Board Update

Good Evening:

The November 8th General Election is this Tuesday, Polls are open from 6:30am-7:30pm. 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!

Veterans Day is this Friday, November 11th. Veterans Day is a celebration to honor all those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military. We also honor those heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the protecting the freedoms we all enjoy each and every day as Americans by giving up their lives so we could be free! So if you have a family member, friend, neighbor, or just see a veteran in the community; please take the time to thank them for their service to this great nation! On a personal level, as a U.S. Army Veteran, I would also ask you please keep in your thoughts and prayers my battle buddies who are still currently serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan at this time! Thank you!

LAST WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

On November 3rd attended the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center’s Joint Board Dinner. Dr. Cynthia Deyling, Chairman of Regional Operations for the Cleveland Clinic Board of Governors and Vision8 member was the keynote speaker who discussed the future of health care and how it may impact career and technical education. There was also a presentation of the long-range strategic plan that have emerged from the CVCC’s Vision 8 Meetings. To learn more about the CVCC check out www.cvccworks.com. It was a great learning more about the future plans of the CVCC, our students are very lucky to have such a great career center to attend.

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

Crystal Starfish Award Nominations
Just a reminder to everyone that nominations are now being accepted for the first semester Crystal Starfish Award. Staff, students, and the community have an opportunity to nominate a teacher and/or staff member that has made a significant difference in their lives. First Federal of Lakewood has agreed to sponsor this award twice per year. Also thank you to Samurai Sushi Bar/Hibachi Steakhouse, Westfield Southpark Mall, and Creations by Lynn/Royal Towne Florist. Nominations are due November 25. They can be found on-line at www.northroyaltonsd.org or at any school building.

NRHS Academic Challenge Team
Special congratulations to our North Royalton High School Academic Challenge Team. Representing our district were Kim Potenga, Emily Hrovat (captain), and Claudia Lamparter. Alternates were Rohit Anand, Drew Bidlen, and A.J. D'Angelo. This was the fifth time Mr. Bob Price, a math teacher at the high school, was the adviser of the team. In the last appearance (2009), the team came in first place. Tune in to Newschannel 5 on December 24 at 7pm to find out how our team did in their Academic Challenge competition.

Band Superior Rating
Also congrats to our award winning marching band for yet another superior rating at the State Band Competition in Columbus!!

NOC Cheer Competition
Our cheerleaders won the NOC competition this past week. This is an incredibly challenging competition and quite an honor for the girls!

North Royalton City Schools Placed on College Board's AP District Honor Roll
Our school district was one of fewer than 400 public school districts in the nation to be honored by the College Board with a place on the 2nd Annual AP Honor Roll, for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams. This is exciting news and encouraging, as this is an area of emphasis for our district.

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.

Citywide Holiday Food Bank Collection
The North Royalton Food Bank is asking for donations of food for our Holiday Food Box program. Families in need will be given a food box for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. You can help by donating nonperishable foods as listed on the attached description of needed items. If you wish to donate money to the program, checks are made out to the North Royalton Food Bank Trust and mailed to the Office on Aging, 13500 Ridge Road, North Royalton, OH 44133. Please include your name and address so we may send you a letter of thanks for your kind donation. See the Food List attached.
Thanksgiving/Christmas Food List


THIS WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

This week there are various meetings and events.

Election Day, November 8th
The polls open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm. Bring proper identification with you.
For all other voters, if you are not certain of your voting location, you can call the Board of Elections at 216.443.3298 or visit www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us to learn your polling location. FYI to voters in North Royalton Precincts 5A and 5C. If you live in either of these two precincts and have voted at City Hall in the past, you now have new polling locations. Precinct 5A will now vote at Royal view Elementary School, 13220 Ridge Road. If you live in Precinct 5C, you will vote at Albion Elementary School, 9360 Albion Road.

NO CLASSES November 8th for the North Royalton City School District for Election Day.

SCENE Meeting- Factors That Impact Kids
I hope you can attend this very informative and interactive evening. This event is the kickoff to our Community Drug Grant received. November 9, 2011 @ NRHS Community Room at 14713 Ridge Rd., North Royalton, OH 44133 from
6:30pm — 8:00pm. Key Note Speaker: Joe Spiccia
Joe has spent over 30 years working in education, including eight years as Principal of Mentor High School. He currently is a consultant to school districts for the National Race to the Top program. Followed by a panel discussion.

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. You can also check out my website at www.danlangshaw.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”