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www.ghcsd.org | 1587 West Third Avenue | Columbus, OH 43212 | (614) 485-4015 WINTER 2016
A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Happy New Year! As we settle into the second half of theschool year, there is still a lot of work to be done. Ourteachers and students have been working hard all yearpreparing our students for the next level in their
education. Whether it is our seniors getting ready to graduate orinstilling a lifelong love of learning for our youngest students, ourgoal is to make sure the journey of education never ends.
In Grandview Heights Schools, we are proud of our strong track record of success. In keepingwith that tradition, we have received preliminary reports from last year’s state assessments and wehave much to celebrate. Given the landscape and challenges all school districts have faced with
new academic standards and tests, our students look tohave scored extremely well in comparison to otherdistricts. Additionally, we were one of the few schooldistricts in the state to administer every assessment atevery grade level completely online.
We do welcome this good news, but it is important tokeep it in perspective. The assessments continue tochange and, in fact, Ohio will be administeringentirely new assessments in math and language arts thisyear. It is a confusing time in education!
That is why we are making an effort to share with youwhat really goes into a Grandview Heights Schoolseducation – beyond a data point, beyond a state report
card. Within the pages of this newsletter we share with you how we are providing educationalexperiences that focus on the whole child, not just making sure our students score well on anannual test. Wellness education, service learning, exposing students to new cultures, andcommunity service happen every day in our schools. I hope you enjoy this sample of the manyopportunities our students have and I look forward to sharing more in the future.
Sincerely,
Andrew K. Culp
Superintendent
Dear Grandview Heights Schools Community,
Our mission is to maximize and personalize every student’s learning.
Stevenson Elementary students created their veryown giving tree with donated hats, scarves, andmittens and collected non-perishable food items todonate to the Heart to Heart Food Pantry located inMarble Cliff during December.
We are providing educational
experiences that focus on the whole
child, not just making sure our
students score well on an annual test.
Wellness education, service learning,
exposing students to new cultures,
and community service happen every
day in our schools.
EXPLORE PASSIONS | DEVELOP PURPOSE | UNLOCK POTENTIAL
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A focus on health and wellness is animportant part of preparing GrandviewHeights students for life.Through our Wellnessfor Life initiative and our newly renovatedHealth and Wellness Center, our teachers andadministrators are working to ensure that everystudent has the skills and experiences they needto live life to its fullest potential.
Under the leadership of physical education andhealth and wellness teachers Tom Gilbert,Kathleen Cress, CJ Schmitz, school counselorAbby Malley, and Chief Academic Officer Dr.Jamie Lusher, our team is designing a wellnesscurriculum that will enable students to makeconnections to the importance and relevance ofwellness as a lifelong study. We have developedideas and initiatives that span all grade levels andcontent areas to ensure that wellness transcendsall classrooms.
Students can participate in various wellnessoptions such as yoga, crossfit, or zumba, as well
as exercising in the Health and Wellness Center.Larson Middle School’s Bobcat TV is creatingvideos that promote and help instruct properuse of the equipment.
In 7th grade, mental health is integrated intothe learning process as well. Using the Signs ofSuicide curriculum, students learn how torecognize the signs of depression and suicide inthemselves and others and gain a betterunderstanding of mental illness. In 8th grade,students, counselors, and teachers discusseffective communication skills, healthyrelationships, and human growth anddevelopment.
For our younger grades, Stevenson Elementarystudents are encouraged to move during indoorrecess by choosing activities from a menu.Students will be encouraged to walk the hallsduring indoor recess time this winter. They willalso be able to take “fitness breaks” during theirwalks. Fitness stations will be posted on the
hallway walls for students to stop and dojumping jacks, push-ups, burpies, and otherexercises to help them finish the day strong bothphysically and mentally.
Tracking fitness levels is an important way forour students to see how they grow throughexercise. Our teachers use Fitnessgram softwareto track fitness levels of all second througheighth graders. Not only can the kids see how farthey have come in one school year, but they cansee how much they grow from year to year.
