A record year for giving by NR schools

From donating 30,000 food items to the Village Food Pantry, to raising more than $10,000 to help the needy,  to putting boots on the ground to aide community programs,  New Richmond Exempted Village School District staff, students and community proved once again that care and concern for students and their families is not limited to the classroom.

Virtual Academy director Gary
Combs and his students joined
Transitions Program students to
help Matthew 25 Ministries.

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of a school district where care and concern for students and their families is not limited to the confines of the classroom and where an attitude of giving and giving back is cultivated at every grade level and extends exponentially into our community,” said New Richmond High School teacher Sue Griffin, whose Lions Reach Out charity raised $8000.

Lions Reach Out fundraising efforts included the Turkey Tuesday basketball game between high school students and staff, a craft fair and a Bengals ticket raffle that raised $700. An anonymous donor donated two Bengals club seats valued at $410 for the raffle. River Hills and Park National banks, Front Street Café, the Green Kayak and the Landing sold tickets.

“That $8000 also includes contributions from staff members and community residents and Chuck and James (entertainers Chuck Grady and James Evanshine) donating their Human Jukebox fees,” said Griffin. “The money put into gifts for kids sponsored by parents and staff members probably added another $2000-3000 to that total.  This year, we took care of about 80 children, ranging in age from an infant to seniors in high school.”

New Richmond Elementary provided gifts for more than 70 students.

“In addition to supporting  the Lions Reach Out Program, the NRE staff partnered with Park National Bank in New Richmond to provide gifts for more than 70 of our students through our first annual Giving Tree program,” said NRE principal Jamie Kunz.

New Richmond Virtual Academy students volunteer at Matthew 25 Ministries.

NRHS Virtual Academy students joined NREVSD Transitions Program students on their monthly trip to Mathew 25 Ministries to package items for the needy.

“It’s good for all students to provide a service to their community,” said Virtual Academy director Gary Combs, who worked with Transitions teacher Lisa Martin to coordinate the effort. “Mathew 25 Ministries was complimentary of the students from New Richmond and invited them to volunteer anytime they like.”

The district food drive set records again for the district, high school, middle school and elementary schools with the high school collecting 15,277 items, the middle school 8800 items and the three elementary schools combining for 6006 items for a district total of 30,083 items for the New Richmond Village Food Pantry.

NREVSD staff, students and their families donated
30,083 food items to the New Richmond Food Pantry.

Last year’s district food drive collected 26,891 items with the high school leading with 14,920.

“It’s an all-time high once again,” said NRHS principal Mark Bailey. “We’ve broken the record for three years in a row.”

New Richmond Middle School staff and students load up some of the 8800
food items collected for the New Richmond Food Pantry.

“There is a wonderful synergy that happens when the things that all of us do together are much greater than what any of us could do individually,” said Griffin.

Monroe gives ‘Good Nights’ to 200 needy children

Thanks to Monroe Elementary students more than 200 needy children will have warm pajamas and new books to read this winter.

Monroe’s 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes have a long tradition of foregoing their traditional Christmas parties to collect items for the needy and community service organizations.

Monroe teacher Staci Heiden stands by five baskets of new pajamas
Monroe students and staff raise for the Pajama Program.

“Staci Heiden (Monroe 3rd grade teacher) approached me about the 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes joining the Pajama Program this year,” said Monroe principal Craig Horn. “It was such a great idea we decided to make it school wide effort.”

Mrs. Heiden set a goal of collecting 200 new pajamas for the Pajama Program, which provides new pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide, many of whom are waiting to be adopted.

“Scholastic publishers donate one new book for every pair of pajamas donated to the program and Monroe was able to give 201 needy children warm pajamas and a new book to read,” said Heiden.

Horn rewarded the school an all-day pajama party Dec. 17 for reaching the school’s goal.

Monroe staff and students were rewarded with an all-day pajama party
 after reaching the school's goal of 200 pajamas for the Pajama Program

The mission of the Pajama Program is to give “every child has a right to a good night” by providing warm pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide with a goal of collecting 1 million pajamas a 1 million books. With more than a week to go the organization has collected 971,273 PJs and 917,046 thanks to the effort of schools like Monroe.

For more information about the program go to http://www.pajamaprogram.org/.

Transitions Program featured in magazine

New Richmond Exempted Village School District’s Transitions Program, which provides students with disabilities in ages 18-22 a functional curriculum including life skills and employment skills, will be featured in the January edition of Ohio’s Salt Magazine.

Salt Magazine's Beverly Draalik (left) interviews
Transitions teacher Lisa Martin.

The cornerstone of the New Richmond Transitions Program is The Brewhaus Bakery Company located on the first floor of the Market Street School where Salt Magazine journalist Beverly Drapalik visited in December and viewed the process of baking and marketing Brewhaus Dog Bones made from spent whole grains sourced from local Cincinnati microbreweries.

Salt Magazine is published six times a year by the Wilmington News-Journal. The magazine is available online at www.thesaltmagazine.com.

Teacher Lisa Martin and job coaches Bobbie Perry, Gaylynne Robinson, Michelle Flood and Shelley Glenn are providing job and living skills for eight students through the age of 23 while saving the district $100,000 a year.

Transitions Program associates market their Brewhaus Dog Bones at November's Cincinnati Holiday Market at the  Duke Energy Center.

Transitions Program associates enjoy a social outing at a Cincinnati Reds game.

“Beverly Drapalik interviewed our coaches and associates and followed the entire process of producing dog bones from picking up the grains at two local microbreweries, mixing the grains with peanut butter, eggs and rice flour, molding, baking and packaging the bones for delivery to local vendors,” said Martin.

In Ohio, students with disabilities can forgo accepting their high school diplomas and receive training in life and employment skills by their school district until they reach the age of 23. Formerly contracted out to another district, the Transitions program was moved back to the district in 2014 at a savings of more than $100,000 per year due to the number of students involved.

Lisa Graham, a local parent and entrepreneur, worked with the NREVSD to establish the Brewhaus Dog Bones Company which is managed by the Associates and provides a real business experience for the Associates.

Students participate in all aspects of the program from planning/forecasting demand, making, baking, labeling and weighing bags, processing orders, attending community sales opportunities, calculating costs, counting money (both cash and credit) from sales and then making bank deposits.

“The associates are involved in selling the Brewhaus Dog Bones at a variety of events in the Cincinnati area,” said Martin. “Beverly asked an associate what he liked most about the business, he replied, ‘All of it.’ Brewhaus provides many future employment skills and self-confidence in a variety of setting for the associates.”

One recent event the Transitions class participated in was a booth at the Cincinnati Holiday Market at the Duke Energy Center in November.  Associates produced thousands of small dog bone treats to sell at this event.

 “The goal is to eventually have our own freestanding ‘Brew Bakery’ for supported employment and to continue as a vocational training site,” said John Frye, New Richmond’s director of pupil and staff services. “It’s 100% non-profit and all proceeds go back into growing our program for others to participate. Best of all, your dog will love you for giving a Brewhaus Dog Treat.”

District scores above state cut in all subjects

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District scored above the state established cut scores in all 2015 Ohio State Assessments for grades 3-8 in Reading, Math, English Language Arts and Social Studies and over the state cut in 2015 end of course exams in preliminary results released Nov. 20 by the Ohio Department of Education.

District totals for grades 3-8 include averages of 75 percent or better in 12 of 16 state indicators and above 80 percent in five indicators.

"I am thankful to work with so many hard-working and dedicated people committed to serving our community," Supt. Adam Bird said in releasing the results. "I am also thankful for all that our teachers, administrators, and students did to prepare for the common core assessments last spring. New Richmond is a special place and I am happy to have entrusted my children in your hands these many years."

Here's how New Richmond compared to other Clermont County districts:

MIA Robert Gumbert to be honored

The only Clermont County MIA from the Vietnam War Robert William Gumbert, Jr. To be honored at New Richmond High School Veterans Day 2015 Wednesday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m.

Former New Richmond High School Class of 1967 graduate, Robert William Gumbert Jr., will be honored on Veterans Day in the same gymnasium where he graduated almost 50 years ago. In attendance will be his father, Robert William Gumbert of New Richmond, Ohio. Robert Jr’s mother is no longer living.

 PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. was the oldest of 10 children born to Robert and Geneva Gumbert. He graduated from New Richmond High School in 1967 and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. On June 22, 1970 PFC Robert W. Gumbert was killed in action; body not recovered. He is the only Clermont County MIA (Missing in Action) from the Vietnam War.

SYNOPSIS: At 0700 hours on June 22, 1970, PFC Robert W. Gumbert was walking point for his squad on a combat mission in South Vietnam. The unit was operating in Quang Ngai Province near the border of Binh Dinh Province, near the coastline of South Vietnam about 10 miles south of the city of Mo Duc, and about 3 miles east of Duc Pho.

While Gumbert was moving through a hedgerow area, an explosive device detonated along the southern edge of the hedgerow at Gumbert's position. The explosion created a crater 4 1/2' deep and 12 feet wide. The two men, SP4 Gary L. Peat and SP4 Joseph M. Turowski Jr., were killed, with SP4 Peat, who was just behind PFC Gumbert, being dismembered.

Source: http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/g/g402.htm

PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. is listed on the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is located on Panel 09W (West), Row 79. Through the work of the Clermont County Vietnam Veterans, Tim Roth of Roth Monuments in Newport, Kentucky and State Representative Jean Schmidt, a monument was dedicated in 2010 at Arlington National Cemetery, Section MK, Site 320 in honor of PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. of New Richmond, Ohio.

Cliff Riley, Ohio State Commander for the Vietnam Veterans of America and recipient of the highest national award of the Vietnam Veterans of America will be the main speaker at this year’s event.

Tom Mitchell, HONOR AND REMEMBER Ohio Chapter Director, will be presenting the HONOR AND REMEMBER flag to Mr. Gumbert. The mission of HONOR AND REMEMBER is to create and promote a nationally recognized emblem to remind all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms.

New Richmond High School has a Veterans Day Program every year to honor our nation’s heroes from all branches of service. Veterans from WWII to our current war will be in attendance. High School Principal, Mark Bailey, believes it is important to honor our veterans and allow students the opportunity to meet them and hear first hand their stories. Previous speakers at the New Richmond High School Veterans Day Program have been U. S. Representative and Army Reserve officer, Brad Wenstrup and Staff Sergeant Paul Brondhaver, wounded Iraq Veteran from New Richmond, Ohio.

The program is open to veterans and friends of the Gumbert Family. For more information, contact Regina Herbolt at (513) 207-2983. -- http://www.vva649.org/

NRHS craft show seeking vendors

New Richmond High School will host its annual craft fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.

“We are looking for a wide variety of vendors and visitors to join us for this event, which raises money for our marching band and for Lions Reach Out, a small charity that helps out needy families during the holidays,” said NRHS teacher Sue Griffin.  ““We have lots of vendors with unique, affordable products.  Everything from soap to jewelry to homemade treats will be featured.”

 All vendors will be in prime locations in our gym, cafeteria and theatre lobby and there is plenty of help available to help vendors load and unload. Booth space is only $35. There will be a small additional charge for a table or electrical outlets.

