Fund drive for LCE student with leukemia

Samantha is a student at Locust Corner Elementary diagnosed with leukemia.  She will be in the hospital for at least the next 30 days during treatment.

Locust Corner Elementary teacher Lisa Mays has started a fund drive to help Samantha’s family with medical expenses.

“Any donation made will make a difference for Samantha and her family,” said Mays. “Samantha is loved by her family, friends, and everyone who knows her. We especially miss her smiling face at school.”

You can make donations online at the link below:

http://www.gofundme.com/plpw74

Supt. Bird warns against state budget cuts

New Richmond Exempted Village School District Supt. Adam Bird testified March 19 before the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education against House Bill 64 and proposed cuts in the 2016-2017 Biennium Budget that would result in what he described as a “Perfect Storm” for New Richmond Schools and the Grant Career and Technical district.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich had proposed a 2016-17 Biennium Budget that would reduce the state funding guarantee by 1% and an additional phase out of the Public Utility Tangible Personal Property tax reimbursement (Deregulation payments) to district affected when the state deregulated electrical generation which greatly reduced local property taxes paid by electrical utilities.

In his testimony to the subcommittee, Supt. Bird noted that the 1% guarantee cut would cost New Richmond $250,000 in each of the next two years for an accumulative effect of $750,000 and the $500,000 cut in deregulation payments in each of the next two years would mean an additional $1.5 million loss to New Richmond and Grant.

The proposed reductions would come on top of an annual loss of $1.6 million from Duke Energy’s closing of the Beckjord generating station.

“These three together represent a ‘perfect storm’ for NREVSD and Grant,” Bird told the subcommittee.

New Richmond’s deregulation payments was previously reduced by $500,00 in fiscal year 2012 and again by an additional $500,000 in fiscal year 2013 for a cumulative effect of $3.5 million by the end of fiscal year 2015. Bird testified that it would take a total of 4 mills to make up for the past cuts coupled with the proposed cuts in House Bill 64.

“If future budget bills were to take all of this (deregulation payments) reimbursement away, our community would have to pass another 12 mill levy to replace it,” Bird told the subcommittee.

The deregulation payments have allowed New Richmond to renovate its three elementary schools and the high school without any assistance from the Ohio Facilities Commission.

Bird noted that New Richmond teacher base pay has stayed the same for the past five years with two more years left to be frozen. Teachers were given a bonus when they agreed to the latest 3-year contract in lieu of an increase in base pay. New Richmond classified employees have experienced a similar wage freeze for three years.

“We are not a community with property wealth and disposable income. We are not a community with factories, malls, large companies and industries,” Bird said in his conclusion. “ Please do not take tax money from any of these local communities and schools and put that in the general fund.  Ohio’s general fund is doing very well and should not be increased at the expense of small communities in Ohio.”

Breakfast with Easter Bunny is March 21

New Richmond High School will be hosting the NRHS PTO’s Annual "Breakfast with the Easter Bunny" on Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in the high school cafeteria. Breakfast will include waffles, bacon, coffee and juice. Cost is $4.00 for ages 1-10 and $5.00 for ages 11 and up.

The breakfast program also includes face painting, prizes, crafts, and vendors. Any questions please call Kelly Grogan at 553-2289.

Kindergarten registration begins April 6

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District will begin registering students for kindergarten for the 2015-2016 School year starting April 6 and running through July 31 at the Central Office, 212 Market Street, Third Floor, in New Richmond.

Hours for registration will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday during the registration period. Parents are urged to register their kindergarten student as early as possible to help with classroom planning at the district’s three elementary schools.

Parents or legal guardians should bring the following information when registering their kindergarten student:  

                   

•           Student’s Original Birth Certificate                 

•           Student’s Social Security Card            

•           Student’s Immunization Records                    

•           Picture I.D. of Custodial Parent or Legal Guardian                 

•           Proof of Residency (cable bill, water bill, gas/electric bill)     

Open enrollment families must first apply for open enrollment before registering their kindergarten student.

A child must be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2015 to be eligible for kindergarten for the 2015-2016 school year.            

NRMS dominates Science Olympiad

New Richmond Middle School’s Science Olympiad team is headed back to next month’s Ohio Science Olympiad at Ohio State University with a lot of momentum after recording 1^st and 3^rd place finishes in the Cincinnati Regional Science Olympiad.

“Our goal at state is to break into the top 10. New Richmond placed 12^th last year (2014) up from a previous best of 28^th (in 2013) out of 40 schools,” said Ursula Miller, coordinator for New Richmond Science Olympiad Program. 

New Richmond Middle School's Science Olympiad teams finished 1st and 3rd in the Cincinnati Regional and is head back to the state competition at Ohio State University in April

New Richmond’s Black Team defended the school’s regional title with a low score of 70 in the 23-event competition, edging our Mason by 9 points. The NRMS Red Team finished third with 104 points, beating Mason’s No. 2 team by 8 points. Other school’s competing included Wyoming, Ross, Milford, Twin Valley South, Kings, National Trail, St. Mark’s Lutheran, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Ridge Junior High, and St. James of the Valley.

 “It was especially gratifying to compete so well against large schools districts, such as Mason,” said Miller. “Our first-place win in the Cincinnati region qualifies Team New Richmond to advance to state competition at The Ohio State University in Columbus on April 11.”

New Richmond’s domination of the Cincinnati Regional Science Olympiad included a combined 22 top two finishes and 38 medal finishes ( top six finish. The New Richmond teams finished 1-2 in four of the 23 events.

