Good Evening:
If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me at call at 440-596-0078 or e-mail me at dan.langshaw@northroyaltonsd.org.
If you have any friends or neighbors who would like to receive my weekly e-mail updates please let me know and I will be sure to add them to my e-mail list.
LAST WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD
The School Board met on October 10th for its’ October Regular School Board Meeting. Some highlights from the meeting. Students Kelly Mkut, Fariha Mostafiz, and Patrick Barrett from the North Royalton Middle School’s WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) gave a presentation on the program. WEB is a transition program that helps elementary school students make the shift to middle school. During public participation Don Langshaw addressed the board to express concern over the district considering leasing and or drilling for natural gas on district property and concerns over the debt still owed on the stadium project. Board approved the 2011-2012 Student Activities. The Board also approved the transfer from the General Fund of $73,000.00 to the Bond Retirement Fund. Board approved October to be the Month of the Young Adolescent. Superintendent Vittardi informed the Board the district received the Auditor of State Award with Distinction. Board accepted the retirements of Stella Behm, Patricia Ansberry, and Joseph Guilfoyle. The Board approved the creation of a Title I Literacy Coach. Board also approved the appointments of certificated/licensed and classified employees, and supplemental contracts, volunteers, and personal service contracts. The Board approved also various other agenda items, and such other matters that came before the Board.
Here is a link to the Audio Recording of the October 10th Regular School Board Meeting: http://www.northroyaltonsd.org/external/audio/101011RegMtg.mp3
HB 136 Update
Back on Sept. 21st, the House Education Committee passed HB 136, a proposal that would offer vouchers to students in every Ohio school district, regardless of the district’s academic performance. The bill passed 12-10 primarily on a party line vote, with Rep. Nan Baker (R-Westlake) and Rep. Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) voting against the measure along with Democrats. Now that HB 136 has been reported out of committee, it will move to the floor where it will be voted on by the full House some time after the November 8th General Election. HB 136 has the very real possibility of stripping even more state funding from the high performing school districts like ours. This is especially confusing given the public backlash against state budget which cut millions of dollars from local districts already fighting to control costs and deliver a quality public education
HB 136:
• Expands vouchers to students in all school districts, regardless of the academic report card rating of the school building or district. The only qualifier for eligibility is household income. Students whose family income is less than $95,000 would qualify.
• Allows students currently enrolled in private schools to be eligible for the voucher (phases in over four years).
• If the private school tuition is less than the voucher amount, it allows parents to bank the excess dollars for college tuition and textbooks at any private school or college in Ohio.
• Deducts funding for the voucher from the resident school district’s funding (aggregate amount deducted from district cannot exceed a district’s state aid funding.)
Please continue to contact our lawmakers in Columbus and share with them your concerns about HB 136 and to tell them to vote No!
State Senator Tom Patton
24th Senate District
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8056
SD24@senate.state.oh.us
State Representative Marlene Anielski (Broadview Heights portion of our school district)
17th House District
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6041
Fax: (614) 719-6956
district17@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Mike Dovilla
18th House District (North Royalton portion of our school district)
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-4895
Fax: (614) 719-6957
district18@ohr.state.oh.us
Vote by Mail
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections will no longer automatically mail Vote by Mail Ballot Applications to voters. To vote by mail for the November 8, 2011 General Election, you must fill out a Vote By Mail Application. You can click on
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_boe/en-US/Applications/absenteeApplication2011.pdf
or use the attached form. Franklin D. Roosevelt said it best “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” Please make sure you vote!
November 8th General Election
The upcoming election features a RENEWAL operating levy for the North Royalton City Schools. This levy WILL NOT increase taxes and passage is vital to allow our district to maintain current programs and services. Originally passed in 2002, and renewed in 2006, the levy will continue to generate $4,395,000 annually. Your vote counts and will go a long way to ensure that your child has every opportunity while growing up and attending the North Royalton City Schools.
THIS WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD
This week there are various meetings and events.
North Royalton Educational Foundation Meeting on October 18th at 3:30pm @ North Royalton Board of Education Office Conference Room, 6579 Royalton Rd., North Royalton, OH 44133.
Curriculum & Instruction Assessment Committee on October 19th at 9:00am @ NRHS Community Rm, 14713 Ridge Rd., North Royalton, OH 44133.
State of the Schools Address
Superintendent Ed Vittardi will deliver his Annual State of the Schools Address at the North Royalton Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. The luncheon will be held at Carrie Cerino’s Ristorante, 8922 Ridge Road in North Royalton from 11:30am – 1 pm. Lunch and program begin at noon. Mr. Vittardi will discuss the status of the North Royalton City School District, give a fiscal report, and present an update on the strategic plan progress, student achievement, and success stories from each of the school buildings. To make reservations, please call the Chamber office at 440/237-6180. Cost is $12 to chamber members and $15 to non-members. Residents, parents, and businesses are invited.
State Representative Mike Dovilla’s District Office Hours
On October 22nd at the North Royalton Library, 14600 State Rd., North Royalton from 10am-12pm, Representative Dovilla will hold district office hours. Please stop if you have any questions or concerns for our State Representative.
Coffee with School Board Member Dan Langshaw
If you are a constituent living in the North Royalton School District, you are invited to attend my next monthly constituent coffee on October 22nd at the French Quarter Café located at 5540 Wallings Road in North Royalton from 9am-11am. I hold these coffees in order to stay in touch with fellow residents and listen to their feedback one on one. There is no appointment necessary. Simply stop by and talk to me.
You are cordially invited to attend the North Royalton Health, Wellness & Community Expo featuring the 11th Annual 5K Bear Run/Walk and so much more this year! Saturday, October 29, 2011 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Festivities begin at 8:00 AM with free Pancake & Sausage Breakfast provided by Mayor Bob Stefanik, 5K Bear Run will jump start the expo at 9:00 AM. From 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Health & Wellness Expo with a variety of Health, Wellness & Fitness Exhibitors. Free Health Screens, Kid’s Turkey Run/Walk & Play Area plus Presentations for All Age Groups. For more information check out our district website at www.northroyaltonsd.org
Weekly E-mail Updates
If you have any friends or neighbors who would like to receive my weekly e-mail updates please let me know and I will be sure to add them to my e-mail list.
Follow me on Twitter or on my Blog
You can follow me on Twitter @Langshaw4board. I also have a blog at http://votelangshaw4board.blogspot.com.
My Contact Info
If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me at call at 440-596-0078 or e-mail me at dan.langshaw@northroyaltonsd.org.
Have a great week!
Dan Langshaw
North Royalton School Board Member
440-596-0078
www.danlangshaw.com
“Putting Students First”