(This article, reprinted with permission, featuring the Bexley City Schools' 2007 year in review, appeared in Bexley News on December 19, 2007)  1/13/08

District will mark the end of successful, productive year

Many people with ties to Bexley’s city schools will have fond memories of the past months

By Lisa Proctor
Suburban News Publications

The year 2007 was one of success, progress and new programs in the Bexley City Schools.

The district’s schools, educator and students received a number of accolades from national and local organizations, ranging from two schools being accepted as International Baccalaureate program sites to students being named National Merit scholarship finalists.

It was also a time for farewells, as longtime Montrose Elementary Schools Principal Terry Black retired, and other district staffers wrapped up long careers.

Here is a look at some of the year’s highlights.

January
Bexley began the year looking to expand its AP offerings at the high school level.

Officials had added several such courses in the two years prior and had seen a trend of increased participation.. They hoped to continue that trend and to have more students follow through with taking related AP exams.

The district also had plans to reach out to students in subgroups that had fallen slightly below the Adequate Yearly Progress requirements on the Ohio Department of Education’s state report cards. The 2005-06 report card showed the district was slightly lower in requirements for the black and special education subgroups.

In addition, school officials planned to continue implementation of a new computer operating platform system that would be phased into all district facilities over a four year period. Superintendent Michael Johnson said the system would cost less than others and be less expensive to maintain, while providing the necessities of reliability and compatibility.

Cassingham Elementary School anticipated visits from International Baccalaureate Organization evaluation teams in hopes of being authorized for IB Primary Years Program status. Representatives were schedules to be on site Jan. 18 and 19, evaluating the schools implementation of the program, part of its Best Practices curriculum which had begun three years earlier.

Bexley Middle School, which also had started using the IB program, looked forward to an April visit from a similar delegation.

Superintendent Michael Johnson presented project enrollment figures at the Bexley Board of Education’s first meeting of 2007, held Jan. 10. He pointed out a trend of declining enrollment at the sixth-grade level, adding that projected enrollment for 2007 was estimated at 132 students. At the time, he said it would be important to watch the situation for potential staffing changes. In the event of such changes, teachers would not be let go but would be reassigned, he said.

Bexley Middle School teacher Natalie Mroz learned she was the recipient of the International Educator of the Year Award given by the Columbus Council on World Affairs. She was recognized for her commitment to international education and awareness. Mroz and Christa Dillabaugh, a former Bexley Middle School teacher, created and rain forest exploration trip in 1994 that tool students to Costa Rica and Belize. The trip had been made available eight years since that time, with the largest group scheduled to travel to Costa Rica in July.

A team of eight-graders from Bexley Middle School placed third at the regional Future City competition, also winning the People’s Choice award for its design. Justin Chapian, Max Charles, A.J. Hutchison, Alex Lange and Sam Meizlish completed a model city, Anzuria, that was set in Iceland in the year 2193. Their city was designed to monitor global warming and respect sustainability while making use of technology.

February
Students for an equal society, a new extracurricular club at Bexley High School, sponsored “celebrating our heritage,” an assembly to mark Black History Month. The event showcased students in ballet, reggae dance, step dance and hip-hop, along with celebratory drumming. Ohio State University Athletic Director Gene Smith was the keynote speaker.

The 12th annual Bexley Education Foundation BRAVO! fundraiser took place at Million Air Columbus with the theme “Taking Education to New Heights.” Bexley students supported the event by contributing art in forms that would fly -- items such as kites, planes, windsocks and flags. Organizers were confident the event surpassed their fundraising goal of $100,000, generating money for special programs within the district.

Bexley Middle School retained its status in the Ohio Schools to Watch program, marking its second year on the list that identifies high-performing public middle schools. Implemented by the Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Schools to Watch is an affiliate of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform “Schools to Watch” program.

Freezing temperatures and snow forced the district to use more of its allotted calamity days. The district spend four of its five days within two weeks in the middle of February , leaving it very close to the point of having to schedule makeup days.

March
The Bexley Junior Thespians, involving more than 100 middle school and high school students, took to the stage March 2 and 3 with a presentation of Disney’s High School Musical. The fast-paced show featured dancing and singing, along with 22 set changes.

Six seniors at Bexley High School learned they had been selected as National Merit finalists. Named as National Merit semifinalists the previous fall, David Brickey, Elliot Bromagen, William Gardner, Henry Langknecht, Peter Ray and Stuart Wilson advanced in the competition that awards scholarships worth a combined $50 million for undergraduate study.