A concession stand will be open throughout the day and we'll have a raffle and bake sale as well. If you'd like to be one of our vendors, or you have questions about the fair, please contact Joyce Montgomery at 513-553-3191x10906 or Sue Griffin at 513-553-3191x10314  for more information.

NRHS science teams excel in competition

The New Richmond High School senior team coached by teacher Pat Crowley finished second overall out of 64 teams in the annual Clermont County Science Challenge competition held at UC Clermont College.

Team members were Sydney Padgett, Kelsey Nichols, Brooklyn Klein and Tim Hammer.

“Our 12th grade team ranked 2nd overall due to several 4th and 5th place finishes,” noted Crowley. “They scored high enough, and consistently enough, to earn the second-most points of any team.  The first-place team (Milford) had 9.5 more total points more than our senior team.”

Science Challenge is a joint venture among local school district teachers and the Clermont County Educational Service Center to provide a youth leadership initiative that uses team and problem solving skills. The program begins at the local school district level and culminates in a county-wide event.

Each team participated in four 50 minute events in Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, and Nature of Science. Teams had to use their knowledge of physics, life science, and earth science to solve problems similar to what scientists and engineers have to do with real-world issues.

“I am extremely proud of the successes our students experienced at the Clermont County Science Challenge,” said NRHS principal Mark Bailey. “Our senior team placed 2nd out of 64 teams and our underclassmen represented the district equally as well earning many gold and bronze medals.”

The NRHS 9th grade team consisting of Archer Maguire, Quincey Isparo, Rachel Gastrich, Hailey Kramer and Aaron Prescott won a gold medal in Nature of Science and a bronze medal in Physical Science and was ranked 20th overall out of 64 teams competiting.

The NRHS 11th Grade team consisting of Collin Albers, Teddy Mansfield, Joey Hammill, Alex Gardner and Travis Justice won the gold medal in Physical Science.

“Our students' success is a testimony to their dedication and perseverance as well as the support of their families,” said Bailey. “These accomplishments serve as confirmation in my mind that New Richmond has excellent science teachers focused on Ohio's New Learning Standards who develop interesting and rigorous learning experiences for our students.”

John Frye honored for Transition Program

John Frye, Director of Pupil and Staff Services for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District, has been honored as the district’s Career Prep Educator of the Year by the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce for his work with the Transitions Program for students with disabilities and the development of Brewhaus Dog Bones.

This recognition event is part of the Work Readiness Initiative of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce Foundation which brings educators and businesses together to enhance students’ work-ready skills. Frye was nominated by NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird. 

Transition serves students with disabilities ages 18-22 in a life skills, employment skills and functional curriculum.  Currently eight student Associates are served by four job coaches and a teacher who work to prepare them for adulthood. Formerly contracted out to West Clermont, the Transition program was moved back to the district in 2014 at a savings of more than $100,000 per year.

John Frye (second from right in back row) is pictured with Supt. Adam Bird,
teachers, aides and associates of The Brewhaus Bakery Co. which serves
 students with disabilities ages 18-22 in developing employment
and life skills.

The cornerstone of the New Richmond Transitions Program is The Brewhaus Bakery Company located on the first floor of the Market Street School.  

“Brewhaus produces handcrafted, small batch, oven baked dog treats made from whole grains sourced proudly from local Cincinnati microbreweries,” said Frye. “Mrs. Lisa Graham, parent and entrepreneur in our district, established the Brewhaus Dog Bones company which is managed by the Associates and provides a real business experience for the Associates.”

Currently, Listermann Brewing Co./Triple Digit Microbrewery, Mt. Carmel Brewing Co., Rivertown Brewing Co., Bad Tom Smith Brewing, Paradise Brewing Supply, Ei8ht Ball Brewing, Braxton Brewing, Fibonacci Brewing Co., and Old Firehouse Brewery donate spent barley grains and sell the Brewhaus products in taprooms/brewing supply stores.

Mariemont, New Richmond, Oak Hills, Sycamore, Princeton, Mason in Ohio and Ft. Thomas and Boone County in Kentucky participate in the program and use the start to finish non-profit business model to help their students with disabilities (typically ages 18-22) learn valuable work and life skills.

Students participate in all aspects of the program from planning/forecasting demand, making, baking, labeling and weighing bags, processing orders, attending community sales opportunities, calculating costs, counting money (both cash and credit) from sales and then making bank deposits.

Associates in the NREVSD Transition Program are pictured preparing
Brewhaus Dog Bones from spent brewery grain.

“The goal is to eventually have our own freestanding ‘Brew Bakery’ for supported employment and to continue as a vocational training site,” said Frye. “Brewhaus hopes to create a micro industry in Cincinnati from the spent grains that will directly benefit people with disabilities. It’s 100% non-profit and all proceeds go back into growing our program for others to participate. Best of all, your dog will love you for giving a Brewhaus Dog Treat.”

Brewhaus has partnered with Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to create a paid employment opportunity.

Brewhaus Dog Bones are currently being sold at Rivertown IGA in New Richmond, Party Source in Bellevue, Ky., Country Fresh Market in Anderson Township, Newtown Feed & Seed, Earthwise Pet Supply on Montgomery Road, Family Animal Hospital in Batavia, Cincinnati Hills Animal Clinic on Montgomery Road, Dog Day Every Day on Ohio Pike and Princeton Glendale Road in West Chester, Anderson Family Pet Center on Clough Pike, Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt on Eastgate South Drive, and Gardenia Garden and Home Décor in Milford.

NRHS welcomes back Dwayne Woodruff

New Richmond High School Hall of Famer Dwayne Woodruff returns to his hometown during Homecoming on Oct. 2 to present his Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship to 2015 recipient James Mahan.

