GALION, Ohio–Crestline and Galion school superintendents gave updates at the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Update and Business Forecast Breakfast on March 10 in Galion. Both schools reported progress with technology, student achievement, and improvements at their football stadiums. The superintendents also described issues each district will have on the May and November ballots.
Galion City Schools, Supt. Mark Stefanik said the schools’ major accomplishment in 2014 was to maintain its valued-added grade of A. Value-added, he said, means regardless of the student, age, educational capacity, whether the student has handicapping conditions or not, every student makes at least a year’s worth of growth every year in school.
Stefanik also talked about the statewide PARCC testing.
“Schools had choices this year whether to do the test online or whether to do the test in the old-fashioned paper/pencil format or whether to do a combination. Due to the fact that we’ve been involved with district-wide technology for several years, we dove in head first and we’re doing the entire assessment this year online. We’ve had a few hiccups but each day gets better and better.”
He also said Galion is expanding the online opportunities in the schools. Some classrooms are using blended instruction: part online instruction and part “live” instruction.
Galion schools are benefitting from “enhanced communications” this year with multiple press releases issued every week for the school. Their news is posted on the district’s Facebook page, website, and they also have a Twitter account.
“Keep your eye on Unkrich Stadium,” said Stefanik, “We’re going to bring this community jewel back to its original stature, if we can. So you should see some improvements there this summer and increasing improvements over the next two to three years.” The district is looking for grant and donation funding for the project, funding that is separate from the districts operating budget and district funds.
Stafanik closed his remarks stating that the district is operating on a mainly fixed budget, but will have an issue on the ballot in the fall. It is a renewal levy.
“This is not,” Stefanik said emphatically, “again, factual information, we’re not asking for new money. This is a renewal…We’re not asking for any increase.”
Crestline schools are also taking the PARCC testing online.
“We also took the plunge on doing full online testing and it was quite an adventure,” said Supt. Noreen Mullens. “With all of the testing that’s going on, I’m sure you’ve heard the state has realized and has started to back off. We actually will be testing at least one group of students every day for almost three solid months to get it all in. That kind of gives you a perspective on how horrible it is right now, but they have realized it, and they are working to make a change. And I hope that change comes in time for next spring.”
“We have had a significant amount of student growth, which had been lagging in Crestline and so that was a triumph for us and it was due to the hard work of our entire staff,” Mullens said. She also reported that in the Destination Imagination competition Crestline tenth-graders finished in first place at the state level.
Mullens noted that the school was able to play football in the fall in their new stadium. Thanks to donations from alumni and community members, they were able to build a press box and install stadium lights. A former employee and alum donated new goal posts for the practice field, foul poles for the baseball and softball fields and a new scoreboard.
“That will all be taking place due to one person’s generous donation,” said Mullens.
Without using funds from the general fund or other district money, the sports complex still needs a field house, permanent visitors’ bleachers, and a concession stand for their boosters club.
The superintendent said Crestline’s biggest challenge is operating finances. Mullens said that when she started with the district it had operated under deficit spending for 10 years.
“It’s been quite a struggle and we have done some things to improve our own budget”, she said. “We’ve cut about $0.5 million over the past two years to help balance the budget. We’ve reduced by eight positions over the last three years which is administrative support staff and teaching staff, and there’s been a salary freeze for the last two years.”
Mullens said that those efforts have not yet led to a balanced budget.
“So this May, we’ll be on the ballot for a .75 percent earned income tax levy for a 10 year span. With the mentioned cuts, if the levy passes, then we will be at a balanced budget for the first time in a very long time—and be able to maintain that balanced budget for many years to come,” she said.
