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Happy July 4!

By Lindsey Hilty | Thursday, July 3, 2008, 03:55 PM

It is nearing the end of the day Thursday, and I have been running around too much to blog sooner. I attended a play rehearsal in Fairfield and then had a long meeting with a local family about problems they have found with mainstreaming children who would do better in separate classroom settings. It was really interesting, and I will be working on the story for next week.

Anyway, I won’t be blogging this weekend, but I wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. For all you pyros out there, please don’t blow something up. I really don’t want to write another story this week about fireworks gone awry.

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For music lovers

By Lindsey Hilty | Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 02:54 PM

Tonight at Fairfield High School, you can see several drum and bugle corps perform. From what I understand, this is like the ultra marching band field presentations. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Three local Fairfield graduates will be participating in the Cavaliers. Do you know of any Lakota graduates or students involved?

Attached is a press release I promised a budding author I would promote. He wrote a book on the history of the Cavaliers.

Continue reading "For music lovers"...

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The ABC’s of AYP

By Lindsey Hilty | Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 10:38 AM

I promised to try to explain this complex scoring process. Here is the story. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/07/02/pjw070308ayp.html

Essentially, what I have learned from this process is that in an ideal world, all students would reach 100 percent proficiency. I still hesitate when I ask myself if this is possible. I want it to be. I very much hope it is. But, I still can’t help thinking about my sister. She was born with a severe hearing loss. When she wasn’t speaking like other children, my parents took her to a specialist who said she should learn to sign. Not satisfied, my parents searched until they found a doctor who took a chance on her. She had this huge box with wires and gigantic ear pieces. Kim went to speech and had tutors in school. She was on an individual education plan that ensured she remained in mainstream classes. My sister worked hard. She got decent grades. She did not; however, excel in reading comprehension or writing. She may not have passed standardized tests in that area, but she still went on to college. Her professors there worked with her, looking past her struggling writing skills to see her heart and potential. They saw how she was good with math and completed everything they asked her to do. She worked so hard to earn a college degree in recreational management. She is now married, manages her household and works at a nursing home. In all estimation, my sister is a success. In the state’s eyes, she may not be.

So, you see. This is the one thing I question about measuring students merely by test scores. I see the rationale and understand why accountability is important. I just wonder if we are constantly measuring success only in academics, are we going to let children get left behind in other life skills? What do you think?

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Treasurer’s office is back to full staff

By Lindsey Hilty | Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 11:36 AM

Lakota announced yesterday that it has hired Catherine McMongile as its new accountant. She will earn $49,970 for a 227-day administrative contract.

She served at Princeton City Schools since 2005 and prior to that was an office manager at R.E. Kramig and Company. She holds a bachelor’s from Miami Univeristy in Organizational Behavior and Accounting.

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Long meetings

By Lindsey Hilty | Monday, June 30, 2008, 05:33 PM

I am feeling lazy, so I promise tomorrow morning you will have links to all the stories I wrote today about Lakota. They will most likely be posted tonight, but my husband just called and dinner is ready!

In any case, the AYP meeting went well. That story will be written tomorrow, but as of now Lakota has not gotten all its results back after the appeal process. As far as the budget, that meeting was pretty cut and dry. There were a few interesting points, but mostly it was just board members asking Treasurer Craig Jones to clarify the rational behind certain figures.

Here is the link http://www.pulsejournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/30/hjn070108lakboe.html

Goodbye for now!

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Happy Monday

By Lindsey Hilty | Monday, June 30, 2008, 09:02 AM

Good morning. If any of you are like me, it feels like one of those mornings where snoozing until noon would be really nice. But, I can’t complain. I got to do a lot of snoozing over the weekend!

I am headed to Lakota today at 10 a.m. to interview MIke Taylor about AYP and Lakota. Then, at 1 p.m. I will be at the board meeting to hear the final budget report and probably some oh-so-exciting policy. I will keep you posted.

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Online schools

By Lindsey Hilty | Saturday, June 28, 2008, 03:18 PM

There is a meeting in West Chester Twp. about an online school in case you are interested. Here is the press release.

Ohio Virtual Academy Hosting Information Sessions Across the State Families now enrolling in this exciting and innovative public school

West Chester Mon, June 30, 2008 5:00 pm Wingate Inn 7500 Tylers Place Blvd.

Ohio Virtual Academy is an accredited tuition-free public eSchool serving students across the state in grades K-12. OHVA uses the academic program developed by K12, the nation’s leader in K-12 curriculum and online school programs. The school gives students the curriculum, tools, and support they need to receive a high quality, well-rounded education in their home, on the road, or wherever learning needs to happen. Students work with state-certified teachers and receive an individualized learning program designed to meet their personal education needs.

Students who enroll in OHVA receive the complete K12 academic program which includes lessons, assessments, books, materials, planning and progress tools, and much more. OHVA provides a unique education opportunity where students, teachers and parents work in an education partnership, and where each child receives the tools, individual attention, and resources needed to receive the highest quality education.

For more information on K12 and the Ohio Virtual Academy, including a full list of events, visit www.K12.com/ohva http://www.k12.com/ohva .

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