Changes to create ‘intense’ year at HN

DOLA — The coming school year may be the “most intense” of Doug Robert’s career, the Hardin Northern superintendent told his board of education Wednesday.
To meet better meet the changes, the district will see a change of schedule.
The unusual stress Roberts referred to comes from not only improvements set in place locally, he said, but from the new programs enacted by the state. One new program for the coming year is the third grade guarantee. The state has considered enacting a guarantee to parents that their third graders will be reading at a certain level before they advance to the fourth grade.
Yet when the legislature finally took action on the new regulations, it gave the local districts just a month to set the program in place, said Roberts. The board must have a policy adopted before Sept. 30, he said.
The program calls for intense evaluation of students in K-3, he continued.
“Those not up to the standards are to have intense redemption by a teacher with a reading endorsement,” said Roberts. “This is not a bad thing, but I wish they had given us more time to implement it.”
The school is also learning the new teacher evaluation system introduced by the state, said Roberts. Again, said the superintendent, the system is an improvement, but will mean a lot of anxiety and work.
“Will this help teachers to be better? Will this help them to better teach kids? Sure,” he said. “And we want to do the best job we can at educating the kids of this district. Can we do this? Sure we can.”
To better work as a team to meet the challenges of education in the coming year, classes will be dismissed at 2:33 p.m. each Thursday to allow teachers to meet and interpret data.
“For most students, this will not be that big a deal,” said Roberts.
The members of the volleyball team could have time between the end of classes and a match or practice. During those times, said Roberts, the team members will be expected to wait at study tables at the school.
Food may be made available for them to purchase before they continue with matches, but the school wants the girls to remain in the building to avoid any accidents which might result from them being away from the building, said Roberts.
In other matters, family passes are being offered which would admit holders to all home events. The tickets cost $250 and can be ordered at the school’s main or athletic offices. Adult passes are also available for $110 which admit one adult to any home event. Hardin Northern students can individually purchase tickets to all home events for $50. Senior citizen passes for one person can be purchased for $70. The purchaser must be 62 years or older to qualify for the rate.
The board named Bo Walter as its newest member. Walter had resigned in March and was replaced by his daughter-in-law, Jenna Walter. Bo replaces David Bame, who resigned last month.
The board also approved a resolution supporting the Apollo Career Center one-mill bond issue and tax levy.
“This needs to happen,” said board member Mike Purdy, who represents Hardin Northern on the Apollo board.
He noted the Apollo facility is 50 years old and needs more classroom space to provide education to adult and traditional students.
Also at the meeting, elementary Principal Sally Henrick told the board more than 1,000 items were given to Hardin Northern by the Dunkirk Community Bible School. The supplies will be given to students who are in need of assistance, she said.
Roberts also reported on a program being used by the county schools which would allow cooperation between Kenton, Upper Scioto Valley and Riverdale to transport students on buses to save costs. Ada will be busing Hardin Northern students to and from Apollo Career Center from its school.
In other business, the board:
- Approved the FFA trip to Indianapolis, Ind., for the national convention in October.
- Approved the Kenney Cottrell Richards CPA Firm to conduct the Medicaid School Program Audit.
- Agreed to let the midget football team use the school’s field for practices and games.
- Adjusted the salary of Brady Mast following additional education.
- Approved Kelly Eikenbary as the district’s vocal teacher.
- Approved Kelly Wright as a cafeteria substitute.
- Accepted Steve Walter as a custodian on a one-year contract.
- Agreed to allow Roberts to approve all bus routes. They should be consistent with last year’s routes, said the superintendent.

By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer

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Posted by Kenton Times on August 16, 2012. Filed under Local News,Recent Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry