‘Blizzard Bags’ approved by school board

No changes to current school calendar

The New Richmond Board of Education meeting in special session Monday, Feb. 3 approved the use of ‘Blizzard Bags’ to make up any future days that schools must be closed during the 2013-14 school year due to inclement weather but declined to make any changes to the current school calendar.

Supt. Adam Bird withdrew a recommendation that Feb.17 (President’s Day) as a make-up day after getting requested feedback from teachers and parents who had made plans for Feb. 17 based on the published calendar.

“We had about 20 teachers who had made travel plans for that holiday weekend and about a dozen parents who had scheduled medical appointments for their students that day,” said Bird.

The current calendar for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District calls for make-up days to be, in order, May 23, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Up to three ‘Blizzard Bag’ days will be added as needed.

With Monday’s school closure, New Richmond has been closed eight days due to inclement weather, three more than the state allotted five.

“Unfortunately, you cannot add Blizzard Bag days after the fact so we cannot use them for the calamity days we have to make up,” said Bird.

The last day for seniors on the current schedule is Monday, May 19 with the last day for all students on May 22.  The three make up days for seniors would be May 20, 21 and 22, the day before their graduation on May 23.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has asked the Ohio General Assembly, which will be back in session next week, to approve four additional calamity days. 

 “If that happens these changes would be unnecessary,” said Bird.

The Blizzard Bag program was implemented by the Ohio Department of Education in 2011 and allows school districts an extra three days in addition to the standard five calamity days, meaning they will not have to make up those days.

“The weather forecast is calling for snow tonight (Feb. 4) but if we are not in school tomorrow, I will be counting it as Blizzard Bag Day 1,” said Bird, who issued the following Blizzard Bag instructions to staff for consistency across the district:

1. BB assignment should be posted by noon of the snow day.  It is acceptable to post the assignment in advance.

2. The posted assignment should be current or related to the present unit that the class is engaged in, or reinforces concepts recently taught in class.

3. The amount of work in the assignment should equal the amount of work that would have been done in one day.

4. The amount of rigor in the assignment should closely replicate the in-class experience.

5. The assignment should be posted in the homework section on Progress Book for MS and HS students.  Elementary teachers could post the assignment this way, or give the assignment when students return, or give to students in advance.  Matt Prichard will follow up this email with some directions on how to post to Progress Book as a reminder.

6. Students who do not have internet access at home will be handed the assignment on the day that school is back in session.  It is permissible to send the assignment home with the student in advance of the snow day.

7. Students will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.  Students who do not complete the assignment within this period will receive a failing or incomplete grade.

8. The BB assignment should be refreshed or changed for each new snow day, or if the class unit/chapter has changed.

9. Teachers in grades K-6 should collaborate on the assignment as much as possible so that there is consistency between buildings.

10. For more information, you can go to: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Family-and-Community-Engagement/Online-make-up-of-Excess-Calamity-Days/FAQs 

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NREVSD sets closing/delay temperature

Just how cold does it have to be before New Richmond schools close or go on a delayed start?

That temperature with wind chill factored in has been established at -18 degrees.

"We are using the Wind Chill Chart from the National Weather Service to determine whether to close/delay" said Supt. Adam Bird. "NREVSD will stay open unless wind chill factor reaches -18 degrees or colder."

National Weather Service wind chill/frostbite chart. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/

The wind chill factor is the perceived air temperature felt on exposed skin due to the flow of cold air not the actual temperature. A wind chill of -19 or lower could result in frostbite after 30 minutes of exposure according to the National Weather Service.

The wait time for New Richmond school buses should be five minutes or less -- well under the 30-minute frostbite range -- according to NREVSD transportation director Wayne Prescott.

“Students are supposed to be at their designated place of safety (or bus stop) five minutes before their bus time,” said Prescott, who, along with chief mechanic Chuck Vogel, has the buses started and warmed up when drivers leave the transportation facility.

But no student is on the clock when it comes to inclement weather.

 “Our drivers are professionals and they know what to look for when picking up their students,” said Prescott.

That certainly was the case on Wednesday.

