New Richmond Superintend of Schools Adam Bird gives his 2010 State of The District Report.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Malea Roberson's rousing performance
New Richmond Middle School 7th grade student Malea Roberson delighted the district staff with this performance at Monday's New Richmond Schools Opening Convocation.
Click on the Play button to watch Malea's performance.
Click on the Play button to watch Malea's performance.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Excellent again in 2010
This is a a video of the 2010 Opening Convocation presentation by John Frye, Director of Pupil and Staff Services for New Richmond Schools, highlighting our third consecutive EXCELLENT rating in the Ohio Board of Education's school report card.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Smooth first day for rennovated NRHS
New Richmond High School principal Diane Spinnati had a reason to be walking the halls of her rennovated building other than it being the first day of the 2010-2011 school year with 180 freshman students trying to find their way to their classrooms.
"I don't have a desk," she explained. "My desk was damaged during the move out and the replacement hasn't arrived yet."
What Spinnati saw during her hallway strolls took away any anxiety she might have had over opening the school year with her staff having only 1 1/2 work days to get their rooms ready for the influx of 700 students on Wednesday.
"Our staff and students were just amazing," she said. "I was extremely pleased with the freshmen who did not get an orientation because of the construction. They didn't have any problems."
It was touch and go for some teachers to get their rooms ready by Wednesday morning, especially art teachers Amy Hauserman and Stacy Gibbons who had more material than most to put away.
Amy Hauserman works Tuesday afternoon to get her art room ready by 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Amy Hauserman's classroom on Wednesday.
"I don't have a desk," she explained. "My desk was damaged during the move out and the replacement hasn't arrived yet."
What Spinnati saw during her hallway strolls took away any anxiety she might have had over opening the school year with her staff having only 1 1/2 work days to get their rooms ready for the influx of 700 students on Wednesday.
"Our staff and students were just amazing," she said. "I was extremely pleased with the freshmen who did not get an orientation because of the construction. They didn't have any problems."
It was touch and go for some teachers to get their rooms ready by Wednesday morning, especially art teachers Amy Hauserman and Stacy Gibbons who had more material than most to put away.
New Richmond High School art teacher Stacy Gibbons reacts to the dozens of boxes of art supplies that had to be put away less than 18 hours before her students arrived for the first day of school.
This was the scene in Stacy Gibbons' art room on Wednesday.
Amy Hauserman works Tuesday afternoon to get her art room ready by 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Amy Hauserman's classroom on Wednesday.
Students greeted by new computer labs
New Richmond’s elementary and middle school students returning to school this week and were greeted with 450 new computers, 25-station computer labs and SuccessMaker software to help them with reading and math.
The computers and software were purchased as part of a $790,815.39 grant the district received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus). The grant also provided two new handicapped equipped school buses for the district fleet ($185,000) and an additional $313,153 for the Title 1 program designed for improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students in the district.
Matt Pritchard (right), technology director for New Richmond Schools, goes over plans for the deployment of 445 new computers with John Frye, the district's Director of Public and Staff Services.
New Richmond spent $133,000 for 445 computers refurbished HP desktop dual-core Pentium 4 computers running Windows7. Each classroom at New Richmond’s three elementary schools and the middle school got three computers along with new 25-station computer labs.
“It’s been five years since we last upgraded computers at New Richmond,” noted Matt Pritchard, technology director for New Richmond schools. “The new computers they are replacing are slow, outdated Pentium 3 machines and will run Person SuccessMaker K to 8 intervention software in reading and math at all three elementary schools and middle school and at the high school special ed classrooms.”
John Frye, Director of Public and Staff Services for New Richmond Schools, wrote the federal grant application and said the addition of the new computers to run the Success Maker software will help improve student performance in reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10.
“The Pearson Success Maker program is not new to the New Richmond Schools,” said Frye. “The program was originally acquired by a teacher team at New Richmond Elementary through a grant several years ago and has been successful at NRE. With the Stimulus grant, we are able to replicate that successful program in all five buildings.”
