New Richmond Elementary has been honored by the Ohio Department of Education as a School of Promise for the 2009-2010 school year based on the school’s results of this year’s Ohio School Report Card.
“In being named a School of Promise, your school is part of an elite group of 161schools recognized this year for high achievement in reading or mathematics for all groups of students, despite having 40 percent or more of your students coming from low-income backgrounds,” Deborah S. Delisle, Superintendent of Public Instruction for Ohio, said in a letter to New Richmond Elementary principal Gary Combs.
“I am very honored for our staff, students and parents to be recognized for becoming a School of Promise for the 2009-2010 school year,” said Combs. “It is through hard work, dedication and commitment to meeting the instructional needs of students we achieve this honor. NRE is a great place to be!”
“As a former district superintendent, principal and teacher, I recognize the many challenges associated when working with students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds,” Delisle said in her letter to Combs. “I thank you for your leadership and the commitment of your staff to help all students achieve at high levels. By supporting students and believing in them, you and your staff continue to demonstrate a truly collaborative spirit.”
New Richmond Elementary met all 9 of its state indicators, and, like the other four buildings in the district, received an Excellent rating on the Ohio Department of Education’s 2009-2010 Report Card. NRE was rated as an Effective school on the 2008-2009 state report card, just missing Excellent due to reading scores.
The school made dramatic improvement in its reading scores this time and showed improvement in six of those nine areas over the previous year while achieving the highest score in the district in 3rd grade reading with 91.2 percent of its third graders passing the state test. It’s third grade math score was 90.9.
“This is a tremendous achievement for NRE,” New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird said. “Student learning and growing should be what we are about and I am thankful for all the hard work that goes into our district's Excellent rating.”
“ I encourage each of you to be the leader in your classrooms, buildings, and busses and that you make decisions that help our district address state standards, help all students make adequate yearly progress, and results in at least a year's worth of growth for every student as determined by the value-added measure,” Bird said in an email to the New Richmond EVSD staff.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
NRE is a Buckeye Best Healthy School
New Richmond Elementary Principal Gary Combs (right), New Richmond food service director Brenda Young and NRE physical education teacher John Bagley show off the Buckeye Best Healthy School Award the school received for its promotion of nutrition, physical education and drug prevention.New Richmond Elementary has received the Silver Award from the Ohio Department of Health's Healthy Ohio program for the 2009-2010 school year.
The Buckeye Best Healthy Schools Awards recognize schools that demonstrate a commitment to the health and wellness of their students and staff through the establishment of programs and policies that foster such goals. These include improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and stopping or preventing the use of tobacco.
"It’s a combination of nutrition education, nutrition in our cafeteria along with our physical education program and our drug abuse education," said NRE principal Gary Combs. "Last year we achieved the Gold award, this year we got the Silver Award and our goal is to go back up to the Gold next year."
Monday, September 20, 2010
School finances take center stage
The Financial Planning Committee that is advising the Finance and Audit Committee of the New Richmond Board of Education will meet again at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14 at the Board office in the Market Street School.
The meeting is open to the public and public participation is encouraged.
New Richmond faces a certain loss of $8 million a year in revenue in 2016 due to utility deregulation and a possible additional loss of $1.4 million a year if Duke Energy wins its appeal on the amount of personal property taxes it pays. The $8 million deregulation payment represents 30% of the district’s revenue.
Board members David Painter and Fred Heflin make up the board’s Finance and Audit committee. Scott Henderson, Jeanie Williams and Joe Middeler from the New Richmond business community, and parents Laura Jones, Rich Grogan and Mark Miller make up the financial planning committee to advise New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird, who has been asked by the Board to prioritize steps the board can take to offset the loss of revenue.
Current district revenue is $26,955,806 including funds put in escrow in case Duke wins its personal property tax appeal. Current expenditures total $25,331,121.
Superintendent Bird presented a list of 20 possible cuts and five possible revenues options at the Sept. 23 meeting of the committee.
The list of options included:
1. Reduction in primary level teachers.
2. Reduction in secondary level teachers.
3. Reduction in art/music/PE/technology teachers.
4. Reduction in custodians.
5. Reduction in aides.
6. Reduction in bussing to state minimum.
7. Reduction in the number of athletic teams offered.
8. Reduction in staff salaries.
9. Pay freeze for all staff.
10. Provide additional retirement incentive.
11. Mandatory furlough for hourly staff.
12. Fluid elementary boundaries that allow for yearly change.
13. Reduction or cuts in field trips.
14. Reduction in the purchase of curricular material.
15. Close/sell Market Street Building.
16. Close/sell maintenance building on Front Street.
17. Close/sell New Richmond Middle School.
18. Eliminate optional pre-school.
19. Do not hire sub custodians.
20. Adjust start of school day to save transportation costs.
Options for future revenue included:
1. An income tax levy.
2. A property tax levy.
3. Move inside millage.
4. Pay to participate for athletics.
5. Building levy for new music wing.
“We have an opportunity to manage the situation, or the situation will manage us,” Painter told the meeting, which included concerned citizens, parents and a representative of New Richmond’s classified employees’ union. “We have to make up $8 million and we can’t make it up in cuts alone.”
