The administration, teaching staff and board of education hope to put Manchester in contention for Ohio's Race to the Top.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, Race to the Top is “a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates and ensuring student preparation for success in college and careers.”
Funding for Race to the Top is through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which provides $4.35 billion to schools across the nation.
Guidelines released from the U.S. Department of Education are very prescriptive in terms of centering the reform work on four specific areas: standards and assessments; data systems to support instruction; great teachers and leaders and turning around the lowest-achieving schools. Each assurance is focused on deep and systemic reform.
Superintendent Sam Reynolds said 266 school districts in Ohio have applied for a share of Ohio's $200 to $400 million over a four-year period.
Reynolds expressed gratitude to Dr. Jim Robinson, Board President Richard Kaderly and Mark Ankrom, a teacher's union representative. The application requires an agreement between all three to be eligible.
”Our unions came together and signed a memorandum of understanding,” said Reynolds. “We did this days before Akron Schools signed theirs.”
According to the Ohio Department of Education, awarding of the Race to the Top grants should be this spring.
Manchester could be awarded $60,000 or more over four years.
In other school business, the board accepted a new course proposal, Global Studies, an Internet-based, research-based elective for students desiring an honors diploma.
Robinson commended Mark Ankrom for the development of the course, which will make students more aware of the impact of other nations on the United States.
“I believe this will be cutting- edge education,” said Robinson.
The course will be available in the 2010-2011 school year to juniors and seniors.
The board approved the appointment of Lester Elgin as a substitute bus driver.
They also approved the high school ski club's trip to Lake Placid, New York Jan. 29. They will return the following Sunday and will not miss school.
Reynolds announced two Manchester student athletes were selected by the Ohio Football Coach Association as Academic All Ohio Football Players. Only 111 of 35,000 football players qualify in Ohio. Honored were Craig Dougherty and Brit Hunter.
Prior to the Jan. 12 board meeting, they conducted an organizational meeting to elect a president and vice president for the year.
The Manchester Board of Education elected Richard Kaderly as president. It is his 15th year as board president as he enters his 19th year of service on the board. Richard Sponseller was elected as the vice president. Mark Tallman and Kaderly will represent Manchester on the board of the Portage Lakes Career Center. Jay Hunter was appointed as the legislative liaison.
Sponseller is the athletic liaison. LeAnn Nichols is the safety liaison.
