K E N T
C I T Y
S C H O O L S
Kent Schools to offer all-day kindergarten at no cost
For the first time, all kindergartners in the Kent City Schools can benefit from an
all-day academic experience at no additional cost to families. Beginning with the 2015-16
school year, all-day kindergarten classes will be offered at every elementary school in Kent.
“Because the State of Ohio has changed the way kindergarten is funded, we are now
able to provide this fantastic opportunity for all our students,” explains Superintendent
George Joseph. Previously, all-day kindergarten was only available as a tuition-based
option in Kent.
“The all-day program allows our teachers to devote more attention to the diverse
individual needs of children,” Joseph continues. “Research shows that early learning
experiences and targeted intervention play a huge role in a student’s future success.”
A half-day kindergarten option will be offered only at Davey Elementary.
What kindergarten teachers say:
“It’s fabulous news,” says Ken Shepphard, who has taught for 34 years, including
half-day kindergarten at Walls Elementary for 23 years. “We will be able to expand
everything we do.”
“I think it’s wonderful,” says Mary Beth Falconer, who teaches the current
all-day class at Davey Elementary and will retire this spring after 34 years in the
classroom. “It’s what the kids need in order to learn how to read, write sentences and
spell, as well as add, subtract and understand place value in math.”
“I don’t see any downside, only benefits for all students,” says Eva Haverstick,
half-day kindergarten teacher at Davey Elementary. “My half-day students wish they
could stay all day. They like being in school and learning. Of course, they’re tired the
first week of school, but so are the teachers! We all build up stamina.”
To the Kent Community:
As you will see in this issue, we have
lots of great news to share.
I believe offering all-day
kindergarten for all our students will
make a huge impact on our district. As
you read in the story on page 1, today’s
kindergartners must not only learn to
read but also be able to complete quite
complex math problems. The mandated
curriculum is much more demanding
than what most of us experienced as
five-year-olds. These first learning
experiences build a very important
academic foundation for our students.
As part of our continuing
commitment to maintaining financial
stability, our district is applying for a
Community Connectors state grant,
as well as a Martha Holden Jennings
Foundation grant. Kent is one of only
six school districts across the U.S.
recently awarded a $25,000 VizZle
technology grant. VizZle is an all-inone digital resource for special educators.
I continue to speak to groups
around town and recently talked with
parents in the Kent Junior Mothers
group. I also spoke with community
members at the New Beginning Church
of God in Christ, as well as students
involved in a tutoring program there.
Please know that I would like to speak
to your group and hear from you. Call
me at 330-676-7610 or e-mail me at
[email protected].
Sincerely,
George Joseph
Superintendent
Ohio’s proposed budget for 2016 and 2017
During the next few months, Ohio’s proposed biennium budget is winding its way
through legislative committees as changes and revisions are made. Under the Governor’s
proposal, two different components of Kent Schools’ state funding would be impacted.
• Kent’s Core Aid is proposed to increase by about $715,000 in 2016, but then decrease
in 2017. Under the current proposal for FY 2016 and 2017, Kent’s Core Aid would
increase approximately $1,421,000.
• However, the Governor’s budget proposes to resume the phase-out of state
reimbursements to schools for the loss of tangible personal property taxes. Ohio
businesses no longer pay this tax on the value of their machinery, inventory
and equipment. Initially, school districts were reimbursed for the loss of this tax
income, but this is coming to an end. The Governor’s proposed drop in these
reimbursements produces a net loss for the Kent Schools of approximately $1,578,000.
Treasurer Debbie Krutz explains, “When viewed together, the increase in Core Aid
would be more than offset by our reduction in tangible personal property reimbursements
over the next two years.” And, she cautions, “Under this proposal, it appears that any
reimbursements for loss of this tax income would be essentially eliminated in the future.”
Fee payments now online
Kent families can now pay class fees, as well as cafeteria meal accounts, online using
MyPaymentsPlus. This free, popular service eliminates the need to send checks to school or
worry about forgotten money. “We are always looking for better ways to serve our students
and families, and this online service is a great option,” says Treasurer Debbie Krutz.
Auditor of State award
Kent Schools received an Auditor of State Award based on a recently completed
financial audit. According to a statement from Auditor of State Dave Yost, “The taxpayers
can take pride in your commitment to accountability.”
AA Bond rating
Kent Schools holds an AA rating from Standard & Poor’s on the district’s outstanding
bonded debt. Only nine Ohio school districts have been rated higher.
Now that’s a band concert!
All 342 Kent band students from fifth
to twelfth grade played together in the
recent Band Extravaganza, part of Music
in Our Schools Month. Held in the
Roosevelt gymnasium, each grade and
high school group performed separate
numbers. The performance ended in a
finale, which included every musician,
and was composed by Dr. John Roebke,
Director of Bands and Orchestras.
International Scholars positive about Kent experiences
Four teachers, who are part of the
International Leaders for Education
Program, are positive about their
experiences this semester at Stanton
Middle School and Roosevelt High School.
El Habib El Hadari says he was
surprised that Stanton students are so
interested in his home country of Morocco.