Success Maker is an intervention program designed to provide individual intervention supports for students at their level in reading and math. All students K-8 and in high school special education classes will have access to the program.
“Student performance in reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10 are the measurement that determines a district’s progress toward adequate yearly progress goals established by the State of Ohio in response to the federal mandates in No Child Left Behind,” said Frye.
The computers and software were purchased as part of a $790,815.39 grant the district received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus). The grant also provided two new handicapped equipped school buses for the district fleet ($185,000) and an additional $313,153 for the Title 1 program designed for improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students in the district.
Matt Pritchard (right), technology director for New Richmond Schools, goes over plans for the deployment of 445 new computers with John Frye, the district's Director of Public and Staff Services.New Richmond spent $133,000 for 445 computers refurbished HP desktop dual-core Pentium 4 computers running Windows7. Each classroom at New Richmond’s three elementary schools and the middle school got three computers along with new 25-station computer labs.
“It’s been five years since we last upgraded computers at New Richmond,” noted Matt Pritchard, technology director for New Richmond schools. “The new computers they are replacing are slow, outdated Pentium 3 machines and will run Person SuccessMaker K to 8 intervention software in reading and math at all three elementary schools and middle school and at the high school special ed classrooms.”
John Frye, Director of Public and Staff Services for New Richmond Schools, wrote the federal grant application and said the addition of the new computers to run the Success Maker software will help improve student performance in reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10.
“The Pearson Success Maker program is not new to the New Richmond Schools,” said Frye. “The program was originally acquired by a teacher team at New Richmond Elementary through a grant several years ago and has been successful at NRE. With the Stimulus grant, we are able to replicate that successful program in all five buildings.”
Success Maker is an intervention program designed to provide individual intervention supports for students at their level in reading and math. All students K-8 and in high school special education classes will have access to the program.
“Student performance in reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10 are the measurement that determines a district’s progress toward adequate yearly progress goals established by the State of Ohio in response to the federal mandates in No Child Left Behind,” said Frye.
Cheering the start of school
New Richmond High School's cheerleaders and pep band helped superintendent Adam Bird kick off the 2010-2011 school year at Monday's Opening Convocation program.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Retiring teachers recognized
at Opening Convocation
New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird recognized retiring teachers Carole Snider, Bonnie Faubion, Kim Fultz and Jan Gemma at Monday's Opening Convocation to kick off the 2010-11 school year.
Picture (from left) are Carole Snider, Bonnie Faubion, Kim Fultz and Jan Gemma.
Click on the play button below to watch the program.
Paul Bronhaver, pictured with superintendent Adam Bird, gave the Distinguished Alumni Speech at Monday's Opening Convocation. Bronhaver, who was a classmate of Superintendent Bird, was severely wounded while serving in Iraq in 2004.
NREVSD's got a spirited welcome back from the NRHS varsity cheerleaders and pep band.
Picture (from left) are Carole Snider, Bonnie Faubion, Kim Fultz and Jan Gemma.Click on the play button below to watch the program.
Paul Bronhaver, pictured with superintendent Adam Bird, gave the Distinguished Alumni Speech at Monday's Opening Convocation. Bronhaver, who was a classmate of Superintendent Bird, was severely wounded while serving in Iraq in 2004.
NREVSD's got a spirited welcome back from the NRHS varsity cheerleaders and pep band.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Adam Bird reports on retreat
New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird reports on the Aug. 13-14 School Board Retreat when board members, administrators and union leaders disucces challenges facing the New Richmond Exempted Village School District.
Click on the play button below to watch the report.
Click on the play button below to watch the report.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Introducing Court Lilly
Court Lilly brings eight years of experience as an assistant principal to his new job as principal at New Richmond Middle School in a career that has taken him from the inner city of Toledo to the cornfields of Highland County, Ohio.
Click on the play button below to meet the NRMS principal.
Click on the play button below to meet the NRMS principal.
Monday, August 16, 2010
High School renovation on schedule
Former New Richmond superintendent Tom Durbin, who is supervising the completion of the high school renovation until his official retirement Aug. 31, is confident the project will be completed in time for a smooth start of school on Aug. 25.
