October, 2013
Volume 9, Issue 2
Purple Press
Southern Local Schools/ 394-2402
The Mission of Southern Local Schools is to provide a quality, child centered
education where all students can succeed.
MILLER HIGH SCHOOL MEETS THE MOST INDICATORS
EVER ON A STATE REPORT CARD AND THE DISTRICT HAS
ANOTHER STRONG REPORT CARD
Greg Holbert, Superintendent
The revised State Report Card is now based on an A-F
letter grade just like the students school report cards. There will not
be a composite overall grade for the District, high school, or
elementary until 2015, but the District and high school received
grades on 9 areas and the elementary on 7 areas.
Indicators met is one of report card areas, and Miller High
School met 14 out of the 15 OGT and OAA test indicators, for its
best showing ever. Most of the high school passage rate on the
OGT and OAA were in the upper 80’s% to low 90’s%. MHS
received an A on indicators met, and B’s on Performance Index,
Annual Measurable Objectives, Progress with the Lowest 20% in
Achievement, Progress with Students with Disabilities, and 5 Year
Graduation Rate.
Millcreek Elementary received an A in overall ValueAdded and a B in Progress with Students with Disabilities.
The District received A’s for Overall Value Added and
Progress with Students with Disabilities, and B’s in Performance
Index, Indicators met with 20/24, and 5 Year Graduation Rate. The
District was in the top 25% of all Districts statewide in overall
Value-Added. Although it is not yet known how the Ohio
Department of Education will determine an overall composite
report card grade in 2015, if you currently take the 9 report card
categories and average the grades and figure them like you would a
student’s GPA, Southern Local would rank in the top 20% in the
Southeast Region for our State Report Card scores from last school
year.
What makes these accomplishments even more
impressive is that a recent article was released by 3 major
education organizations, the Buckeye Association of School
Administrators, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials
and the Ohio School Boards Association. This article confirms a
link between income and student performance. In other words, the
less income and more poverty a community has, the worse the
student performance academically. Southern Local continues to
defy those statistics. Despite us being rated as the 4th poorest
district in Ohio, our students continue to perform well
academically.
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT LEVY
The District is placing a 4.5 mill Permanent Improvement
Levy on the November 5th ballot. The bond levy passed in 1990 is
expiring, so with the timing of the bond issue expiring and
replacing it with a 4.5 mill permanent improvement levy the
property tax increase for passage of the PI levy will be minimal.
On a home value of $60,000, the new PI levy would have a tax
increase of approximately $15.13 per year. On a home with a value
of $75,000, the increase would be around $18.90 annually.
The district would begin receiving the money collected
from a new PI levy in 2014. The new PI levy would generate
approximately $200,000 to the district annually. Even though the
levy is called a Permanent Improvement levy, it is not permanent.
The levy would last for 5 years. None of the PI levy money will be
used to pay salaries of any employee.
The projected plan for how the district will use the money
generated from the PI levy includes replacing the old cooling
tower, the phone system, some HVAC units, the high school and
commons area roofs, the high school stadium bleachers and press
box, the bell and clock system and some tile and/or carpet. The
money will also be used to purchase some new buses and to
resurface the blacktop areas.
ALA TO BE FEATURED AT STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT FAIR
The Academy of Leadership Abilities class project where Miller
High School is partnering with the Perry County Board of
Developmental Disabilities to offer a group of our students
leadership training and character education instruction has been
chosen to be featured in a booth at the Student Achievement
Fair at the Ohio School Boards Association Conference. This
state-wide conference is one of the nation’s largest educational
conferences and annually attracts about 10,000 participants.
Five Miller High School ALA Students, Makayla Alexander,
Alex Paquin, Justin Householder, Katie Hall and Audra
Mitchell will be hosts at the ALA booth at the Achievement
Fair.
SCHOOL SAFETY PARENT FORUM - NOV.18TH
Southern Local Staff received a day and a half of
hands on training on the ALICE active shooter program. Staff
will continue to receive training on dealing with intruders and
armed intruders. We also plan to involve students in this
training in an age appropriate way.
The previous years of lockdown trainings are effective
in some instances and are still a strategy that will be used at
times in school safety, but being passive and static has not
shown to be an effective response in most Active Shooter
events. This ALICE training is teaching proactive, survival
skills that will result in life-long lessons to be utilized by staff
and students if they should ever be confronted with danger.
SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT IS 20 MPH!