Heflin referred to a recent study by the Ohio Department of Education that said New Richmond as overstaffed compared to state minimum requirements and sees it as a positive for the district.
“Yes we are overstaffed, but it’s because we have a lot of AP (Advanced Placement) courses at the high school and because we prefer not to have 24 or 25 students in a classroom,” said Heflin. “The community has to ask, ‘Do we want to go to the state minimum or do we want to pay to have better results.’”
Bird, who hopes to have a report ready for the Board to review by early next year, asked the Financial Planning Committee to look over the lists of possible cuts and revenues and begin prioritizing items on the list at the Oct. 14 meeting.
“There’s a reason people want to come to school here,” said Bird, who noted New Richmond will receive $750,000 this year from its 131 open enrollment students. “It’s because we have great schools, great facilities and great teachers.”
“Our committee needs to look at the list of potential cuts and see what we need to do six months from now, a year from now and two years from now and then we can reevaluate.”
Superintendent Adam Bird removes the largest piece of New Richmond's revenue pie showing how much the district will lose in 2016 when the state stops making its $8 million annual deregulation reimbursement payments.
The meeting is open to the public and public participation is encouraged.
New Richmond faces a certain loss of $8 million a year in revenue in 2016 due to utility deregulation and a possible additional loss of $1.4 million a year if Duke Energy wins its appeal on the amount of personal property taxes it pays. The $8 million deregulation payment represents 30% of the district’s revenue.Board members David Painter and Fred Heflin make up the board’s Finance and Audit committee. Scott Henderson, Jeanie Williams and Joe Middeler from the New Richmond business community, and parents Laura Jones, Rich Grogan and Mark Miller make up the financial planning committee to advise New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird, who has been asked by the Board to prioritize steps the board can take to offset the loss of revenue.
Current district revenue is $26,955,806 including funds put in escrow in case Duke wins its personal property tax appeal. Current expenditures total $25,331,121.
Superintendent Bird presented a list of 20 possible cuts and five possible revenues options at the Sept. 23 meeting of the committee.
The list of options included:
1. Reduction in primary level teachers.
2. Reduction in secondary level teachers.
3. Reduction in art/music/PE/technology teachers.
4. Reduction in custodians.
5. Reduction in aides.
6. Reduction in bussing to state minimum.
7. Reduction in the number of athletic teams offered.
8. Reduction in staff salaries.
9. Pay freeze for all staff.
10. Provide additional retirement incentive.
11. Mandatory furlough for hourly staff.
12. Fluid elementary boundaries that allow for yearly change.
13. Reduction or cuts in field trips.
14. Reduction in the purchase of curricular material.
15. Close/sell Market Street Building.
16. Close/sell maintenance building on Front Street.
17. Close/sell New Richmond Middle School.
18. Eliminate optional pre-school.
19. Do not hire sub custodians.
20. Adjust start of school day to save transportation costs.
Options for future revenue included:
1. An income tax levy.
2. A property tax levy.
3. Move inside millage.
4. Pay to participate for athletics.
5. Building levy for new music wing.
“We have an opportunity to manage the situation, or the situation will manage us,” Painter told the meeting, which included concerned citizens, parents and a representative of New Richmond’s classified employees’ union. “We have to make up $8 million and we can’t make it up in cuts alone.”
Heflin referred to a recent study by the Ohio Department of Education that said New Richmond as overstaffed compared to state minimum requirements and sees it as a positive for the district.
“Yes we are overstaffed, but it’s because we have a lot of AP (Advanced Placement) courses at the high school and because we prefer not to have 24 or 25 students in a classroom,” said Heflin. “The community has to ask, ‘Do we want to go to the state minimum or do we want to pay to have better results.’”
Bird, who hopes to have a report ready for the Board to review by early next year, asked the Financial Planning Committee to look over the lists of possible cuts and revenues and begin prioritizing items on the list at the Oct. 14 meeting.
“There’s a reason people want to come to school here,” said Bird, who noted New Richmond will receive $750,000 this year from its 131 open enrollment students. “It’s because we have great schools, great facilities and great teachers.”
“Our committee needs to look at the list of potential cuts and see what we need to do six months from now, a year from now and two years from now and then we can reevaluate.”