"Everything is looking great," said Durbin during his Monday inspection, who noted that furniture has been moved back into all but a couple rooms on the third floor and about half of the second floor rooms.
Workers finish installing cabinets in a second-floor art room Monday.
Cabinets for science and art rooms had been a concern since they were special orders, but they arrived last week and have been installed.
"The only major thing we're waiting on now are the new locksets for the doors," said Durbin. "The locksets are keyed at the factory for security reasons."
Jeff Platt, project superintendent for general contractor Kramer and Feldman, has scheduled the final electrical and plumbing inspections for Thursday, August 19.
"That gives us Friday to correct any problems," said Platt.
Classrooms on the third floor and half the rooms on the renovated second floor are ready for students who return Aug. 25.
High school secretaries Marsha Foresee (left) and Becky Lewis get an update on the status of the high school offices from construction supervisor Tom Durbin.
"Everything is looking great," said Durbin during his Monday inspection, who noted that furniture has been moved back into all but a couple rooms on the third floor and about half of the second floor rooms.
Workers finish installing cabinets in a second-floor art room Monday.Cabinets for science and art rooms had been a concern since they were special orders, but they arrived last week and have been installed.
"The only major thing we're waiting on now are the new locksets for the doors," said Durbin. "The locksets are keyed at the factory for security reasons."
Jeff Platt, project superintendent for general contractor Kramer and Feldman, has scheduled the final electrical and plumbing inspections for Thursday, August 19.
"That gives us Friday to correct any problems," said Platt.
Classrooms on the third floor and half the rooms on the renovated second floor are ready for students who return Aug. 25.
High school secretaries Marsha Foresee (left) and Becky Lewis get an update on the status of the high school offices from construction supervisor Tom Durbin.
Bus route schedules available online
New Richmond EVSD transportation director Wayne Pescott has posted district bus routes for the 2010-11 school year with estimated pickup and dropoff times for every road and street in the district at www.nrschools.org/transportation.htm.
Links to individual school routes are:
Locust Corner Elementary
Monroe Elementary
New Richmond Elementary
New Richmond High School and Middle School
"Bus information will be revised and updated after the second week of school to reflect actual pickup and dropoff times," said Prescott.
Links to individual school routes are:
Locust Corner Elementary
Monroe Elementary
New Richmond Elementary
New Richmond High School and Middle School
"Bus information will be revised and updated after the second week of school to reflect actual pickup and dropoff times," said Prescott.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
District overstaffed according to state
A staffing analysis performed by the Ohio Department of Education will be on the agenda Friday and Saturday when the New Richmond Exempted Village School Board, administrators and union presidents meet in a retreat at the Market Street School to develop a plan for the district.
Larry Grooms presents his staffing report at a special school board meeting.
According a report submitted to the school board Aug. 7 by Larry Grooms, a school finance coordinator with ODE’s Mason district office, New Richmond is overstaffed in most areas including classroom teachers.
“The staffing analysis by the State Board of Education validated what I think many of us believed, that compared to similar districts we are overstaffed in several areas,” said New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird. “It has significant meaning for our district when we have someone from the state Department of Education come in and tell us we have too many teachers.”
New Richmond employed 31.82 classroom teachers in excess of state minimum requirements during its 2010 fiscal year and 22.38 teachers above comparable districts at an estimated cost of $85,655 per teachers including benefits.
New Richmond employed 21.99 Educational Service Personnel (ESP) during FY2010 which in 11.94 positions above comparable districts. ESP personnel include counselors, music teachers, PE teachers, instructional aides, bus drives and custodians.
In addition to classroom personnel, the analysis found that New Richmond has 1.79 bookkeeping personnel per 1000 students, 1.10 bus drives per 1000 students and 3.63 custodians per 1000 students above comparable districts.
New Richmond, which faces a loss of $8 million a year after 2016 when the state stops reimbursing the district for money lost due to electrical utility deregulation, spends 77 percent of its $26 million annual budget on salaries and benefits.