“In general, the students are friendly,
cooperative and inquisitive,” he says. “And
what I like is that they have the desire to
learn about the Moroccan culture. They ask
me a lot of questions.”
ILEP Scholars, part of an education program
El Hadari, whose partner teacher is
at Kent State University, include from left,
Lindsay
Potok, continues, “Personally,
Alessandro Amorim Da Silva, Diene Dione,
I
love
my
students for different reasons.
Regina Kanini Kamenchu and El Habib El Hadari.
Number one, they are so nice to me and
greet me when they see me in the hallways. I didn’t expect that.”
Diene Dione of Senegal agrees. “The kids are amazing and are interested in what is
happening outside the United States.” He says the students appreciate his partner teacher
Sarah Canter. “Her classes are lively and the students are focused. Every day is different.”
Alessandro Amorim Da Silva says he sees real differences between Roosevelt students
and those in his classes in Brazil. “Students are well behaved compared to those in Brazil
where they often interrupt classes. My impression of Roosevelt students is that they are great.
I will take these ideas back to my school.” Da Silva is partnering with Heather Oris.
Regina Kanini Kamenchu from Kenya is enthusiastic about her math classes with Jeff
Thompson. “I love them,” she says. “My students are very disciplined and focused.”
Business partners collaborate on career initiative
Computer Aided Design and Engineering Technologies (CADET), a new College Tech
Prep Initiative from the Six District Educational Compact, will prepare students for jobs in
computer-aided manufacturing, architecture and engineering technologies.
“Thousands of jobs are available in our area in this high-demand career field,” according
to Brian Bachtel, Director of Career Technical Education at Roosevelt, “and representatives
from businesses in Kent and Stow helped us put together our curriculum.”
Partners include ACS Industries Inc., Colonial Machine Co., Copen Machine, Esterle
Mold and Machine Co., National Machine Group, SGS Tool Company and others. In
addition, Ken Trenner, Stow Economic Development Director, worked closely with the
Compact.
Students will use the latest industry-standard
software to produce working drawings, 3D solid model
designs, parts and assemblies. They will program and
operate CNC machines in the Roosevelt lab to produce
wood, metal and plastic manufactured products, as well
as use the 3D printer and laser engraver. Teachers are
Jeff Bee and Troy Spear.
Interested high school sophomores, juniors and
seniors from Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent, StowMunroe Falls, Tallmadge and Woodridge high schools
should contact their school counselor about
enrolling. Students who complete all program
requirements are eligible to earn college credits at
The University of Akron.
Roosevelt Junior Gregory Martin
operates a CNC Mill.
Boys Basketball
Finishing the season with an overall
record of 15-6, the team placed second
in the PTC Metro Division. Senior
Joseph Watts was named PTC Metro
Player of the Year, as well as Greater
Akron All Star and a member of the
Summit-Stark team.
Girls Basketball
With a 17-6 overall record, the team
was named PTC Metro Champs for the
second consecutive year. Brianna Rock
made her 1,000th career point, and Craig
Foreman had his 100th career win as
girls’ basketball head coach.
Bowling
The girls’ bowling team took first place
at the PTC tournament.
Ice Hockey
With a 21-13-2 record, the ice hockey
team took first place in the league as
GCHSHL-Red South Champions and
won the Adam S. Hamilton
Tournament.
Swimming and Diving
District qualifiers in swimming
included Ryan Patrick, Will Kulis,
Jessica Slater and Julia Sincel.
Wrestling
Roosevelt’s wrestling team finished
with a 7-7 dual meet record. Both
Andrew Wallace and Ethan Murphy
made First Team in the PTC and were
alternates for the district tourney.
Wallace finished his career as a Rough
Rider with 105 wins.
ECRWSS
321 North Depeyster Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Residential Postal Customer
Kent, OH 44240
Kent Board of Education
Ryan Ferrara, President
Dr. Marlene Dorsey, Vice President
Brian Boykin
Pamela Freeman
Rebekah Wright Kulis
Kent Displays donates 1,200 Boogie Boards for students
Walls third graders use Boogie Boards to write their math
answers for teacher Kristin Blake.
4
Kent Displays recently donated more than 1,200 Boogie
Boards to every Kent elementary school and Stanton Middle
School.
The paperless writing tablets are produced in the U.S.
by the Kent company and retail for around $30. Founded in
1993, Kent Displays is a world leader in the development and
manufacture of no-power LCD technology.
“We are a Kent business and we want to do our part,”
says Dr. Al Green, CEO of Kent Displays. “My own two
kids are students in the Kent schools, and I have a vested
interest.” Green and his wife Sarah Kwon are both active
parent volunteers.
Green says when volunteering in his child’s kindergarten
class at Walls Elementary years ago, he saw that teachers
and children could use Boogie Boards as an educational tool.
“We learn a lot by hearing what kids say about the products.
It’s a win-win for us.”
According to Walls Principal Heidi Singer, “I love
Boogie Boards because kids love using handheld technology.”
Singer says Boogie Boards are a perfect tool for formative
assessments. A teacher calls out a math problem and then
students write the answer on their Boogie Boards. “It’s easy
for the teacher to scan the room to make sure students
understand the problem and know the answer,” she says.