Signs on each end of State Route 155 clearly mark the
Southern Local School Zone. The speed limit within the school
zone is 20 mph while school is in session. Southern Local has
students involved in educational activities on both sides of
State Route 155. Please observe the school zone speed limit.
Our School Resource Officer will be strongly monitoring
school zone speed.
ALSO, when leaving the elementary parking lot and
traveling towards the high school, there is a STOP SIGN
between the elementary parking lot and the drive leading to the
exit. Please be sure to stop at this stop sign before entering the
drive to the exit.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE .NET
Takethechallenge.net is an enhancement to our
curriculum at all grade levels, whereby at selected times this
year, grade levels and subjects will use these standards based
enhancements to encourage our students to monitor and curb
their use of electronic media and games, and participate and
enjoy outside activities. Millcreek Elementary held a
Takethechallenge.net kickoff filled with outdoor activities on
the afternoon of September 27th.
WHAT IS THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS?
Our State Board of Education has adopted the Common Core Standards in English and Math. These standards will be fully in
use in Ohio classrooms from K-12 during the 2014-2015 school year. These new standards are much more rigorous than our current
state standards. A company called PARCC is designing assessments that align to the standards. These assessments will be anchored in
what it takes to be ready for college and careers. There will be higher cut scores in order for students to be proficient. As a result, next
year when students are tested against these more rigorous standards, school district and building ratings are expected to initially
decline. Some predict that only 15% of students will initially pass the new tests.
ENROLLMENT NUMBERS UP
For the first time in many years, Southern Local’s student enrollment is up from the previous year. My statistics on
enrollment go back to the 1999-2000 school year, and Southern Local has lost enrollment every year since then. This year’s
enrollment is 14 students above last school years. Also, our bus transportation ridership is up by 63 students over last school year. This
is positive news for our funding.
CONGRATULATIONS
Several congratulations to send out!
The Southeast Region of the Ohio School Boards Association recently honored southern Local School Board President
Wendy Aichele for her 10 years of service on the Southern Local School Board.
The Ohio School Boards Association recognized the Academy of Leadership Abilities group at Miller High School as
honorable mention to the Outstanding New Program in the Southeast Region.
The Miller High School Golf Team concluded another successful season by turning in a 14-3 record in the TVC Hocking
Division, good for second place. The team placed third in the Division IV Sectional!
Junior Golfer Shawn Hayes was the top individual scorer in the Division IV Sectional and advanced to the District.
Our fall Junior High Sports teams have had successful seasons. The 7th grade Volleyball Team went 8-4, the 8th grade
Volleyball Team went 10-4, and the Football Team is currently 5-0-1.
DISTRICT-WIDE CALLING AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
It’s getting close to the time of year when it is sometimes necessary to delay school, cancel due to road conditions
or release early due to the weather. It is extremely important for parents to keep their contact information updated. If you
have had any changes in the past year, especially a change in cell phones, please be sure to contact Pam Summers in the
District Office so the calling system can be kept current and you receive important information via the One-Call system.
For those who are new to our District, a system was implemented a few years ago which the District uses to notify
all staff and the parents of students who are enrolled in Southern Local Schools of 2 hour delays, school closings,
emergency situations, sporting event cancellations and general information. 2 hour delays and closings will still be
announced on local television channels. This system provides a much quicker relay of information to you. If you have any
questions or need to update information, contact Pam @ (740) 394-2402, option 9.
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
Nov. 13 and 20 = Early Dismissals
Dec. 9 = No School
Nov. 27 = No School Nov. 28 - Dec. 2 = Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 18 = Early Dismissal
Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 = Winter Break
Jan. 6 = School Resumes
MILLER HIGH SCHOOL HOSTING A HOLIDAY / CRAFT BAZAAR
Mark your calendars!!! Miller High School is holding a Holiday / Craft Bazaar in the high school on
November 2nd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many unique gift items! There will be woodcrafts, crocheted items,
jewelry, baked goods, 31, Lia Sophia, various handmade holiday crafts, flower arrangements, purses, scarves,
candles, doterra oils, Avon, unique handcrafted birdbaths, stepping stones, concrete yard art and other items will be featured. There
are currently 23 tables of vendors. Additional vendor space is still available for $15 per table or 2/$25. There will be door prizes, a
50/50 and lots of good food. Any questions, contact Bev Boring in the high school @394-2426 or Pam Summers in the District Office
@ 394-2402.
SOUTHERN LOCAL SCHOOLS
10397 St. Rt. 155 SE
Corning, Ohio 43730
Non Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1
Corning, Ohio
43730
BOXHOLDER