A well-rounded education is so much morethan just focusing on the core academicsubjects. By providing a robust wellnesscurriculum, students gain vital knowledge andskills that will prepare them for college and themodern workplace. For more information onWellness for Life, contact Dr. Lusher [email protected].
2 www.ghcsd.org | GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS SCHOOLS EXPLORE PASSIONS | DEVELOP PURPOSE | UNLOCK POTENTIAL
WELLNESS FOR LIFE IN GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS: A Facility with Great Function
The community-led Facilities Task Force has been meeting since Augustand is helping Grandview Heights’ school officials determine solutionsto address the district’s aging school facilities.
A recent report showed that it could cost up to $1.2 million each year forthe next 10 years just to maintain the district’s school buildings. In order tokeep up with the general maintenance of our school buildings, the districtcould potentially have to redirect funds from the classroom to facilities.
The next steps in this process will include meetings to solicit feedback fromthe community. The task force recently selected HPG Harrison PlanningGroup, LLC, a company with extensive experience in facility planning, tohelp facilitate collaboration between the school district and the community. Any future plans for our school buildings must not only reflect the needs of our students, but must also reflect the wishes of the community. If youhave any questions, contact Superintendent Andy Culp [email protected].
Grandview Heights Facilities Task Force UpdateGroup seeks solutions to address aging school buildings
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In May and October of every year, all boards of education across Ohio arerequired to review and approve a five-year financial forecast for the schooldistrict. The Grandview Heights board of education recently reviewed the schooldistrict’s latest financial projections and our schools remain on a stable path.
On the revenue side, local property taxes represent 72% of ourrevenue and much of our financial stability can be attributed to thecontinued support of our community. The passage of a 5.9 milloperating levy last November has enabled the school district tomaintain important programs and services that directly benefit ourstudents. Thank you, voters!
This support is especially important when facing financialchallenges from time to time. With the passage of the state budget
earlier this summer, Grandview Heights Schools stands to lose a significant amount offunding with the implementation of a new school funding formula. Although state leadersdid restore some of the funding lost with the passage of Senate Bill 208, the schooldistrict will still realize a decrease in overall state funding of approximately $93,000 in
2016-2017, and an additional$752,000 annually beginning in 2017-2018, which represents almost 5% ofour total annual operating budget.
We have also had to make someadjustments to our expenditures byadding staff and services in theclassroom to meet the growing needsof our students. This is an importantinvestment in our schools and it willensure Grandview Heights studentshave the support they need to besuccessful in the classroom.
Fortunately, community support, coupled with our commitment to responsible fiscalmanagement, has prepared us for these challenges and unexpected scenarios. We haveenacted various cost saving measures that have saved the district over $100,000 annually inour daily operations.
Looking forward, we will continue toanalyze costs and implementinitiatives that maximize taxpayerdollars and ensure money is beingprioritized to the classroom. In fact,according to the Ohio Department ofEducation, Grandview Heights isranked #1 in funds spent onclassroom teaching when comparedto other districts of a similar size. Thisgoal remains very important to us.
Grandview Heights and Marble Cliffare thriving and in demand by bothfamilies and businesses. We are proudto be a part of this great communityand we believe providing excellentschools at a great value to taxpayersis an ongoing priority.
Beth Collier, Treasurer
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FIVE YEAR FORECAST STABLE But Not Without Challenges
A GLOBAL GRANDVIEWAn increase in students from othercountries is introducing our schools tonew worlds and new cultures.Fourteen students in grades K-11 are currently enrolledin the English Language Learners (ELL) program, andtheir primary languages include Korean, Spanish,German, Arabic, Italian, Slovak, and Russian. “Just a fewshort years ago, there were less than a handful of ELLstudents in the district,” said Jennifer Haddow, Directorof Student Services. “Now we have students in all threeschool buildings.”
ELL are students who do not speak English as theirprimary language. Anita Heys is a licensed Teacher ofEnglish to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and thelead teacher in Grandview Heights Schools’ ELLProgram. She is assisted by Billie Sarich, who is a readingteacher at Stevenson Elementary School.
