Northwestern Local School District and Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School District are the highest rated school districts in Clark and Champaign counties, according to state report card data released in September. Both districts received an overall “B” grade, with Northwestern raising their overall grade from a “C” last year.
Springfield City School District received the only overall “F,” grade in the two counties, making it one of only four districts in the state to receive the grade.
Here is a more in-depth look at 2019 report card grades and the other major education stories reported by the Springfield News-Sun in 2019:
1. Three districts in Clark, Champaign move up a grade on state report cards while Springfield receives an ‘F’
Northwestern Local School District and Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School District are the highest rated school districts in Clark and Champaign counties, according to state report card data released in September.
Both districts received an overall “B” grade, with Northwestern raising their overall grade from a “C” last year.
Only 31 districts statewide earned an overall “A” grade, or roughly 5%, and none were in Clark or Champaign county. Springfield City School District received the only overall “F” grade in the two counties.
Springfield is one of only four districts in the state to receive an “F” overall grade.
In total, two Clark County school districts saw an increase in their overall grade, two saw a decrease and two stayed the same. In Champaign County, three stayed the same, one went up and one went down.
Tecumseh Local Schools raised their overall grade this year. The district saw an improvement from “D” to “C”.
The two Clark County districts that saw their overall grade fall this year were Greenon Local School District from a “C” to “D” and Southeastern Local School District from “B” to “C.”
The remaining Clark County district, Clark Shawnee and Northeastern Local School District, remained at an overall grade of “C.”
This is the second year of Ohio’s new system where each school district gets an overall grade that combined six different report card categories, many of them tied to state testing.
Pure test achievement and year-over-year progress each count for 20% of the grade. Making up 15% each are graduation rates, early-grade literacy improvement, gap closing between groups of students and a “prepared for success” high school measure.
Read the full story:3 districts in Clark, Champaign move up a grade on state report cards
Read the full story:Springfield superintendent says 'F' grade will not define them
2. Clark County mom warns of financial aid scam
A Clark County mom is warning other parents to be alert after she said her college student received a bogus check after applying for a federal work-study program.
Becky Delawder said her son, Timothy Delawder, who is a freshman at Wright State University, began receiving emails and text messages after applying to a federal work-study program.
Timothy Delawder said the e-mails came from a Gmail account but claimed to be from an accounting firm with a job offer to work from home.
Instead of receiving more information about the job, Timothy Delawder said he received a nearly $4,000 check with instructions on where to deposit it.
A worried Becky Delawder called the bank listed on the back of the check, they told her it was a bad check. She then called the accounting firm, which is a legitimate business, and they told her they do not participate in the work-study program and did not know who was sending the emails.
In a statement, Wright State University said they are aware of the scam and urged students to be vigilant about avoiding scams.
Read the full story:Clark County mom warns of financial aid scam after son receives $4,000 check
3. Northeastern Local Schools postpones construction on new school due to budget issues
Northeastern Local Schools was forced to go back to the drawing board to develop new plans for a new school building after budgeting issues derailed the district’s original plan.
Per the district’s last statement, issued in October, construction estimates are still 20% over budget for a new preK through 12th grade school.
Northeastern announced in July it was postponing construction on the new school until they could address “significant budget issues.”
“Although we are pleased to begin moving forward, there is still work to be done to align the estimates with the available budget,” a statement from the district said.
Northeastern is in the process of finalizing floor plans for two new schools.
One campus will be adjacent to the current South Vienna school and will be “Northeastern PreK-12.” The second campus will be on the property near Kenton Ridge High School and will be “Kenton Ridge PreK-12.”
Kenton Ridge planning has been on hold since July while the district works through budget issues. According to the district, planning is expected to resume soon and move into the schematic design phase, or the first stage of construction planning.
Funding for the new schools will come from local and state money. Voters approved a 37-year $79 million bond issue in May 2018. In addition to the bond, the state will contribute around 40%, or $40 million, to the project through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
Read the latest:Northeastern new school estimates still 20% over budget
Read the original story:Northeastern schools reexamines building project after budget concerns
4. Three Clark County educators, one school board member, one bus driver die this year
A Clark County teacher, a long-time Greenon tennis coach, a Greenon High School Intervention Specialist and a Tecumseh school board member all died in 2019.
Jami Sears, 45, was a preschool aide with Clark County Educational Service Center who was assigned to Miami View Elementary School since the 2016-2017 school year died on March 29.
Sears died from complications from a severe asthma attack, according to a statement from Clark County Educational Service Center.
Sears was also the Greeneview High School tennis coach.
Read more about Sears:Clark County teacher aide, Greeneview HS tennis coach dies after asthma attack
Harold Fitch, 73, was a long-time tennis coach with the district, a statement from the Greenon Local School District said.
Fitch was killed in a crash on Dayton-Springfield Road on Dec. 13 after his 1998 Chevrolet Silverado was lodged underneath a semi-trailer.
Read more about Fitch:Man killed in Friday crash was a coach at Greenon
Peter Scarff, 59, was a Tecumseh Local School District board member and New Carlisle business owner.
Scarff died on Aug. 25 after a long battle with cancer.
Read more about Scarff:Funeral services set for New Carlisle business owner, Tecumseh board member
Shawn Brickles, 47, was a Greenon High School Intervention Specialist and Social Studies teacher. Brickles was a teacher and coach within the district the for 14 years.
Brickles died on Dec. 2 after a “battle with a long-term illness,” according to the district.
Read more about Brickles:Greenon High School teacher dies; district to offer counselors
Mark Oster, 67, was a longtime bus driver for the Clark-Shawnee Local School District.
Oster worked for the Clark County water department for several years before becoming the director at the Clark County Board of Elections, according to his obituary. After retirement, he began working as a bus driver for the Clark-Shawnee district.
Oster died, “unexpectedly,” on Sept. 27, according to a statement from the district. The district closed all schools on Sept. 31 for Oster’s funeral services.
Read more about Oster:Former Clark County leader, Clark-Shawnee bus driver dies
5. Springfield Wildcats make history
Springfield Wildcats, this year, became the fourth team in Clark County football history in 2019 to advance to the state semifinals, joining Catholic Central (1991, 2007) and Shawnee (2011).
Prior to this season, it had been 17 years since the Springfield City School District football last played in the regional final. The Wildcats beat Dublin Coffman to win their first regional championship.
But alas, the Wildcats historic postseason run came to the end in the Final Four.
No. 9 Cincinnati Elder (12-2) beat the fifth-ranked Wildcats 31-24 in the Division I state semifinals on Nov. 29 at Piqua Alexander Stadium, snapping Springfield’s 11-game winning streak.
Wildcats’ head coach Maurice Douglass said he is, “so proud of the kids and the effort they put forth in the 2019 season.”
Douglass also praised his players’ effort not just on the field but in the classroom. The team had 52 players make the honor roll this season.
“We’ll be back,” Douglass said. “We’ll be back new and improved next year.”
Read the full story: Springfield Wildcats' success brings support to the district, community
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