"Student safety will always be our top priority," said Bird, who rode a school bus on one route and drove a large portion of the district in his private car. “No student had to wait for the bus I was on, the bus waited for them. And the bus waited for students at a designated bus stop.”

New Richmond was one of three Clermont County and one of four local districts to remain on regular start times Wednesday (Jan. 29).  Goshen, Milford and Forest Hills were the other districts to not go on delay.

  

Here’s the wind chill to frostbite times according to the National Weather Service:

·         Wind chill -19 to -30: Skin can frostbite in 30 minutes.

·         Wind chill -35 to -50: Skin can frostbite in 10 minutes.

·         Wind chill -50 and lower: Skin can frostbite in five minutes.

The National Weather Service issues a wind chill advisory when the forecast wind chill exceeds -15 and a wind chill warning when it exceeds -25. Schools in cold weather states like South Dakota go as low as the 10 minute frostbite time before closing/delay.

Hawkins to be honored by OHSAA District

New Richmond Board of Education member David Hawkins has been selected for the Friend of Athletics Award by the Southwest District Athletic Board of the Ohio High School Athletic Association in recognition of his 27 years as a volunteer at New Richmond High School.

David Hawkins

Mr. Hawkins, who has been a school board member for 22 years, has operated the scoreboard for varsity, JV and freshman football for 27 years; served as official scorer for boys varsity, JV and freshman basketball for 26 years; and started the New Richmond Middle School wrestling tournament and served as its director for 12 years.

In addition, Mr. Hawkins has been part of the www,newrichmond.localsportsradio.com team for the past five years, helping broadcast more than 50 football, soccer, wrestling, girls basketball,  and baseball events per year.

“Athletic programs can’t be effective without individuals such as Dave Hawkins who has a tremendous love and devotion for New Richmond Schools,” said New Richmond High School athletic director Doug Foote, who serves as a member of the Southwest District board. “This award is given to an individual who has served on a volunteer bases for a school district for 25 years or more and Dave certainly fits this category.”

“I am surprised and feel honored to receive this award,” said Hawkins, who is recovering from surgery. “I’ve never done anything for personal recognition, but hope by accepting this award that it brings attention to all the volunteers who help New Richmond.”

David Hawkins interviews Lions baseball players during a post game show.

One of those volunteers is Kevin Walriven, who spotted for Hawkins for many years at football games and has sat next to him at basketball games for almost 20 years as the scoreboard operator.

“If I had been asked to pick a recipient of this award, Dave Hawkins would have been my choice without hesitation,” said Walriven, who also serves of the New Richmond Board of Education with Hawkins. “I can only guess at how many hours Dave has voluntarily devoted to our sports programs over the past 30 years, but I'll guarantee that he is in a league of his own and New Richmond Schools are much better because of his efforts.”

Mr. Hawkins will be honored March 8 at 5 p.m. at Xavier University’s Cintas Arena during the Southwest District basketball tournament.

David Hawkns interviews  New Richmond athletic director Doug Foote during a NR Lions Sports Foundation event.

Three to join Lions Sports Hall of Fame

Two athletes from the mid-1990s who received Division I college scholarships and the most successful soccer coach in New Richmond High School history will be inducted into the New Richmond Lions Sports Hall of Fame on January 25.

Joining the Hall of Fame as 2014 inductees will be 1995 graduate and cross country star Jason (Jay) Penry, 1996 graduate and two-sport star in basketball and baseball John Duncan Jr. and 9-time conference soccer coach of the year Denny Hopewell.

Jason (Jay) Penry

Jay Penry

Jay Penry, who ran both track and cross country at Wake Forest University where he obtained bachelor and master degrees in biology, is currently a professor at Oregon State University where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise and Sports Sciences degree in 2008. His lecture courses at Oregon State include Anatomical Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, and Motor Learning and Control.

Penry graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1999 from Wake Forest where he was named a Mullen School from 1996-99 and named to the Phi Beta Kappa national academic honor society.

The valedictorian of his 1995 high school class, Penry was the Division II regional and district champion and state runner-up in the 3200-meter run and was the district champion at 1600 meters. He received all-conference and all-Cincinnati honors in track and was a four-time all-conference runner in cross country.

