Board Update

Good Evening:

Hope everyone is staying cool in this heat wave!

LAST WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

Attended on July 18th the half-day HB 153/State Budget Regional Seminar at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, sponsored by the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, and the Ohio School Boards Association. The seminar covered an overview of HB 153, update on the Federal ARRA and Ed Jobs Funds, and an update on the status of SB 5 Ballot Issue.

Also on July 18th attended School Funding Meeting at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center with Governor John Kasich’s assistant policy director for education, Barbara Mattei-Smith to discuss the development of the Governor’s new school funding model. Mrs. Mattei-Smith share with the group the process of creating a new school funding model and the Governor’s goal of introducing a proposal the legislature in January 2012. There are 3 key principals the Governor is looking for in a new school funding model:
1)Resources must be student centered.
2)Resources must go into the classroom.
3)Recognize systems must use multiple deliver systems.
A bulk of the discussion centered on school board members and administrators giving feedback on what they wanted to see in a new school funding model. I had an opportunity to express two of my major concerns regarding a new funding model to Mrs. Mattei-Smith. My first concern is the Robin Hood Effect, that Suburban School District’s like North Royalton and others will be penalized in a new funding model, because the state views district’s like ours as “rich”, and would cause serious issues regarding equity in funding. I suggested that there be measures in place to ensure that funding is fairly distribute funding. The second concern I expressed was state does not have a plan to create a sustainable source of revenue to use for school funding. I suggested that the state focus on looking at other state models that have sustainable funding sources. Overall it was a good discussion and I plan to follow this very closely.

On July 21st, I held my Monthly Constituent Coffee at the French Quarter Café. I just wanted to thank those who stopped by to give me their feedback. I hold these monthly coffees in order to stay in touch with fellow residents and listen to their feedback. There is no appointment necessary. Simply stop by and talk to me. I will keep you posted when my next monthly coffee in August will be.
Earlier this month I was on the Civic Commons Radio Show. I wanted to share with you the part 2 of the special radio show.
Show #22 Hello?! Is this mic working??
If you've ever testified before some kind of elected body, you may know that sometimes all you get back is a perfunctory thanks for being there. And then nothing. In part two of a two-part special on citizen engagement with public bodies like school boards and city councils, Dan and Luke solicit help from elected officials and a renowned policy guy to try to figure out what's going on in the public comment period of these meetings. Ultimately there are ways to improve engagement with boards and councils, and to make them more like satisfying conversations. Here is the link:
http://www.theciviccommons.com/radioshow/show-22-hello-is-this-mic-working
You may also find interesting their blog discussion on this issue at:
http://www.theciviccommons.com/blog/transparency-accountability-and-lessons-learned


THIS WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

This week there are various meetings and events.

2nd Annual Operation North Royalton Cares
The mission of Operation North Royalton Cares is to collect school supplies for families of students in need, living in North Royalton. Throughout the week of August 8th-14th there will be various drop off locations throughout the city for community members to donate items. The program is supported by the North Royalton City School District in coordination with the City of North Royalton Office on Aging and Human Services.Operation North Royalton Cares will kick off with a free event open to the public on August 8th from 6pm-7pm at the French Quarter Café located at 5540 Wallings Rd., called “A Taste of the Big Easy”, there will be a sampling of traditional New Orleans food. All those who attend are asked to bring one school supply to the event. Backpacks and gift cards to school supply stores are in large demand this year. In addition here is list of items we are in need of as well.

Donation Item Wish List:

Backpacks
USB Flash Drives
Kleenex Boxes
Folders
Ruled Paper
Notebooks
Pencils
Pens
Crayons
Markers
Rulers
Scissors
Glue/Glue Sticks
Protractors
Calculators
Headphones
Highlighters
Colored Pencils
$10 Gift Cards or more to school supply stores such as: (Office Max, Staples, Walmart, Target, Giant Eagle, CVS, Drug Mart, Rite Aide, and etc.).

Monetary donations will be accepted. Checks can be made out to the Charitable Fund of North Royalton Kiwanis, in the memo portion of the check please put down School Supplies. If anyone is making a gift card or monetary donation, please drop them off only at the Board of Education Office or the Office on Aging & Human Services. Attached is a flyer with more information about the various drop off locations and kick off event.

Mark Your Calendars
Please note the exciting opportunity for all parents on August 24th when we host Dr. Ray Guarendi. Dr. Guarendi has been a regular guest on national radio and television, including Oprah, Joan Rivers, Scott Ross Prime Time, 700 Club, Gordon Elliot, and CBS This Morning. He’s appeared on regional radio and television shows in over 40 states and Canada. He has been the program psychologist for Cleveland’s Morning Exchange, Pittsburgh 2-Day, and AM Indiana. Below is some information about this event:

“STANDING STRONG AS A PARENT”
A Presentation You Won’t Want to Miss!
All are Welcome -- Free of Charge
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
North Royalton Performing Art Center
6:30 - 7:30 pm

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”