchestra Buddies pairs high school orchestra students with middle schoolers for mentoring. This program helps younger students improve their musical skills while older students gain teaching experience and leadership skills. It also strengthens connections between orchestra students across different grades, creating a more unified program
BAND HIGHLIGHTS
The Brunswick School District's band program achieved notable success
The Marching Band received a Superior Rating at the OMEA State Finals, while the High School jazz band performed at Ashland University's Maplerock Jazz Festival. At the middle school level, 51 students participated in the Medina County Solo & Ensemble Festival, earning
mostly Superior ratings. The district also fosters leadership opportunities, allowing 7th-grade band students to audition for positions as "8th Grade Leaders" in the high school Marching Band, with 20 8th-graders participating in the most recent season
CHOIR HIGHLIGHTS: The Brunswick High School choir program had a busy year The Mixed Symphonic Choir participated in Baldwin Wallace University's Annual Choral Gala Two students, Grace Wieland and Caelyn Holbert, showcased their talents at the Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square. The Madrigals Choir performed at various community events, including a Christmas party for the Medina County Department of Older Adults.
Huntington Visual Arts earned 1st Place at the Medina County Fair.
The BHS cast of Mean Girls
Marching Band earns Superior Rating at 1st competition
Camerata Orchestra performs at BW String Festival
Madrigals perform at Christmas Party
Excellence in Athletics
The 2023-2024 Brunswick High School boys' soccer team earned the United Soccer Coaches High School Team Academic Award! This prestigious honor recognizes teams with a GPA of 3.25 or higher, highlighting our Blue Devils' commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom. This is the third time in four years the team has earned this academic award, and they were one of only nine boys' teams in Ohio to receive this distinction!
The varsity boys lacrosse team set school records for consecutive wins in a season and total wins in a season. Senior Will Fink was recognized by the Greater Cleveland Conference as the Player of the Year
The BHS boys varsity basketball team had a record-breaking season! They shattered the school record for wins in a single season They became only the fifth team in Medina County history to reach the Elite 8. They fell just 3 points short of advancing to the Final Four, losing to the eventual state champions. They rank 2nd in Medina County history for wins in a season and 2nd for total points scored.
The girls varsity volleyball team won a share of the Greater Cleveland Conference for the fourth straight year. Senior Sara Krizsa was recognized as Player of the Year.
The girls gymnastics team won the Greater Cleveland Conference and earned their fifth consecutive trip to the state gymnastics meet. Senior Bri Sivy was recognized as Gymnast of the Year
This year, Brunswick High School introduced an exciting new event: a Unified Sports competition Students of all abilities competed against students from area schools These events, part of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program, promotes inclusivity and breaks down barriers between students with and without disabilities. By participating in this nationwide movement, Brunswick students are helping create a more accepting school environment where everyone can compete and have fun together
The boys varsity volleyball team won a share of the Greater Cleveland Conference
Facilities Update
EXCELLENCE IN ACTION
Exciting changes are unfolding in our district! In May 2023, voters approved a construction bond, launching the final phase of the Brunswick City School District (BCSD) Master Facilities Plan. This approval allowed BCSD to leverage $42.6 million in state funds, significantly reducing the project’s cost to taxpayers in our community. The bond funds several major initiatives: building a new high school, demolishing Towslee Elementary and Willetts Middle School, adding parking lots and classrooms at Kidder and Applewood, relocating the Maintenance Department and Board of Education, and enhancing the new high school campus. Importantly, these construction funds come exclusively from the bond, as Ohio law separates operating levies from construction projects.
gh school construction is unfolding in phases. The first hase, design development, has been completed with active put from stakeholders to ensure the new building corporates best educational practices. In early September, mmunity members met the construction team, including henDesign Architecture (TDA) and Hammond Construction, ho are partnering with the district and the Ohio Facilities onstruction Commission (OFCC) to design and build the w school. In late September, a Community Educational Visioning session garnered feedback from stakeholders about the design and function of the new building. Throughout the fall, TDA met with high school staff and students to gather further insights into the design.
Currently, TDA is in the schematic design phase, finalizing the school's footprint, infrastructure, utilities, and layout. Input from students, staff, and the community remains a top priority. In early May, BCSD hosted a Community Construction Update where attendees received updates on the design process, interior layout, and construction timeline. A “visual preference activity” allowed community feedback on the exterior design, and over 1,000 survey submissions were collected via social media for those who could not attend.
This spring marked a significant milestone as Willetts Middle School and Towslee Elementary School underwent abatement and demolition. The new high school will be built on the Towslee campus. BCSD collaborated with the Brunswick Historical Society to preserve meaningful artifacts and offered community members bricks from Towslee to keep as mementos. Site work will continue on the Willetts and Towslee properties to prepare for the new Maintenance Department and high school construction.
At the Educational Visioning meeting, attendees brainstormed ideas for the new high school's layout.
TDA Architect Scott Alleman seeks Brunswick High School staff input on the new high school design
BHS seniors propose design layouts to TDA architects during Senior Seminar.