Peter Rodgers and Ross Darwin, juniors at Bexley High School, learned they were in a position to qualify for the U.S. team in the USA Biology Olympiad after placing in the top 10 percent on the Olympiad exam.

John Smith, former New Middletown Springfield head football coach, was tapped to assume the football coaching duties at Bexley High School, replacing Tom Phillips.

After an extensive search, Tommie Radd was named incoming principal at Montrose Elementary School, in preparation to replace the retiring Terry Black. Radd, serving as a professor of counselor education at the University of Nebraska, was selected from among 20 candidates.

April
Students and staff members at Cassingham Elementary School put together 42 care packages and sent them to Iraq and Kuwait to Staff Sgt. Alfred Holt’s U.S. Army National Guard Unit.

Holt’s unit benefited as his daughter, Allisa, was attending Cassingham as a third-grader. Deborah Forsblom, a music teacher at Cassingham, and Nancy MacLaughlin, an instructional aide, organized the event.

A group of Bexley High School students returned from a spring break trip to Andros Island, Bahamas, where they learned about marine biology and delivered books in support of libraries at five schools on the island. Forty-three students and six school staff members participated.

Bexley City Schools received District Accreditation status from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. The designation was given to only four Ohio schools, recognizing efforts to engage in a continuous, systemic process of educational improvement and to have efficient quality assurance controls.

Mary McMullen, a fifth-grade teacher at Cassingham Elementary School, announced her decision to retire after more than 35 years of teaching. She started her career with the district in 1970 as a third-grade teacher, but also held positions teaching fourth and sixth-graders.

April 27 was no ordinary day for Sonja Hutchison, a kindergarten teacher at Cassingham. Bexley Education Foundation Executive Director Charlene Morgan joined others to surprise Hutchison in her classroom, presenting her with the 2007 Bexley Educator of the Year award. Hutchison, in her ninth year with the district, received an engraved crystal apple and a $1,000 cash award.

May
Two Bexley High School students saw their ways with words pay off with recognition from the Ohioana Library Association.

Senior Sophia Antoun and junior Rachel Peck became recipients of the first Robert Fox Awards for Young Writers. Antoun took first prize in prose for her entry, Arabian Nights, while Peck took third, also in prose, for her work, Batting a Thousand.

Jim Tatman, a teacher of ninth-grade science at Bexley High School, announced his intent to retire as a full-time staffer. Tatman had served with the school district since 1972.

Bexley’s Stuart Wilson became an official National Merit scholarship winner. The son of Bruce and Melissa Wilson said he intended to use the funds to study architecture at the University of Cincinnati.

Montrose Elementary School found a way to say “thank you” to retiring Principal Terry Black by dedicating its Arts Festival to him and inviting members of the school community, past and present, to share memories. Black, 61, decided to end a 38-year career in education after working with Columbus Public Schools and Bexley City Schools. He became principal at Montrose in 1983.

June
Bexley High School awarded diplomas to 182 seniors at its 2007 graduation ceremony. Frank Lesser, a 1998 Bexley graduate, was chosen to be the guest speaker.

The high school band began marching to a new tune under the leadership of Andy Johnson, who was selected to replace band director Jeff Schneider after his retirement. Johnson came to the district from the Westerville City School District, where he taught band from 2003-06.

Joining Schneider in bidding the district adieu were Joan Shell, a seventh-grade special education teacher who had taught with the district for the past 15 years, and Carolyn Vitak, a math teacher at Bexley High School who had 37 years in the field of education.

The school district extended an invitation to get involved as it developed a survey for faculty, parents and the community with the hope of gathering information toward formulating an overall strategic plan. The district set a deadline of June 22 for participants to weigh in on how the district was doing.

Bexley High School picked up another accolade as it was named one of the nation’s best high schools according to the Jay Matthews Challenge Index, a list that was published in Newsweek magazine.

This was the third year in a row Bexley made the list, receiving an index score of 1,634, which placed it at 668 out of 1,200 schools nationwide. The score is determined by dividing the total number of AP, IB or Cambridge tests given by the number of students in that year’s graduating class.

Bexley High School Principal John Kellogg applauded the fact that AP enrollment continued to increase with 462 students enrolled in AP courses for the 2007-08 school year.

Results from the 2007 Ohio Graduation Test showed Bexley’s sophomores were on the right track.

Of the 189 sophomores taking the test, 97 percent passed the reading portion, 92 percent passed math, 97 percent passed writing, 91 percent passed science and 91 percent passed social studies.