Woodruff, who was a three-sport star at New Richmond and led the Lions to the 1974 Clermont County League championship, went on to play college football at the University of Louisville and an 11-year career in the NFL as a cornerback for the Pittsburg Steelers, where  he accumulated 37 interceptions after being drafted in the sixth round in 1979.


As a rookie in 1079, he played in all 16 games and won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. He made at least 10 starts in nine of his 11 seasons with the Steelers, including 1982 when he was named Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP. During two of his 11 seasons with the Steelers, Woodruff was rated as the fastest player in the NFL.

The University of Louisville named its academic center within the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex after Woodruff in 2007. Woodruff’s No. 10 jersey was retired by Louisville and now hangs in Papa John Stadium. Woodruff played for the Cardinals from 1976-78 and collected 161 career tackles, while intercepting three passes. He recorded a career-best 97 tackles in 1977 as the Cardinals advanced to the Independence Bowl.

While playing football during the day for the Steelers, Woodruff prepared for his life’s work at night and obtained his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law and became a founding member of the law firm Woodruff & Flaherty, P.C. (now Flaherty Fardo, LLC) out of Shadyside in Pittsburgh.

While in law school, Woodruff was nicknamed ‘The Judge’ by Steeler owner Art Rooney and 15 years after his retirement from pro football, Woodruff lived up to his nickname and became Judge Dwayne Woodruff after being elected to the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County. He was a candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court but lost in the 2015 primary election.

Woodruff is married to Joy Maxberry Woodruff. They are the parents of three children; Jillian an Ob/Gyn Physician, Jenyce an attorney and John a law student at the Duquesne University School of Law.

The Woodruffs have shared their success with Dwayne’s hometown by sponsoring the Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship which gives $2000 annually to a deserving New Richmond High School graduate.

Woodruff and his wife Joy are currently chairpersons of the "Do The Write Thing" in Pittsburgh. The program is an Initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV). The Do the Write Thing Challenge gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives in classroom discussions and in written form by communicating what they think should be done to change our culture of violence.

Kindergarten classes sing for grandparents

New Richmond Elementary School Kindergarten students in the classrooms of teachers Courtney Shuman, Sarah Metzger and Katie Alsip will be performing for grandparents at the school's Grandparents Day Friday, Sept. 25.

BOE asks for override of budget veto

The Board of Education of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District passed a resolution at its September 21 meeting asking legislative representatives to sponsor and pass override legislation to Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s veto of PUTPP Reimbursements for FY17 which will cost the district more than $700,000. 

PUTPP Reimbursements are payments Ohio makes to public school districts for local tax losses resulting from deregulation of public utility industry in 2001 that culminated in the lowering of the assessment rates of some public utility tangible properties from 88% to 25%. New Richmond originally received $8.1 million per year but has lost $1 million per year prior to the current biennial budget.

NREVSD treasurer Mike Mowery said New Richmond will lose $720,000 in 2016-17, and should the state continue to phase out PUTPP reimbursements at an estimated 10% per year, New Richmond could see its deregulation payments decrease to $4.7 million in 2019/20.

The Board resolution: 
Resolution Calling on New Richmond Exempted Village School District Legislative Representatives to Sponsor and Promote Override Legislation to the Gubernatorial Veto of PUTPP Reimbursements for FY17. 

WHEREAS, New Richmond Exempted Village School District once derived more than 8.1 million dollars per year from the PUTTP component of our tax base; and

WHEREAS, The State of Ohio, in recognition of the fact that a local tax was, in fact, confiscated, committed to reimburse school districts for the value of that tax; and

WHEREAS, As of FY15, The State of Ohio was still reimbursing New Richmond Exempted Village School District a reduced amount of approximately 7.1 million dollars per year; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio House of Representatives and Representative Doug Green voted to maintain a PUTPP supplement to total state aid for FY16 and FY17 in HB64, the 2016-2017 Biennial Budget; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio Senate, and Senator Joe Uecker voted to maintain a PUTPP supplement to total state aid for FY 16 and FY 17 in HB64, the 2016-2017 Biennial Budget; and

WHEREAS, The Ohio House and the Ohio Senate confirmed their intentions by voting for the Conference Committee Report; and

WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Ohio revoked the intended funding via the Line Item Veto provision of the Ohio Constitution; and

WHEREAS, The Ohio Constitution allows for the legislature to override gubernatorial vetoes through the legislative process.

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education calls on our primary legislative representation, Representative Doug Green and Senator Joe Uecker to introduce and sponsor legislation to override the gubernatorial veto and restore the PUTPP reimbursement hold harmless provision for FY17; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education will send a copy of this Resolution to the President of the Board of Education and Treasurer of similarly situated school districts materially harmed by the line item veto; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our Representatives introduce legislation in their respective chambers that will allow New Richmond Exempted Village School District and similarly situated districts to capture the losses associated with the confiscation of the PUTPP tax in permanent law.

NR School Board opposes marijuana issue

The Board of Education of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District passed a resolution at its Sept. 21 meeting opposing Ohio Issue 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of marijuana in the state of Ohio. 

Board members Kristin Bennet, Tim DuFau, Tony Farmer, Kim Hayden and Kevin Walriven vote for the resolution in opposition to the November ballot issue:

Resolution Opposing Issue 3:

It is recommended that the Board of Education adopt the following Resolution. 