Superintendent Adam Bird removes the largest piece of New Richmond's revenue pie showing how much the district will lose in 2016 when the state stops making its $8 million annual deregulation reimbursement payments.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Adam Bird previews superintendent’s report
New Richmond superintendent of schools Adam Bird has outlined his superintendent’s report for the Sept. 16 meeting of the New Richmond Board of Education to be held at 7 p.m. at New Richmond High School.
His report will include a discussion of SHP Leading Design (architects of the high school renovation project), new fire lanes on the road between the high school and middle school and a preview of the School Board Finance committee and District Leadership Team meeting to be held at 8 a.m. Sept. 24 at the board office at the Market Street School.
“SHP will be leading the board on a tour of the remodeled high school at the start of the meeting and the public is welcome to join,” said Bird.
Bird encourages the public to attend the Sept. 24 meeting which will discuss school finances.
“The 24th is an open meeting and we encourage everyone to attend,” said Bird. “Among the items to be discussed will be our options to reduce expenditures and options for creating revenues.”
New Richmond faces a loss of $8 million a year beginning in 2016 when the state stops reimbursing local governments for tax revenues lost due to utility deregulation. The district currently spends $26 million per year.
His report will include a discussion of SHP Leading Design (architects of the high school renovation project), new fire lanes on the road between the high school and middle school and a preview of the School Board Finance committee and District Leadership Team meeting to be held at 8 a.m. Sept. 24 at the board office at the Market Street School.
“SHP will be leading the board on a tour of the remodeled high school at the start of the meeting and the public is welcome to join,” said Bird.
Bird encourages the public to attend the Sept. 24 meeting which will discuss school finances.
“The 24th is an open meeting and we encourage everyone to attend,” said Bird. “Among the items to be discussed will be our options to reduce expenditures and options for creating revenues.”
New Richmond faces a loss of $8 million a year beginning in 2016 when the state stops reimbursing local governments for tax revenues lost due to utility deregulation. The district currently spends $26 million per year.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
NRHS promoting safe teen driving
The New Richmond High School athletic department is teaming with American Family Insurance to promote safe driving by teenagers and can win $15,000 in a contest to see which high school can get the most pledges. New Richmond is currently in 4th place in its division.
You can help New Richmond win the $15,000 by going to www.teensafedriverpledge.com/ and filling out the pledge form. Anyone 14 or older (including students, parents, siblings, relatives and friends) can complete the Teen Safe Driver Pledge so please forward this information to your contacts and ask them to take the pledge for New Richmond High School.
You can help New Richmond win the $15,000 by going to www.teensafedriverpledge.com/ and filling out the pledge form. Anyone 14 or older (including students, parents, siblings, relatives and friends) can complete the Teen Safe Driver Pledge so please forward this information to your contacts and ask them to take the pledge for New Richmond High School.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
District honored by commissioners
New Richmond was one of eight Clermont County schools recognized at Wednesday's meeting of the Clermont County Commissioners for achieving Excellent ratings in the 2010 Ohio Department of Education report card on Ohio schools.
Click here to watch
Click here to watch
New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird (far right) is pictured with (from left) Bethel Tate Superintendent James Smith, Amy Wells (Bethel Tate), Goshen Superintendent Charlene Thomas, Sue Steele (Goshen), Clermont Northeastern Superintendent Neil Leist; (back row) Milford Superintendent Dr. Robert Farrell, West Clermont Superintendent Dr. Gary Brooks, Felicity Franklin Superintendent Glenn Moore, Commissioner Bob Proud, Todd Shinkle (Goshen), Commissioner Ed Humphrey and Batavia Superintendent Jill Grubb.
The recognition ceremony will be televised at 6 p.m. Friday and again at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday on the Clermont County Government Channel (18) on Time Warner Cable.
"It was a great pleasure for me to represent NREVSD at the Clermont County Commissioner's Meeting yesterday," said New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird in a communication to the district's staff. "All of the schools in Clermont County with Excellent ratings or Excellent with Distinction ratings were recognized.
"Thanks for everyone's hard work and effort! We already knew that we have an Excellent school district but it is nice to have it recognized by the state of Ohio and by Clermont County."
New Richmond was rated Excellent in 2010 for a third straight year with all buildings meeting all state indicators. The disrict missed the highest Excellent with Distinction rating by .7 of a point.
"I trust that we are already hard at work this year covering the state standards in all subject areas," said Bird. "It is important for everyone to know how we can qualify for the "Distinction" rating this coming year. We have to meet all indicators (like we did this year) AND we have to have a Value-Added rating of 'Above'."
Value-Added is calculated from Reading and Math in grades 4-8, and students must EXCEED the "Expected Growth Standard" on these two tests.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Patriot Day program is Saturday
New Richmond High School's Troubadours and Band will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday at New Richmond's Patriot Day program at the village band stand. Bill Knepp, town crier for Clermont County and the Village of New Richmond, will be the Patriot Day speaker.
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