“This is a great example of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and project-based learning molded together,” said New Richmond Supt. Adam Bird. “It’s a great learning experience for New Richmond students and our district is very thankful for the efforts of Mrs. Miller and the many adult volunteers who devoted  many hours went into making this happen.”

The cost of the Science Olympiad competition was raised by Mrs. Miller and her volunteers.

“We are grateful for financial support from PPG Foundation for its $1,000 grant and to Heather Ipsaro and Andrea Schultz for leading our other fund raisers,” said Mrs. Miller.

Coaches and volunteers:

Dean Miller, Adrienne Hammill, M.D., Keri Weinstock, Pam Hughes, Beth Childers, Amy Weiksittel, Rob Hammill, Travis Justice, Karen Cahall, Susan Reid, Tracy Maguire, Karen Bezold, Kimberly Colangelo, Andrea Schultz, Alicia Walls, Jerry Noble. Patrick Crowley, Kevin Gastrich, Heather Ipsaro, Susie Twomey, Gregg Curless, Kathy Henderson, Jeanette Johnson, Crystal Pratt, Shannon Stapleton, Kathy Henderson, Jeanette Johnson, Crystal Pratt, Shannon Stapleton.   

NRMS  Black Team members: Addison Beller, Elise Bezold, Rachel Gastrich, Becky Hammill, Brody Hawkins, Derick Henderson, Quincy Ipsaro, Archer Maguire, McKenzie Miller, Jacob Noble, Madeline Walls, Lauren Weiskittel, Dani Williams, Cheyenne Young.

Black Team 1^st Place finishers:

Bottle Rocket: Brody Hawkins, Quincy Ipsaro;
Can’t Judge a Powder: Lauren Weiskittel, Cheyenne Young;
Disease Detective: Addison Beller, Elise Bezold;
Fossils: Elise Bezold, McKenzie Miller;
Simple Machines: Rachel Gastrich, Madeline Walls;
Wheeled Vehicles: Rachel Gastrich,; Dani Williams.

Black Team: 2^nd Place Finishers:
Air Trajectory: Derick Henderson, Lauren Weiskittel;
Anatomy & Physiology: Rachel Gastrich, Becky Hammill;
Elastic Launched Glider: Becky Hammill, McKenzie Miller;
Experimental Design: Becky Hammill, Madeline Walls;
Green Generation: Elise Bezold, Quincy Ipsaro;
Picture This: Becky Hammill, McKenzie Miller;
Road Scholar: Elise Bezold, Brody Hawkins.

Black Team: 3^rd Place Finishers:
Bridge Building: McKenzie Miller, Cheyenne Young.
Entomology: Derick Henderson, Archer Maguire.
Meteorology: Brody Hawkins, Derick Henderson.

Black Team: 4^th Place Finishers:
Dynamic Planet: Quincy Ipsaro, Cheyenne Young.
Solar System: Archer Maguire, Dani Williams.

Black Team: 5^th Place Finishers:
Crime Busters: Archer Maguire, Madeline Walls.

Black Team: 6^th Place Finishers:
Robo-Cross: Derick Henderson, Jacob Noble.

Black Team: 7^th Place Finishers:
Bio-Process Lab: Rachel Gastrich, Madeline Walls.
Crave the Wave: Archer Maguire, Lauren Weiskittel.

Black Team: 8^th Place Finishers:
Write It, Do It: Brody Hawkins, Jacob Noble.

NRMS Red Team members: Joshua Biren, Jackson Cahall, Zoe Fisher, Joe George, Tatem Lindner, Jetta McCart, Kaleigh Pratt, Jonah Reid, Hannah Schultz, Nicholas Swisher, Madison Torres, Josh Twomey, Zach Twomey, Max Walls.

Red Team 1^st Place Finishers:
Air Trajectory: Joe George, Zach Twomey;
Elastic Launched Glider: Jonah Reid, Max Walls;
Picture This: Joshua Biren, Hannah Schultz, Nicholas Swisher.

Red Team 2^nd Place Finishers:
Bottle Rockets: Hannah Schultz, Josh Twomey;
Bridge Building: Kaleigh Pratt, Jonah Reid;
Can’t Judge a Powder: Tatem Lindner, Jetta McCart;
Crime Busters: Zoe Fisher, Madison Torres;
Write It, Do It: Jackson Cahall, Zach Twomey.

Red Team 3^rd Place Finishers:
Disease Detectives: Kaleigh Pratt, Max Walls;
Dynamic Planet: Jackson Cahall, Jonah Reid.

Red Team 4^th Place Finishers:
Anatomy & Physiology: Tatem Lindner, Jetta McCart;
Fossils: Madison Torres, Josh Twomey;
Road Scholar: Joe George, Max Walls.
Simple Machines: Kaleigh Pratt, Jonah Reid.

Red Team 5^th Place Finishers:
Crave The Wave: Joshua Biren, Nicholas Swisher.

Red Team 6^th Place Finishers:
Entomology: Joshua Biren, Hannah Schultz;
Solar System:  Jackson Cahall, Zoe Fisher.

Red Team 7^th Place Finishers:
Green Generation: Jetta McCart, Kaleigh Pratt;
Meteorology: Joe George, Tatem Lindner;
Robo-Cross: Zoe Fisher, Zach Twomey.

Red Team 8^th Place Finishers:
Experimental Design: Jetta McCart, Madison Torres, Josh Twomey;

Red Team 9^th Place Finishers:
Bio-Process Lab: Tatem Lindner, Madison Torres.