WHEREAS, Ohio voters are being asked to consider State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of marijuana in the state of Ohio; and

WHEREAS, the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education shares the concerns of Ohio’s doctors, hospitals, children’s health advocates, civic leaders, parents, farmers, other business people, chambers of commerce, law enforcement personnel, addiction counselors and faith leaders; and

WHEREAS, the proposed constitutional amendment allows a private organization to acquire exclusive rights to grow, manufacture and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused edible products to Ohioans for recreational and medical use; and

WHEREAS, the proposed constitutional amendment will allow for more than 1,100 retail stores focusing on the sales of recreational marijuana in the form of marijuana cigarettes, liquids, sprays, and edibles to be located near Ohio’s schools; and

WHEREAS, the allowance for large quantities of recreational marijuana combined with the lack of oversight and control make it very likely that marijuana would fall into the hands of our students;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the elected members of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education, on behalf of the children and community we serve, do hereby express our opposition to State Issue 3, a constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the treasurer be directed to record this resolution in the minutes of the board of education and that copies of the resolution be forwarded to members of the local press for distribution to the community.

NREVSD joins group to oppose mandates

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District has joined 40 other Greater Cincinnati school districts in forming the Greater Cincinnati School Advocacy Network to lobby Ohio legislators to scale back on unfunded mandates returning local control to education.

“By joining the Greater Cincinnati School Advocacy Network we hope to encourage parents, educators and community leaders to contact their legislators to eliminate unfunded mandates. We would like to see reductions in testing time, data-collection requirements and teacher evaluation programs and return local control to schools,” explained New Richmond Supt. Adam Bird.

Some of the unfunded mandates the advocacy group opposes include:

• OTES - the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System • The third grade guarantee • College credit plus • Ohio's new career advising policies • Teacher residency programs • Career technical requirements at the Junior High level.

The Greater Cincinnati School Advocacy Network conducted a random telephone survey of over 800 southwest Ohio registered voters in May 2015.

Some results of that survey:

41.6% percent saying current testing requirements hurt more than helps (26.5%);
50.7% wanted local control of education rather than the Ohio Board of Education (27.1%);
62.1% disagreed with local tax levy funds approved by voters for public schools being shared with for-profit charter and online charter schools;
80.8% said the State Legislature should reduce the amount of mandates and demands it places on public schools, and give more control to communities and local school boards;
93.8% agreed that privately-operated charter schools that receive public tax dollars should be held to the same standards for transparency and accountability as public schools.

BUTLER COUNTY Edgewood City Schools, Fairfield City Schools, Hamilton City Schools, Lakota Local Schools, Madison Local Schools, Middletown City Schools, Monroe Local Schools, New Miami Local Schools, Ross Local Schools, Talawanda Schools

CLERMONT COUNTY
Batavia Local Schools, Bethel-Tate Local Schools, Goshen Local Schools, Milford Exempted Village School District, New Richmond EV School District, West Clermont Local Schools, Williamsburg Local Schools

HAMILTON COUNTYCincinnati Public Schools, Deer Park Community City Schools, Finneytown Local Schools, Forest Hills Local Schools, Indian Hill School District, Lockland Local Schools, Loveland City Schools, Madeira City Schools, Mariemont City Schools, Mt. Healthy City Schools, North College Hill City Schools, Northwest Local Schools, Norwood City Schools, Oak Hills Local Schools, Princeton City Schools, Reading Community Schools, St. Bernard-EP School District, Southwest Local Schools, Sycamore Community Schools, Three Rivers School District, Wyoming City Schools

WARREN COUNTYLittle Miami Schools, Mason City Schools, Springboro Community Schools

NREVSD to conduct intruder drills

If you student comes home from school talking about ALICE, it isn’t in reference to the new girl in school.

ALICE stands for Alert; Lockdown; Inform; Counter and Evacuate, the standard for training and dealing with an intruder during life threating lockdown situations. State law mandates that schools conduct three unannounced ALICE training drills for students each school year. Administrators, teachers and building staffs have had their required intense training session.

NRE principal Jamie Kunz

“Much like we practice other safety drills (fire & tornado) the students at New Richmond Elementary will be practicing up to three safety drills in accordance with state law,” explained NRE principal Jamie Kunz. “These will be unannounced drills so it is important to talk with your child about ALICE.”

Ohio’s School Safety Task Force, formed by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine after the Sandy Hook tragedy, concluded that that lockdown is no longer a standalone strategy to secure in place and aligned Ohio with ALICE standards.

Task Force recommendations included all of the training protocols found in ALICE Training including barricading, evacuating and countering. It also empowers and authorizes decision making by those people under attack.

ALICE training for K-12 students will be age-appropriate and based on curriculum developed by The ALICE Training Institute (www.alicetraining.com).

“Our ALICE drills are designed so that should we ever have a situation, the intruder is not going to find a soft target in our schools,” said NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird.

Some of the conclusions and recommendations of Ohio’s School Safety Task Force:

“Lockdown is not a stand-alone defense strategy.” [Page 50] “When securing in place, this procedure should involve barricading the door and readying a plan of evacuation or counter tactics should the need arise.” [Page 50] “Do not place students in one location within the room.  In the event that entry is gained by a shooter or intruder, students should consider exiting by running past the shooter/intruder.” [Page 59] “Staff and students may utilize methods to distract the shooter/intruder’s ability to accurately shoot or cause harm, such as loud noises or aiming and throwing objects at the shooter/intruder’s face or person. [Page 50] “If students and school personnel are outside of the school at the time of a LOCKDOWN, teachers should move students to the designated off-site location.” [Page 51] “If an intruder enter and begins shooting, any and all actions to stop the shooter are justified.  This includes moving about the room to lessen accuracy, throwing items (books, computers, phones, book bags) to create confusion, exiting out windows, and confronting (assault, subdue, choke) to stop the intruder.  Tell students to get out any way possible and move to another location” [Page 59]

Read the full School Safety report at the following link:

http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Publications/Publications-for-Schools/School-Safety-Task-Force-Report

It’s no longer ‘Your father’s library’

The New Richmond Board of Education decided a decade ago not to build a new high school and began the process of bringing the New Richmond High School building up to modern standards.