“Jay was a true scholar athlete,” said former New Richmond High School track coach Warren McConnell.

“Jay does nothing half-way,” said New Richmond classmate Todd Young. “He has been able to take the very qualities that made him successful in sports and use them in other parts of his life.”

John Duncan Jr.

John Duncan Jr.

John Duncan Jr. attended Wright State University on a baseball scholarship after an outstanding career at New Richmond High School. He joins his father, John Duncan Sr., and younger brother, David Duncan, as a member of the Lions Sports Hall of Fame.

In baseball, Duncan was a three-time Southern Buckeye Conference all-star and was named to the all-Cincinnati team his senior year after leading the Cincinnati metro area in wins (8) and strikeouts (114). He ranks 4^th career wins (18) and strikeouts (218) and 3^rd all-time in strikeouts per seven innings (10.0).


"Johnny was the starting and winning pitcher for my first game as a high school coach," said Lions baseball coach Brian Benzinger. "He struck out 18 batters in 7 innings  on the JV on opening day.  I remember telling Greg Hawkins, the varsity coach, that Johnny needed to be pitching on the varsity.  He was called up immediately and became the varsity's number 1 pitcher that season. "

In basketball, Duncan ranks second at New Richmond in career scoring with 1241 points. He was named first team all-SBAAC three times and all-city his junior and senior year when he led the city in scoring with a 25.8 average. He was named to the second-team all-district and third-team all-state teams as a senior.

Duncan was the first New Richmond athlete to be awarded SBAAC Player of the Year in two sports, two years in a row.

"To this day, Johnny still comes to our practices and pitches to our varsity hitters each season whenever we are about to face a tough lefty," added Benzinger.  "He really cares about our program and is very supportive to our current players.  That means so much to me as a coach to have one of New Richmond's best give back to the program."

Denny Hopewell

Denny Hopewell

Denny Hopewell, who served as the New Richmond High School in-school suspension monitor from 1998 until his retirement after the 2012 school year, coached boys soccer from 1998 to 2004 and girls soccer from 2005 to 2006 and was named Southern Buckeye Conference coach of the year nine times.

“Denny took a program that was in turmoil, cleaned it up and made it the dominant force in the SBAAC,” said New Richmond teacher Bill Harris who followed Hopewell as boys’ varsity soccer coach. “He developed players who were disciplined, hard-working and team oriented.”

Hopewell, who retired from the Madeira police department, brought more than 20 years of coaching experience with him to New Richmond. He coached the Cincinnati Southeast District girls select team The Cardinals for more than 20 years and also coached at Madeira and Indian Hill.

“When I came to New Richmond they told me that if I won three games everyone would be happy,” said Hopewell, who moved to New Richmond in 2000. “We ended up going 8-4 that first year and won the league title.”

Hopewell went on to win league title in every year he coached except for his final season when his girls finished second.

“It was a challenge because there was no select soccer program feeding New Richmond.,” said Hopewell. “I was lucky because I had some kids who wanted to win but just didn't know how but were willing to put in the work needed to become winners.”

Penry, Duncan and Hopewell will be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame banquet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the high school cafeteria following the 4 p.m. boys’ varsity basketball game against Bethel. Banquet tickets are $15and are available at the high school.

Hayden elected BOE president for 2014

Kim Hayden was elected president of the NREVSD Board of Education for 2014 at the board's organizational meeting Jan. 2. Kevin Walriven, who served at BOE president the past two years, was elected vice-president. Mrs. Hayden made the following committee appointments for 2014: Anthony Farmer and David Hawkins on Finance and Audit; Kristin Bennett and Kevin Walriven on Facilities; Kristin Bennett and Kim Hayden on Policy; Anthony Farmer and David Hawkins on Curriculum; and Kim Hayden and Kevin Walriven on Personnel.

NREVSD treasurer Teresa Napier (right) administers the oath of office to newly elected Board of Education members (from left) Kristin Bennett, Kevin Walriven and Anthony Farmer. Mr. Walriven is serving his fourth term on the board while Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Farmer are beginning their first terms.