Those who did not pass have additional chances to take the tests as juniors and seniors.

The Bexley Celebrations Association also lauded Terry Black, just after his retirement from serving as Montrose principal, by giving him the honor of Citizen of the Year as part of the city’s July Fourth festivities.

July
Plans for the Terry Black Outdoor Learning Center were announced.

Members of the Montrose Elementary PTO came up with an idea to build an outdoor classroom next to the baseball field behind the school. It could be utilized by students gathering for school activities or as a place where teachers could enhance learning in several areas.

The Bexley Education Foundation welcomed six new members to its Board of Governors. Joining the ranks were: Natalie Baker, Megan Walker, Sharon Leite, Craig Halliday, Bill Porter and Janice Yoder.

Bexley’s district superintendent announced he was exploring options to use a code system that would expand the district’s breakfast program and put students on the same footing, without stigma. The proposal called for using a system similar to that of a debit card account, where money would be deposited toward meals and subtracted when a code was entered.

Facility changes took place at Bexley High School, with a new office space being created specifically for counseling college-bound students. The space, adjacent to the library, was designed to provide a place for meeting with college representatives, consulting college-related materials and counseling students.

Paul Ross accepted the job of district technology director, to be effective Aug. 15. Ross, who had served as manager of the Faculty Technology Resource Center at the University of Denver’s Center for Technology and Learning, signed on to help Bexley create a system that would better use Web-based opportunity.

August
Bexley’s Jake Langknecht was named an additional National Merit scholarship recipient. Langknecht, son of Hank and Shirla Langknecht, planned to attend the University of Cincinnati, studying either psychology, English or music.

Bexley made it seven in a row by achieving an “Excellent” rating on the state report card issued by the Ohio Department of Education for 2006-07. The district received a perfect score of 30 and met AYP standards in all subgroups. In addition, its performance index was set at 104.0, better that the state’s goal of 100.0.

Cassingham Elementary and Bexley Middle schools had something to celebrate with the announcement they had reached their goal of being authorized by the Baccalaureate Primary Years and Middle Years programs, respectively. The schools will have to continue their efforts for the next four years, preparing for another visit by IB officials in 2011 to ensure they are following program implementation.

Bexley’s young actors and actresses looked at busy seasons, staging productions such as Bye Bye Birdie, The Mouse That Roared, Scapino!, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf and Anything Goes.

September
The Bexley Education Foundation launched a new endeavor, the Bexley Community Book Club.

The foundation hoped to tie in a 2008 visit from author Pete Hamill with several events, such as in-store promotions at Barnes and Noble Booksellers and book fairs. Students, parents and residents were invited to get involved by reading Hamill’s works.

Six Bexley seniors made the list of National Merit semifinalists for 2007-08. Among the select group are: Rachel Brickey, Peter Rodgers, Ross Darwin, Adam Berman, Tim Nassau and Robert Moore.

The district teamed up with the Bexley Recreation Department, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Urban Moves to spotlight nutrition and the importance of developing a healthful lifestyle early. Information sessions on topics such as proper food portions and building in time for activity were planned.

October
The district undertook a review of its Strategic Plan of 2002, gathering reactions to the plan and to see if it defines district expectations. Superintendent Johnson said he would meet with groups of parents and teachers, with a goal of maintaining improvement in the district.

Campaigns for two school board seats heated up. Incumbent Joan Fishel’s first term was set to expire, creating one opening. The other seat was left vacant by Mike Levey, who chose not to seek election after being appointed in December 2006 to fill the remainder of board member Susan Zanner’s term. Zanner had stepped down for personal reasons.

Fishel signed on for the ballot, seeking re-election, while candidates Craig Halliday, Michele Kusma and William Sean French Sr. hoped to be voted in.

November
Montrose Elementary School was named a 2007-08 National Anthem Project All-Star school for participating in National Anthem Day. On Sept. 14, the anniversary of the day composer Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner in 1814, students retired flags, sang the anthem and performed a Readers’ Theatre piece about the battle that inspired the song.

After the Nov. 7 general election, unofficial results showed Joan Fishel succeeded in her re-election bid and voters had selected Craig Halliday to fill the second open seat.

Maureen Bridge and Abby Feinknopf, two Bexley parents decided to lead an effort that would push the district to take a closer look at its recycling efforts and whether all is being done that can be done.

December
The Franklin County Board of Elections met to certify the results of November’s election and determined that the tallies in Bexley’s school board race were close enough to mandate a recount.

However, the recount upheld the original results, declaring Fishel and Halliday the winners.

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