January 27, 2011
Permanent improvements
O’Reilly lists planned 2011 projects By ALAN FROMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers Superintendent Ed O’Reilly presented the Grandview Heights Board of Education Jan. 22 with a list of anticipated permanent improvement projects for the coming year. He also provided an outline for a fourphase project to upgrade the district’s computer network infrastructure. O’Reilly gave his report at the board’s annual work session. Four facilities projects will be proposed to the board over the next several months, he said. The high school gym roof has sever-
al leaks and will need to be replaced, O’Reilly said. Although cost estimates are not yet available, the approximate cost of this project would Ed O’Reilly be $90,000. No other roofs need to be replaced, but several areas are in need of repair, he said. This work would be completed once the weather improves and would cost approximately $10,000. The district is also planning to create secure entrances for each school building, O’Reilly said.
He said he and board member Grant Douglass met earlier this month with local architects to explore ideas for increasing security at the main entrance of each building. An approximate cost of this project has not been determined yet, O’Reilly said. A rekeying project at Edison Intermediate/Middle School may become a two-year process depending on the costs associated with the secure entrance project, he said. Electronic card readers would be installed this year at Edison’s main entrances, O’Reilly said. The main entrances would be rekeyed so they match
other district keys. The total cost for the first phase of the Edison work would be approximately $15,000. The second phase of the project would involve standardizing all locks in the school to enhance security and safety. A list of potential permanent improvement projects for the next two fiscal years will be compiled prior to Aug. 1, O’Reilly said. A minimum of a 10year plan will be developed before the end of the year. The proposed network infrastructure upgrade would begin in the spring and cost an estimated $290,000, he said. More than half of the cost would come
in the first phase, which would involve replacing wired switches and adding redundant power to network closets. The project would continue through the summer of 2012, O’Reilly said. Along with enhancing the district’s network, the upgrades would provide more control over what is blocked or allowed on the Internet and would allow students and staff to use any personal equipment at school, he said. The permanent improvement levy voters approved in November is beginning to generate revenue, O’Reilly said. Between now and August, the district See PROJECTS, page A3
District all-day kindergarten to continue, even if state law changes By ALAN FROMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Photos by Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
Watershed Distillery founder Greg Lehman became interested in the idea of producing craft alcohol while playing volleyball professionally in Switzerland, where the town’s economy thrived on small-scale local production. The distillery began selling its gin and vodka in December and is aging barrels of bourbon that will be ready for consumption in 2013.
Micro-distilling operation open for business on Chesapeake Ave. By ALAN FROMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A new Tri-Village area business is bringing back the craft of micro-distilling. Last month, Watershed Distillery’s gin and vodka went on sale at stores, restaurants and bars around central Ohio. Being part of a community is a big reason he and his part- Watershed Distillery founder Greg Lehman affixes a seal to the ner decided to go into the dis- lid of a freshly poured bottle of vodka. tilling business, Watershed “It’s getting involved in local community and being able founder and head distiller Greg Columbus and being part of the to bring our unique flavor and Lehman said.
For a video from Watershed Distillery, visit www.ThisWeekNews.com. product to the market,” Lehman said. The “Watershed” name was chosen in recognition “that the largest natural distiller is a watershed,” he said. “It’s also that starting the distillery was a watershed moment See DISTILLERY, page A3
Kindergarten registration packets for the 2011-12 school year will be available beginning Monday at the Grandview Heights Board of Education office. But uncertainty about potential changes in state law, along with anticipated cuts in state funding for education, make it difficult for the district to provide parents with specifics about next year’s kindergarten program, Superintendent Ed O’Reilly said. Although no formal vote was taken, the school board discussed and reached consensus at its work session Jan. 22 that the district will offer all-day kindergarten in some form next year, he said. Under current state law, districts will be required next school year to offer tuition-free all-day kindergarten classes. Gov. John Kasich has suggested repealing the current state model for school funding, which includes the all-day kindergarten requirement. Last week, Rep. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) introduced House Bill 30, which, among its provisions, would eliminate the mandate that districts offer all-day kindergarten. “I think there’s a good possibility that law will end up passing,” O’Reilly said.
A closer look Gov. John Kasich has suggested repealing the current state model for school funding, which includes the all-day kindergarten requirement.
Even if it does, Grandview is committed to offering its families an all-day program, he said. The $290 monthly fee the district charges for all-day kindergarten in essence pays for the second half of the all-day kindergarten teachers’ salaries, O’Reilly said. If the district lost that fee money, it would mean the addition of two full-time teaching positions to the budget, he said. This year 66 students are enrolled in all-day kindergarten and 27 students attend a half-day class. As long as districts are allowed to charge a tuition, Grandview would continue charging families for the all-day class, O’Reilly said. If the current law remains, the district would continue offer a halfday kindergarten option to parents. At least 10 students would need to be enrolled to support a half-day class. If the minimum is not met, the students would be placed in an See KINDERGARTEN, page A3
LPs making a comeback in Grandview Library’s collection By ALAN FROMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers Vinyl records are back at the Grandview Heights Public Library. Last Friday, the library began offering a small collection of 30 LP record titles available for checkout. “We’re always ready to try out new things, and when we saw the overall numbers coming out about the renewed popularity of LP records, we thought we’d try it out on a very small scale and see how it goes,” said Canaan Faulkner, the library’s coordinator of adult programs and web content. U.S. vinyl sales rose 14 percent in 2010 while CD sales were down 20 percent for the fourth consecutive year, he said.
“I think a lot of younger people Records, he said. are beginning to find vinyl LPs “We really appreciate the asWhen you watch cool and they’re buying turntables,” sistance from those record stores,” David Letterman and Faulkner said. “At the same time, Faulkner said. “Our budget for he holds up an LP older people are bringing out their this is really minuscule.” records again. The 30 albums include releases cover when he’s intro“When you watch David Letfrom new and classic rock bands, ducing a band, you terman and he holds up an LP cover including the Rolling Stones, The realize records are when he’s introducing a band, you Clash,Arcade Fire and The Black realize records are being sold these Keys, as well as several jazz tibeing sold days,” he said. tles, he said. these days. Half of the library’s LP collecThe library got first hand evtion was checked out by the end idence of vinyl records’ popuCANAAN FAULKNER of the day Friday, Faulkner said. larity about a year ago when a — Grandview Library coordinator Most of the records were obclassic jazz CD it purchased for tained by the library from Lost the collection included a vinyl Weekend Records, Spoonful Records and Used Kids record, Faulkner said.
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The vinyl record circulated as well as the CD, he said. Until about 20 years ago, the library circulated thousands of vinyl LPs, Faulkner said. “It was the format of choice” until cassettes and then compact discs began to dominate and appeared to make LPs obsolete. “It’s nice to see people able to have the experience of using LP records again,” Faulkner said. To search the library’s LP collection, patrons should enter “vinyl LP” as a keyword search in the library’s catalog. LPs check out for two weeks and are renewable. Patrons can check out three records at a time and place five holds at a time. LPs must be returned to the circulation desk and cannot be returned in the book drop.
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