A Publication of Oregon City Schools
www.oregoncityschools.org
THE OREGON ORACLE
5721 Seaman Rd., Oregon, OH 43616
Volume 13 Number 2 — February 2014
Superintendent’s Message
Social Media: The Pros And Cons Dear Oregon and Jerusalem Township Residents,
Are You An Alumni, Teacher, Or Friend Of Clay High School? Clay High Alumni & Friends Association (CHAFA) Wants You! Information on how to join on page 8.
A Christmas Carol
Miss Stanton's language arts class. After reading the novel, A Christmas Carol, 6th grade students in Miss Stanton’s language arts classes attended a live performance based on the original story by Charles Dickens. Students visited the beautiful Valentine Theatre to see Scrooge, Marley, Tiny Tim, and a cast of nearly onehundred take the stage, with wonderful music, beautiful costumes, and a must-see performance! After the show, the next stop was PizzaPapalis, where lunch was enjoyed by all. Miss Stanton and her students were very grateful for all of the chaperones who were able to join us!
Message From The Treasurer's Office Jane Fruth, CPA Great news: Oregon City School taxpayers will pay less in school taxes during 2014! Last week, we received the effective millage updates from the Lucas County Auditors’ office for 2014 tax collections, showing that Oregon and Jerusalem township residents will pay 1.47% less in taxes ($26/1,000 of home value) than they paid in 2013. This reduction in taxes is the direct result of the refinancing of the bond debt. Estimates show that this refinancing will create additional reductions in coming years. The Oregon City School District continues to work toward outstanding academic achievement with efficient use of taxpayer resources.
As technology continues to develop, we often find ourselves struggling with issues that we may not have not anticipated. As school districts move into the world of instant information and social networking, we’re experiencing both the benefits and burdens of online communication. The vast majority of us use various technologies and applications on a daily basis. Many now carry smart phones and tablet devices to stay connected to email, text, Twitter, Facebook, and the Internet. Twitter and Facebook have become the mechanisms that many people rely on to get information and stay in touch. As a result, it only takes a few moments to send and receive information. Much of the information shared is positive and helpful. However, because of the perceived anonymity of those who post to these sites, people are now saying things that they may not otherwise say
to someone in person or even on the phone. Once an individual presses the send button, the comments that are written are now out there for the world to see. Quite often when negative comments are posted, Dr. Lonny J. Rivera others may feel Superintendent compelled to add to the discussion, which may take the situation to a whole new level. This is a problem that many school districts face, and, quite honestly, is very difficult to combat. So to that end, I am asking our community, parents, students, and staff to make a concerted effort to keep our posts accurate, positive, and courteous. Parents, please be sure to monitor what your child posts on these sites. Not only can
negative posts be detrimental to those being targeted, but they can be just as damaging to those who make the post. As a point of clarification, I am not trying to discourage those in our community from discussing problems; rather, I am asking that, if a problem does arise, please go directly to the source to get the issue resolved, and to please avoid using social media as the venue. As your superintendent, I am committed to do whatever it takes to make this district great. I am a person who is easily contacted and will readily meet to help resolve issues that may arise. With so much negativity taking place in our world, it is my desire to help create a safe haven for our kids, and for those who live in our wonderful community. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me at 419-693-0661 or by email lrivera@ oregoncs.org. Sincerely, Dr. Lonny J. Rivera Superintendent
Oregon City Schools Is A Straight A District On December 10, 2013, Oregon City Schools received word it had been awarded a $200,431 grant as part of the new Straight A Fund to spur innovation and cost savings in Ohio’s schools. The proposal was one of 24 programs serving more than 150 local districts and partners that the Straight A Governing Board nominated after a rigorous screening process. The recommendations went to the Ohio Controlling Board for final approval on Dec. 16. “There was tremendous competition to receive a Straight A grant,” Dr. Richard A. Ross, superintendent of public instruction, said. “All of Ohio will look to the winning proposals for ideas to reduce costs and transform learning in our state.” The $250 million Straight A Fund was created in the new state budget signed this summer by Gov. John R. Kasich. The Straight A Governing Board approved $88 million in grants. A second application period will be held in the spring. The grant enables Oregon City Schools’ teachers to collaborate with Bowling Green State University faculty to develop high quality assessments that
evaluate student growth with a high degree of reliability and validity. After receiving training from BGSU’s Center of Evaluation and Assessment Services (CAES) in test design, teachers in grades 3-11 will create and pilot assessments using Ohio’s new computer-based Instructional Improvement System (IIS). The CAES will then analyze the test and give teachers feedback on possible refinements. The tests will then be edited and made available to all teachers throughout the state, free of charge. The Straight A Fund is the largest, statewide, competitive innovation fund in the history of American education. The grants serve as startup funds for the most creative and forward-thinking ideas
coming from educators and their partners in the public and private sectors. Successful projects had to demonstrate that they would improve achievement, reduce spending, and target more resources to the classroom. Ohio’s school leaders enthusiastically responded to the fund, with 420 organizations submitting 570 applications. The first round of independent peer reviews determined if each grant application was fiscally sustainable. Applications were then rated by three more independent programmatic peer reviewers to determine if the proposal was innovative, had substantial value, and would make a lasting impact. The Department of Administrative Services selected both sets of scorers. After this programmatic review, approximately 30 grant advisors – professional educators and community and corporate leaders approved by the Governing Board – reviewed the scores. They issued a recommendation of the highest quality applications to the Governing Board who made the final recommendations to the Controlling Board.
Oregon City Schools Race To The Top Update Oregon City Schools began its Race to the Top (RttT) work during the 20102011 school year after being awarded the grant through a competitive grant process. Since then, the district has been focused on work in several key areas. Led by a district Transformation Team comprised of both teachers and administrators, the district has been addressing four focus areas required by the grant. The activities surrounding this work would not be possible without the more than $269,000 the grant provides. Internal and external communications continue to be a focus of our RttT Scope of Work. A universal system that individuals and groups can use to communicate with one another is essential to everyone’s awareness and understanding of work being done. The district now utilizes an “action agenda” format at meetings and has revised its nine “Norms of Collaboration” that guide discussion and task completion. Oracle articles communicate our work to the community, and monthly updates are reported during Oregon Board of Education meetings.
Teacher-based teams continue to align instruction and materials to Ohio’s New Learning Standards. Student-friendly learning targets are now displayed in classrooms, and formative assessment strategies are being incorporated into everyday instruction. Common assessments and student learning objectives are being designed across the district to help students and teachers gauge progress for individual students, grade levels, special subject areas, buildings, and the district as a whole. Last March, Oregon City Schools was chosen to be a pilot for Ohio’s RttT project, the Instructional Improvement System or IIS. We were one of the first districts in the state to begin program implementation. This new tool provides web-based access to resources such as lesson plans, video and web page links, assessment creation and administration processes, data analysis based on learning standard mastery, and connections to vital student information. Our Race to the Top initiative has allowed Oregon City Schools to continue
its implementation of the Resident Educator Program to support new teachers through their first four years of teaching. A lead teacher is available to provide instructional mentoring to every teacher in the district. An academic achievement coach at the high school and curriculum coach at the intermediate school are also providing support to areas that have been determined by the District Leadership Team that need extra support from teacher leaders. In this final year, we’re also focusing on the first year implementation of the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System, which supports continual student growth and reflects legislative mandates. From August until the end of November, professional development and technical support were provided to two-thirds of the entire teaching staff to facilitate their use of student learning objectives, or SLOs, for measuring student growth. If you would like additional information about our RttT work, please feel free to call our district office at 419.693.0661.
Don't miss the Honor Rolls on pages 6 and 7.