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.

Nick Wilson 5K Run/Walk is July 11

The Nicholas Wilson Athletic Scholarship 5K Run/Walk will take place on July 11, 2015.

The Nicholas Wilson Athletic Scholarship was created to honor the life of Nicholas Wilson by assisting in furthering the education of a New Richmond High School graduating senior.

Nicholas (Nick) graduated from New Richmond High School in 2009. He was an exceptional athlete, participating in football, basketball, baseball, and track.  He was also a member of the Troubadours. After high school, Nick continued his education and graduated with honors from Nashville Auto Diesel College as a mechanic with an emphasis in heavy equipment.

Nick passed away suddenly on December 24, 2013 in a car accident.

Our mission is to develop and maintain a scholarship fund that continues to assist New Richmond High School students just like Nick for years to come. With the Nicholas Wilson Athletic Scholarship, our goal is to award one scholarship each year to a high school senior who meets the scholarship criteria. As the scholarship grows with the help of fundraisers and donations, our plan is to increase the number of annual scholarships.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor/donor or have any additional questions, please contact us at the contact information below. 

Patsy Wilson                                                   
513-535-3105                                                 
patricia.wilson@cchmc.org

Or Carrie Hughes
513-515-4351
carrie.hughes@cchmc.org

Nicholas Wilson Athletic Scholarship 5K Run / Walk

Saturday July 11, 2015 8:30 am 212 Market Street, New Richmond, OH

*** ELECTRONIC TIMING PROVIDED BY GHG TIMING LLC ***

REGISTER ONLINE AT www.RegistrationSpot.com  *** OR *** Print and complete the entry form below.

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________________

City, State,Zip:__________________________________________________________________

Phone:__________________ E-mail:____________________ Age on Race Day:________

ENTRY FEE (check one)

___$30 Pre-Registration includes T-shirt ___$35 Race Day Registration, purchase T-shirt separately if available

*** AGES 11 AND UNDER *** REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED *** WILL NOT RECEIVE BIB NUMBER ***

Race Division (circle one) 5K Run 5K Walk

Sex (circle one) Male Female

Shirt Size (circle one) S M L XL XXL

Make checks payable to: NREVSD (New Richmond Exempted Village School District)

Mail checks to: Liz Misheff, 1064 US 52 New Richmond, OH 45157

*** Pre-registration entry forms must be postmarked by Wednesday July 1, 2015 ***

WAIVER: In consideration of the acceptance of my entry, I hereby waive, discharge and release on behalf of myself, my heirs, executors and assigns, all claims of any nature, including but not limited to damages, demands, actions, whatsoever in any manner, arising from my participation in the Nicholas Wilson Athletic Scholarship 5K, and do hereby release the Village of New Richmond, GHG Timing LLC, the race director, coordinators, all sponsors, workers, officials and volunteers from any claim whatsoever arising from my participation in this event. I agree to abide by all rules for participation and acknowledge that the Race Committee may refuse or return my entry at its discretion. I attest and verify that I understand the risks involved in such a run/walk, and that I am physically fit and have trained adequately in preparation and I agree to pay for my own medical expenses in the case of an accident or illness regardless of whether I have authorized such expenses. I HAVE NOTED ANY MEDICAL CONDITION on this form below. I permit the use of my name and picture participating in this event for publicity.

Relevant Medical

Conditions:________________________________________________________________

ENTRANT SIGNATURE:__________________________________ Date: _____________

Parent or Legal Guardian signature

for participants under age 18 ________________________________Date: ____________

Emergency

Contact__________________________________________Phone___________________

*** ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ENTERED IN DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS !! ***

www.RegistrationSpot.com

Big savings expected in insurance costs

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District is expecting big savings in its health and dental insurance costs after pulling out of the Clermont County Insurance Consortium and joining the larger Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council. 

New Richmond spends approximately $3 million a year for employee health and dental insurance and was facing an increase of 8 percent effective July 1 had it remained in the Clermont County Insurance Consortium which now includes all Clermont County school districts with the exception of West Clermont, Milford and now New Richmond.