“Some of the students have come to this country withtheir families, as immigrants or while their parents attendadvanced education programs at area colleges,” said Heys.“Others have been adopted from other countries, beenschooled in other countries, or simply live in a homewhere other languages are spoken.”
Students remain in the ELL program until they can pass astate literacy test. “Last year, our students made outstandingprogress with almost all students making one year’s growth,and many, two years’ growth,” added Haddow.
Parents of students in the multicultural language programare happy with the results. “We have received anawesome welcome from Grandview Heights Schools,”said Dr. Patricia Cifuentes. “Grandview Heights HighSchool has provided Nicolas a very pleasant way to moveforward on his introduction to the American culture andto share ours. Mrs. Heys’ involvement has been crucialfor his academic growth. She has also provided guidanceon the many cultural topics new for us.”
Heys said the introduction of new languages and culturesinto Grandview Heights’ classrooms has benefited allstudents. “Students are introduced to new cultures andnew places through first-hand experience,” she said.“They have conversations about different styles of, anddifferent approaches to, everyday life.”
Our ELL students provide a small window into othernations around the globe and a unique opportunity tolearn and understand.
SCHOOL FINANCE 101Do the schools receive additionalfunding when property values rise?
Although property values in the districthave continued to increase in recentyears, it is important to note thatincreases in property values have verylittle overall effect on tax revenue forthe district. House Bill 920, enacted in1976, reduces “effective” millage onvoted tax levies so that, as propertyvalues increase, essentially no increasein revenue is realized by schooldistricts. An exception to House Bill 920is “inside millage,” which is not reducedwhen values increase change. Insidemillage, 5 mills for Grandview HeightsSchools, is unvoted tax millage set bythe County Budget Commission.
Q:A:
1587 WEST THIRD AVENUE | COLUMBUS, OH 43212 | PHONE (614) 485-4015 WINTER 2016
Stevenson Elementary students with teacher Anita Heys
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1587 West Third Avenue | Columbus, OH 43212 | Phone (614) 485-4015
CONGRATULATIONSto Grandview Heights SeniorElizabeth Bergmann onbeing named a 2015-2016National Merit CommendedScholar. Beyond academics,Elizabeth is active in theband, choir, swim team, Inthe Know team, fall play andspring musical, Key Club, andFrench Club. She enjoysscience and math andintends to study chemicalengineering in college.
PRESORTED STANDARDU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDCOLUMBUS, OHIOPERMIT NO. 1213
GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS SCHOOLS1587 WEST THIRD AVENUE COLUMBUS, OH 43212
BOBCAT BEVERAGES OFFERS SERVICE LEARNINGOPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTSWhen the teachers and staff at Grandview Heights Schools need a cup of java, they turnto Bobcat Beverages.
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IN THIS ISSUE: • A Message from the Superintendent• A Message from the Treasurer - Five Year Forecast• Grandview Heights Schools Facilities Task Force Update• Wellness for Life in Grandview Heights Schools• Bobcat Beverages Offers Service Learning• A Global Grandview
www.ghcsd.org
The coffee service, operated by students at Edison Intermediateand Larson Middle School, delivers coffee and provides a uniqueenvironment for service learning. Through the microbusiness students practice math skills by countingmoney, measuring ingredients, interpreting graphs, and purchasingsupplies. Customer service activities teach communications skills, such as greeting customers, taking orders, engaging in conversation,and interacting with known and unknown adults and peers.Operating the business develops reading comprehension skills and
enables students to learn new vocabulary. The coffee service alsoutilizes current technology including software such as Google Formsand email. In addition, students conduct Internet searches tocompare and contrast specific coffee products.
The program is unique to Grandview Heights Schools. BobcatBeverages currently receives 20 to 25 orders per week and handdelivers the coffee. Future plans include creating a portable BobcatBeverages station at the high school.
GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS SCHOOLS WINTER 2016
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