First came the replacement of the façade and structure repairs; then came removal of asbestos and replacing ceilings and floors; and most recently adding energy efficient lighting, heating and air conditioning. But something was missing inside the modernized high school building.

The library remained ‘Your father’s library,’ not the modern equivalent of  learning centers which have become the social, collaborative hub of the campus while maintaining their role as places for intense study.

“We had a classic library which was using original furniture when the building was built in 1965,” noted NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird.

Laura Kramer, HR manager for TQL uses the Media Center's mobile chairs
 during the  NRHS  College and Career Success Class

The 1965 library experience wasn’t going over very well with recent graduates who went on to college.

“Our building leadership team did research during the second semester last year to develop a multi-year vision for the building,” explained NRHS principal Mark Bailey. “One of the things we discovered in our research was that many of our graduates said there were things that they felt they should have received though a media center education that would have prepared them better for college for doing research.”

That all changed this summer when, with the backing of the Board of Education, Mr. Bird and Mr. Bailey presented returning high school students with a contemporary, $200,000 learning center that provides private study space while at the same time supporting multiple large and small group meetings.

Jim Huebner,Senior Vice President, River Hills Bank,
uses one of two ottoman seating areas during a NRHS
College and Career Success Class.

"We want our students to be inspired to learn and we were looking for a more collegiate and contemporary look for our new media center," said Bird.

“The room is designed to be very flexible in its use,” explained Bailey, who reclaimed the school’s original library space for the media center. “It’s set up where you can do large-group presentations with a projection board and three 65-inch flat screen TVs, with chairs for the large-group presentations being mobile and arranged quickly in any order.”

Seating options include booths, mobile chairs, bar stools, ottoman seating and open cubicles.

“Some students do better in some type of seating options so we have those,” said Bailey. “Some spaces are conducive to small group work. Some spaces are conducive to groups of 2 to 8 students who are working on a major project. Other sections are for students who are doing independent work who want to be isolated so they can focus on their work.”

Ted Groman , Assistant Director, Ohio
 Means Jobs, used the Center's table
seating for his talk with NRHS
students during a College and Career
Success class.

An example of the media center’s flexibility is the College and Career Success class taught by seven business leaders from the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce.  The course focuses on helping senior students learn the skills necessary to aid in the smooth transition from high school into the workplace or college life and the Chamber group is able to go from one large group to seven individual groups in a matter of seconds.

“If you have a class and you want students to work in pairs or in groups of four, it’s very easy to maneuver to change the academic focus to allow students to something a little bit different from the classroom,” said Bailey.

Cyn Macke, Director of Member Services,
Clermont Chamber of Commerce, uses
a second ottoman seating area for her part
of the College and Career Success class.

 “Several schools have done electronic media centers (Medina, Madeira) but we wanted to make ours something that was very flexible and something where we could house all our books and assorted media while keeping up to date with the changes in technology so that our students could have that experience and be prepared if they choose to go on to college.”

The media center has been a big hit with teachers and students alike.

“Teachers can reserve use of the media center to do class presentations because it’s ideal for large groups with its projection boards and three large screen plasma televisions,” said Bailey. “It’s also idea for smaller groups or independent work with our institution of learning periods this year (modern day study halls) and that has created flexibility with student schedules where they may have time to visited the media center and use it to the fullest extent and I see that happening on a daily basis.” 

Booth seating areas are perfect for 4 to 6 group meeting. Lee Rose – Admissions Counselor for Chatfield College is pictured with her small group during the College and Career Success class.

Mark Bailey speaks at Chinese forum

New Richmond High School Principal Mark Bailey was one of five American educators invited to make presentations at the 2015 Shanghai International Forum on Student Development and Education in June. Click on the Play button below to watch a video of Mr. Bailey talking about his China experience.

NREVSD goes digital in big way

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District is well on its way to becoming a fully digital school district with the addition of 450 Chromebook laptops for 2015-2016 school year.

"It is a part of our strategic plan to 'provide high quality instruction' and to 'cultivate knowledge networks to become college and career ready,'" said NREVSD Supt Adam Bird. "Our students are growing up in a digital age and our students deserve the best resources that we can provide for them."

New Richmond High School senior Brianna Gonzalez uses a Chromebook while studying in the high school media center.

New Richmond started buying Chromebooks (which cost one-fourth of the price of a desktop computer-monitor combination) prior to the 2014-15 school year when the majority of the district’s aging PCs needed upgrading. Chromebooks range in price between $150 and $225 which is less than half the price of an Apple iPad, plus they have keyboards and touchpads which are critical for use in courses and assessments that require composition.

New Richmond’s Chromebook program targets grades 3-8 due to newly adopted curriculum requirements for those grade levels in Science and Social Studies and for mandated online assessments.

"We're excited that our entire Middle School will now be 1:1 with students (404) and devices (Chromebooks) beginning in 2015-2016 and approaching 1-1 for grades 3-8 (1132 students),” said NREVSD technology director Matt Prichard. "Adding these new Chromebooks presents a wonderful opportunity for our students and teachers to align daily curriculum and lessons with technology use in the classroom daily."

New Richmond Middle School now has a 1-1 ratio of Chromebooks to students.

Chromebooks are inexpensive laptop computers running Google’s Chrome operating system that offer a quality and inexpensive technology option for schools by providing cloud computing, portability, long battery life, centralized management with no software charges. Chromebooks run Google Apps for Education which gives the district the benefit of Google Docs, Gmail, Google Calendar, Blogger, Sites, and much more, all for no cost to the district.