Interim New Richmond Exempted Village School District treasurer Mike Mowery expects the district will save over $1 million in health insurance costs over the next few years after shifting consortiums.

“Health and dental insurances represent the second largest expenditure for the district,” said interim NREVSD treasurer Mike Mowery. “Our Board of Education and administration decided to have an independent insurance agent assess our situation.” 

Mowery and NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird selected Horan Associates  to first review New Richmond’s data and subsequently to seek bids from additional carriers and consortiums for New Richmond’s business. 

“We had one bid come in from another insurance consortium, the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council, that provided for a seven percent decrease in premiums,” said Mowery.

So instead of an increase of $240,000 in insurance costs the district will realize a savings of around $200,000 in the coming year. New Richmond had been part of the Clermont County consortium for more than 25 years. 

“Within the next several years we expect the savings from this change to amount to over $1 million from lower premium prices,” said Mowery. 

The decision to move forward was made at a special school board meeting April 13 with the change in coordination with certified and classified employee bargaining units.

               

NRHS students perform with Philharmonic

Three New Richmond High School students were among 23 select students from 13 area schools who performed with the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra during its spring concert at the Glen-Este High School Performing Arts Center on April 18.

Performing with the Clermont Philharmonic during its ‘Collaborative Celebration of Spring’ concert were New Richmond seniors Taryn Rupp on trombone, Max Tumbleson on bassoon, and Alex Grooms on trumpet.

New Richmond High School seniors Max Tumbleson, Taryn Rupp and Alex Grooms performed
with the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra.

“New Richmond was ably represented by these three very talented seniors who augmented the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra in performing difficult works including Wagner's Die Meistersinger, Berlioz' Hungarian March, Bizet's Carmen Suite, and movie themes by John Williams,” said New Richmond Exempted Village School District music teacher Jeff Folkens, who also performed with the orchestra along with his wife, Becky.

Officer Kidder praised by school officials

New Richmond police officer Jesse Kidder, who has been praised nationally for his restraint in not shooting a homicide suspect, was praised by New Richmond Exempted Village School District Supt. Adam Bird at this week’s school board meeting. Officer Kidder works as a part-time school resource officer at New Richmond’s main campus.

“I would like to recognize Officer Kidder, who has been the focus of some national attention for the way he handled a very serious situation,” Supt. Bird told school board members. “It makes me feel good that we have an officer as fore thinking and as cautious as Officer Kidder is under such a stressful in our schools.”

Officer Kidder was on duty in New Richmond on April 16 when he spotted a car driven by Michael Wilcox, a double-homicide suspect in the killing of his girlfriend Courtney Fowler, 25, in Brown County and his best friend, Zach Gilkison, 27, in Elsmere, Ky.

The New Richmond officer, who had been informed by dispatchers that Wilcox could be armed and may want to ‘commit suicide by cop,’ pursued Wilcox for 11 minutes in a high speed chase that ended on Eight Mile Road in Hamilton County when Wilcox stopped and charged at the Kidder, holding one hand in the pocket of his hoodie shirt and claiming he had a gun and asking to be shot by the officer.

Kidder, who recognized that the pocket of Wilcox’s shirt wasn’t sagging as it would had he had a gun, refused to shoot and tried to tried to open a dialog with the suspect until backup arrived and Wilcox surrendered. Kidder, a former Marine and Purple Heart recipient from duty in Iraq, captured the event on his body camera that was a gift from his family. Law enforcement officials say Officer Kidder would have been more than justified to shoot the charging suspect.

"Officer Kidder's life was placed in immediate danger and I am proud to say he used great restraint at the risk of his own safety," New Richmond police chief Randy Harvey said in a statement on the department's Facebook page.

“It makes you feel confident in Officer Kidder’s ability to handle any stressful situation he may face in our schools,” said Supt. Bird.

Wilcox confessed to Brown County officials, saying he was high on "everything" and that his music told him to kill.

Click on the link below for one of the national reports on Officer Kidder.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/19/us/ohio-new-richmond-officer-does-not-shoot-suspect/

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.