“When we look at it in light of the fact that we know our revenue is going to be decreasing dramatically by almost a third of our budget, it has a huge impact on our school district,” said Bird. “I think our community and staff need to know that we can’t cut enough in order to balance our budget. The cutting of our expenses is going to have to be balanced by an increase in revenue.
“And our school board and our administrators are going to be meeting and looking closely at those issues.”
One area the ODE report found New Richmond wasn’t overstaffed was in administration. The district is down to 11 administrators, well under other Clermont County schools (16.3 average) and the state average (18.0) in the report.
The number of administrators dropped by one this week when Jay Blavatt, vice principal at the high school, resigned to take a job in Plant City, Florida.
“That position will not be replaced,” Bird said.
Regardless of cuts the district will be forced to make in the future, Bird said the district is committed to maintaining its high academic standard.
“We are an excellent school district and we believe we will be excellent with distinction this year, and we want to continue to be an excellent school district for our community,” said Bird.
“That’s always going to be our expectation and that expectation is not going to drop, but we are going to have to do it with less resources and at some point we are going to have to go to the good people of our community and ask for their help.”
Read the staffing report
Larry Grooms presents his staffing report at a special school board meeting.According a report submitted to the school board Aug. 7 by Larry Grooms, a school finance coordinator with ODE’s Mason district office, New Richmond is overstaffed in most areas including classroom teachers.
“The staffing analysis by the State Board of Education validated what I think many of us believed, that compared to similar districts we are overstaffed in several areas,” said New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird. “It has significant meaning for our district when we have someone from the state Department of Education come in and tell us we have too many teachers.”
New Richmond employed 31.82 classroom teachers in excess of state minimum requirements during its 2010 fiscal year and 22.38 teachers above comparable districts at an estimated cost of $85,655 per teachers including benefits.
New Richmond employed 21.99 Educational Service Personnel (ESP) during FY2010 which in 11.94 positions above comparable districts. ESP personnel include counselors, music teachers, PE teachers, instructional aides, bus drives and custodians.
In addition to classroom personnel, the analysis found that New Richmond has 1.79 bookkeeping personnel per 1000 students, 1.10 bus drives per 1000 students and 3.63 custodians per 1000 students above comparable districts.New Richmond, which faces a loss of $8 million a year after 2016 when the state stops reimbursing the district for money lost due to electrical utility deregulation, spends 77 percent of its $26 million annual budget on salaries and benefits.
“When we look at it in light of the fact that we know our revenue is going to be decreasing dramatically by almost a third of our budget, it has a huge impact on our school district,” said Bird. “I think our community and staff need to know that we can’t cut enough in order to balance our budget. The cutting of our expenses is going to have to be balanced by an increase in revenue.
“And our school board and our administrators are going to be meeting and looking closely at those issues.”
One area the ODE report found New Richmond wasn’t overstaffed was in administration. The district is down to 11 administrators, well under other Clermont County schools (16.3 average) and the state average (18.0) in the report.
The number of administrators dropped by one this week when Jay Blavatt, vice principal at the high school, resigned to take a job in Plant City, Florida.
“That position will not be replaced,” Bird said.
Regardless of cuts the district will be forced to make in the future, Bird said the district is committed to maintaining its high academic standard.
“We are an excellent school district and we believe we will be excellent with distinction this year, and we want to continue to be an excellent school district for our community,” said Bird.
“That’s always going to be our expectation and that expectation is not going to drop, but we are going to have to do it with less resources and at some point we are going to have to go to the good people of our community and ask for their help.”
Read the staffing report
Monday, August 2, 2010
Move back begins on 3rd floor
New Richmond High School's custodians began moving furniture back into third floor classrooms Monday, Aug. 2 while work crews continue to get the 2nd floor finished in time for the start of fall classes Aug. 25.
Only minor work remains before the third floor is complete, including re-installing door hardware and waxing and buffing the hallways.
High School custodian Doug Reese moves a table back into a third floor classroom.
Work on third floor classrooms is complete with rooms getting new floors, ceilings and lighting.
A drywall finishers puts the finish coat on the high school office on the second floor.
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