“We have migrated to Google Apps for Education so we already receive the wonderful benefit of Google Docs, Gmail, Google Calendar, Blogger, Sites, and much more, all for no cost,” said Prichard.

The additional Chromebooks bring the district’s total to 1450 and allowed the transfer of enough iPads to grades K-2 to achieve a 1-1 ratio of devices to students (577).

Chromebooks lead to less ‘listen-to-me’ lecturing and more active student involvement in the classroom.

“Three of the four recent textbook and program adoptions utilize Chromebooks in the classroom nearly every day,” said John Frye, district director of pupil and staff services. “The recent HMH Science Fusion program that will be implemented in grades 3-8 uses Chromebooks to conduct “virtual labs” for students.”

 Students work independently or in partners in the virtual labs, conducting experiments in a virtual environment with all of the same expectations for scientific application that their parents experienced in senior high school science labs. 

“Math Expressions K-5, Math Innovations 6-8, Teach Ohio (social studies) all have virtual applications for students and teachers to assign and collect homework, assessments and daily record keeping,” said Frye. “This generation of students certainly will have many, many opportunities to learn and demonstrate their technological prowess in the learning in our school district.”

While New Richmond High School isn’t near a 1-1 ratio of devices-to-students, students are permitted to bring their own computer devices (cell phones are banned).

“One of the most amazing things to me is that Chromebooks are now as affordable to the school district and families as graphing calculators are,” noted Frye. “For about $150 per unit, students can access the internet and use the device as a productivity and learning tool through Google applications.”

Ohio offering sales tax holiday on school supplies

Ohio is offering tax-free back-to-school shopping on clothes, shoes, school supplies Aug. 7-9
The sales tax holiday applies to purchases made from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.

Ohio passed legislation last year exempting sales tax on purchases of clothing and footwear priced at up to $75 per item, as well as school supplies and instructional materials priced at up to $20 per item.
Consumers can buy as much as they want of eligible items, as long as the retail price for each item does not exceed the limit.

The state defines clothing as "all human wearing apparel suitable for general use," including but not limited to "shirts, blouses, sweaters, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, uniforms (athletic and nonathletic), shoes and shoe laces, insoles for shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots, overshoes, slippers, steel-toed shoes, underwear, socks and stockings, hosiery, pantyhose, footlets, coats and jackets, rainwear, gloves and mittens for general use, hats and caps, ear muffs, belts and suspenders, neckties, scarves, aprons (household and shop), lab coats, athletic supporters, bathing suits and caps, beach capes and coats, costumes, baby receiving blankets, diapers (children and adult, including disposable diapers), rubber pants, garters and garter belts, girdles, formal wear, and wedding apparel."

Check your student’s school web site for supply lists.

New principals hired for Monroe and NRE

The Board of Education of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District at its June 22 meeting hired two administrators with ties to the district to lead its Monroe and New Richmond elementary schools.

Jamie Kunz, a New Richmond resident whose children attend New Richmond schools, was hired as the new principal at New Richmond Elementary and William Craig Horn, a 1999 graduate of New Richmond High School, was hired as the new principal at Monroe Elementary.

Jamie Kunz

“The New Richmond Exempted Village School District has attracted two outstanding educators and administrators with New Richmond ties to take the leadership roles of our Monroe and New Richmond elementary schools,” said Supt. Adam Bird. “Jamie Kunz comes to us from Hamilton City Schools and brings six years of administrative experience including three years as a principal and Craig Horn returns to his home district with an outstanding resume that includes serving the past year as an assistant principal in the Mt. Healthy district.”

 Both Kunz and Horn have backgrounds in the important area of special education.

“I am passionate about education and strive to help all students achieve success and believe that all children can learn in a learning environment that is stimulating, comforting and appropriate to their unique talents and abilities,” said Kunz, who has been the principal at Hamilton’s Fairwood Elementary School since 2012. She previously worked as an assistant principal at Hamilton’s Garfield Middle School in 2011-2012 and as dean of students at Fairwood from 2009 to 2011.

Kunz was graduated from Miami University in 2004 with a B.S. degree in Integrated Language Arts Education and received a M.S. degree in Curriculum & Teacher Leadership from Miami in 2005 and is currently enrolled in post-graduate studies at the University of Dayton.

“I live in New Richmond with my husband and three children and I very much look forward to working with the students, parents, staff, and community members of New Richmond Elementary,” said Kunz, who replaces the retiring Terry Miller at NRE.

Craig Horn

Horn received a B.S. in Education degree from Georgetown College in Kentucky in 2003 and a Masters in Educational Administration from Xavier University in 2007 and is currently taking a post-graduate course from Florida State University in Educational Leadership.

“As a NRHS graduate with the class of 1999, I couldn't be happier to accept a position with the district where I was inspired to be an educator, and more specifically, to be an educational leader,” said Horn, who taught for four years at Campbell County (Ky.) schools before moving to Florida where he held positions as a special education teacher, special education program coordinator, dean of students, curriculum specialist, and assistant principal.

He had an opportunity to return home last year and accepted a position as assistant principal at Mt. Healthy North Elementary.

Even though I had a position in Mt. Healthy, I bought a home in New Richmond, and I'm excited to live and work in the community where I grew up,” said Horn, who replaces Joe Roach as Monroe’s principal.

Roach moves to New Richmond’s Locust Corner Elementary where he succeeds Dr. Tara Rosselot, who is moving to New Richmond High School as a language arts teacher.

