December 2015 A Message From The Superintendent...

Dear West Geauga Resident:

As I write this note, I have been the superintendent of the West Geauga Local School District for almost six months. During that time, I have learned a lot about the district, its staff, and its residents. Of course, having lived in Geauga County for many years, I had a fairly good understanding of West G even before my hiring.

West Geauga Schools have a long history of academic accomplishment, a fact confirmed by multiple recognitions from the Ohio Department of Education. In 2013, West Geauga High School was honored by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Our students make us proud every day. They are living proof of the successful efforts of parents, extended family members, the schools, and the greater community. All of these groups have a share and a stake in the successes of our children.

The staff of West Geauga is dedicated to the care of its children. That task requires attending to the physical, emotional, and academic needs of the students. Every day, in classrooms, school buses, cafeterias, and on athletic fields, teachers, support staff, administrators, and coaches demonstrate their responsibilities toward those in their care. I enjoy the many opportunities that I have to observe these interactions.

The residents of West G are proud of their schools. They support them with their tax dollars and through their attendance at special programs and athletic events. They volunteer in a host of school support organizations. It is rare to find a district where volunteerism and private donations match the level of ours. West Geauga Schools clearly benefit from the collective and individual generosity of our families.

So, as you can see, West Geauga has some good reasons to be proud. However, any district that believes itself to be as good as it could be, quite simply, is not. All have room to improve. In our case, that means building upon our strengths to become even stronger. It also means examining current practices to determine if they truly achieve their intended purpose and changing those that don’t. It means making decisions that are based upon what is good for kids versus what is easy or convenient.

In the next few months, I will be asking the West Geauga Board of Education and school staff to examine ways to improve our schools that may cause us to rethink the way we do things. The corresponding questions and discussions will ultimately yield results that will enrich educational opportunities for our students.

Finally, as I reflect on my first six months as your superintendent, I want to say “thank you” to the residents, students, staff, and Board of Education for your support. It has meant a lot. I hope that the upcoming winter break is a relaxing and rejuvenating time for all. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and best wishes for a wonderful 2016!

Sincerely,

Dr. Rich Markwardt, Superintendent     

November 2015 A Message From The Superintendent...

The Ohio Department of Education released the preliminary District Report Card student test scores for the 2014-2015 school year. West Geauga’s scores are unacceptably low. This situation is not a surprise to me. With that fact noted, please do not regard my lack of surprise as an indication of acceptance or satisfaction.

The district’s low scores will be attributable to a number of factors. One is the significant number of our students who did not take the tests last year due to parental opposition to the controversial PARCC assessments. I am extremely hopeful that the replacement of the PARCC exams by tests that are less time-consuming will lessen parents’ opposition to these student performance measures.

Performance assessments are a permanent part of the educational landscape. High-stakes tests are a way of life for any student contemplating college, graduate school, or entry into a profession. The districts that are scoring the highest on the Ohio District Report Card are the districts whose students are taking the state-mandated tests. The Report Card in turn is a very public means of comparing districts for people considering buying a home or selecting a community in which to raise their children. West Geauga, as a community, cannot afford low student test scores.

Another reason for the low student achievement scores is our failure to align our instruction with Ohio’s learning standards. The standards are the “what” of teaching. States have had standards since today’s parents and grandparents were in school. They compose the state curriculum. They tell us what students are required to learn in kindergarten, first grade, second grade, etc. In recent years, the standards have become more difficult. Unfortunately, our instruction has not kept pace. West Geauga’s students are as smart as they were ten years ago, but the district’s academic performance is not as high. We will reverse that trend.

In the next few months, we will be rolling out initiatives and plans to improve our students’ academic performance. Please know that all such measures are being crafted to improve the quality of education for West Geauga’s students. And yes, test scores are one measure of that quality. However, student test scores never have, and never will, eclipse the needs of West G’s students for a safe, enriched, balanced education. Thank you for entrusting your children to our care, and thank you, in advance, for your support as we optimize the academic potential of the students of the West Geauga Local School District.

September 2015 A Message From The Superintendent...

Dear West Geauga Parent/Guardian,

I have truly enjoyed the first few weeks of school. It is nice to have our students and staff back on site. As you already know, we have great kids and a dedicated and talented group of teachers, administrators, and support personnel.

I have certainly enjoyed returning to work with so many familiar faces in Geauga County. I have appreciated the comments of those who have welcomed me back “home”. I admit to a certain comfort that is derived from working with people whom I have known for nearly 20 years. Thank you to everyone who has made me a part of the fabric of life here.
The 2015-2016 school year is off to a great start thanks to the collective efforts of many. It will be a busy year. We have a lot to do. The following list highlights some of the efforts that we will tackle this year.

Student Achievement – We will be focusing on student achievement through the lens of instruction. Our teachers and principals will examine what classroom strategies yield the best learning results. We will do this in the context of the buildings’ Professional Learning Communities and throughout the school year as part of our district professional development activities.

Curriculum – We will be broadening and deepening the spectrum of what is taught in all subject areas including special education and gifted programs.

Technology – The district will continue to upgrade and enhance its educational technology in a meaningful, productive, and cost effective manner.

Facilities – The maintenance and care of our buildings and grounds will receive attention beginning with the immediate renovation of the Varsity Baseball Field. The facility is in great need of major remediation. The West Geauga Board of Education will be awarding a contract for the renovation of the field at its next meeting. We have a short timeline. We want the field ready for play in the spring.

District Security – The Ohio Department of Education recently issued a new reporting template for school districts to design and implement security plans. The plans, completed in cooperation with police, fire, and county emergency service providers, are evaluated by the Office of Homeland Security. The plans are lengthy, comprehensive, and detailed. We are in the process of revising and composing our plans to satisfy the new format. In the meantime, our old plans, which are on file with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio Department of Education, are fully operational.

These are but a few of the projects in which we are currently engaged. Thank you for providing us with the resources to accomplish these tasks. Thank you even more for entrusting us with our most valuable resource, your wonderful children.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rich Markwardt, Superintendent

July 2015 A Message From The Superintendent...

Dear West Geauga Parent/Guardian,
I expect that this rainy summer may be causing some of you with young children to think longingly for the start of school! In reality, it won’t be too much longer.
A lot of work is occurring in our buildings and on our grounds during the summer months. The remodeling of the high school cafeteria, resurfacing of the track, sealcoating of parking lots, and a roofing project are slated for completion. Thank you for providing us with the resources to undertake these tasks.

I want to alert you to a slight change in the bell schedule at West Geauga High School and Middle School for the upcoming school year. In reality, the change should have little effect on your children’s schedules if they ride a bus to or from school. As has been the case in the past, bus routes are created yearly and adjusted to account for numbers of riders. Therefore, your children’s pick up or drop off times may be slightly earlier, slightly later, or the same as in past years. You will be receiving more specific information closer to the start of school.

The school days for students at Westwood Elementary School and Lindsey Elementary School will be starting ten minutes later and ending ten minutes later than in the past. Bus routes will be created to accommodate this change.

I continue to enjoy being your superintendent. The first few weeks have passed quickly. We are planning good things for your students when they return in August.

Sincerely,
Rich Markwardt