Tom Wessner picked to coach Lady Lions

Pending school board approval, 13-year coaching veteran Tom Wessner has been selected to coach the New Richmond High School Lady Lions basketball team. Wessner, who was picked by a school committee to fill a social studies vacancy, comes to New Richmond from White Oak High School where most recently the boys varsity basketball coach. He was introduced to the Lady Lions on June 9 by NRHS athletic director Doug Foote.

Six picked for Buckeye Boys/Girls State

Six New Richmond High School juniors who exemplify character, integrity, leadership and scholarship have been selected to attend the 2015 American Legion’s Buckeye Boys and Buckeye Girls State conventions the week of June 14.

Nick Kirby, Chase Heflin, Evan Grippa and Carter Light will be attending Buckeye Boys State at Bowling Green State University.

Lindsey Williams and Ella Lindsley will attend Buckeye Girls State at the University of Mt. Union in Alliance, Ohio.

New Richmond High School juniors (from left) Nick Kirby, Chase Heflin, Evan Grippa and Carter Light will attend Buckeye Boys State June 14-21 at Bowling Green State University.

New Richmond High School juniors (from left) Lindsey Williams and Ella Lindsley will attend Buckeye Girls State June 14-20 at the University of Mt. Union.

“The six students selected to attend Buckeye Boys State and Buckeye Girls State from New Richmond High School exemplify the definitions of ‘Character’, ‘Integrity’, ‘Leadership’, and ‘Scholarship,’ “ said New Richmond High School principal Mark Bailey. “I am exceedingly proud of these students and know they will represent our school and community well.  I would like to thank Ralph Shepherd from American Legion John Farina Post 550 for making this opportunity possible for our students.”

American Legion Buckeye Boys State is an eight-day hands-on experience in the operation of the democratic form of government, the organization of political parties, and the relationship of one to the other in shaping Ohio government. 

Through a practical, objective, nonpartisan approach, participants in the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program are exposed to fundamental democratic principles in local, county and state elections and governmental functions which prepare them for leadership roles as patriotic American citizens.

Founded in 1936, Buckeye Boys State is the largest Boys State program in the nation with an attendance of over 1,200 young men annually, representing nearly 600 Ohio High Schools, several on-line High Schools, and the Home Schooled Community.

Distinguished alumni of Buckeye Boys State include astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, and fellow astronauts Terence Henricks, Carl Walz, Michael Gernhardt and Gregory Johnson. Other alumni include Thomas Moyer, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, and U.S. Congressmen Michael Oxley and Paul Gilmore.

Buckeye Girls State is a week-long program designed to educate Ohio's young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of good citizenship. By getting involved in the process, Delegates can learn more about City, County and State Government in one week than they will learn in an entire semester of high school

Buckeye Girls State alumni include former Texas Governor Ann Richards, Former Miss USA Terri Utley, newscaster Jane Pauley, country music performer Janie Fricke, television personality Leeza Gibbons, Brigadier General Sharla Cook and U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn.

NRHS athletes make their college choices

Eight New Richmond High School athletes announced their colleges May 11. Pictured are (seated from left) Cody Kirschner, Thomas More for tennis; Tucker Schweickert, Thomas More for football; Isiah Young, UC Clermont for basketball; (standing from left) Patrick Richardson, Mt. St. Joseph for football; TJ Burbage, Wilmington College for track; Austin Fischer, Illinois Tech for baseball; Steven Wolfe, UC Clermont for baseball; Dalton Henderson, Ohio Wesleyan for baseball; Jacob Carnahan, UC Clermont for baseball; and Taryn Rupp, Ohio Northern for cross country and track.

Click on the play button below to watch the signing ceremony.

Drug testing recommended for NR athletes

New Richmond Exempted Village School District Supt. Adam Bird has asked the Board of Education to consider implementing random drug testing for New Richmond High School athletics and extracurricular participants.

“It will give our students an additional reason to say no to peer pressure regarding drugs and alcohol,” Bird told the Board at its April meeting.

Random drug testing has been discussed by Bird and School Board Policy Committee members Kim Hayden and Kristin Bennett and is on the agenda for the next committee meeting.

“I’ve spoken to Mr. Bailey (NRHS principal Mark Bailey) and Mr. Foote (NRHS athletic director Doug Foote) and several coaches at the high school and all have spoken positively about it,” said Bird.

Bird, at the request of Mrs. Hayden and Mrs. Bennett, surveyed area schools for their drug testing policies and found that only Milford currently has random drug testing among area school districts.

Milford started its program in 2006 and pulls about five students a week from a randomly selected list of students participating in athletics and extracurricular activities such as drama club, jazz band, National Honor Society.

A national survey by National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20104025/ ) found that 22 percent of high school students surveyed admitted to experimenting with alcohol or drugs. That percentage dropped to 16 at schools with random drug testing.

“I bring this to you, not just on a whim, not just to throw it out there, but this is something that I am very serious about,” Bird said at the Board’s April meeting. “I think this is very important for our schools and our community which continues to experience heroin deaths and continues to experience drug use and drug problems.”

Board member and former school board president Kevin Walriven agreed.

“You have to start somewhere,” said Walriven.” We know there is a community drug problem and you can’t sit back and do nothing.”

Under current New Richmond Exempted Village School District Policy, participation in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities is a privilege, not a right. A student athlete who has violated the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Policy regarding drugs, alcohol, controlled substances and tobacco will be subject to the following penalties: denied game participation for 20% of scheduled regular season games/contests for first offense; 50% of their sport season for a second offense if they agree to education/intervention and treatment at the student’s expense; and denied participating in athletics for the rest of his/her New Richmond High School career for a third offense pending a hearing of the Superintendent and/or designee.

The full New Richmond High School athletic handbook is available at http://www.nrschools.org/Downloads/AthleticHandbook_2014-152.pdf.