Northmont Today - Northmont City Schools

50 Northmont Today
1959
2009
Published by the Northmont City School District
Volume 35/2
Winter 2010
In Memorial
Upcoming Dates:
• OGT Testing
March 15-19
• NEF Auction
March 12
• Daylight Savings
March 13
October 14, 1945 - October 29, 2009
Northmont Schools
remembers the voice and spirit of Bob Gentis.
During his forty-two years as an educator, Mr. Gentis spent thirtyone years with Northmont as a principal and Director of Student
Services. He was a patient, respectful listener and a voice of reason.
He was excellent with the children, always asking when the day was
done, “What is best for the child?” His work with and for students
reminds everyone to regularly ask the important questions that will
ultimately benefit children.
Responding to Five-year Forecast
The region’s fragile economy and state cuts have forced the Northmont
• Kindergarten
Registration
March 17-18
• End of Quarter 3
March 26
• Spring Break
Robert Gentis
March 29-April 2
Board of Education to take a strong look at the school budget and cut whenever
possible.
“It’s happening throughout Ohio, and here in Northmont we’re particularly
impacted because our community wants to keep excellent schools,” said School
Board President Linda Blum. “This squeeze is the worst I’ve seen since being
first elected to the Board.”
School districts are required to submit five-year spending plans with the
state, and Northmont’s filing included the benefit of several difficult decisions that have freed
up over two million dollars to be spent in the classroom, according to Business Manager Bob
McClintock and Treasurer Sandra T. Harris.
Among the moves was the Union/Phillipsburg merger, the elimination of the equivalent of
two administrators, and utilizing Federal IDEA Stimulus Program grants of $300,000 a year for
two years.
In announcing the fiscal emergency, Blum and her School Board colleagues noted that the
state has chopped aid to local schools, including millions formerly earmarked for Northmont.
About half of Northmont’s budget comes from state sources.
“It’s a very tough situation that we must confront together as a community,” said Blum.
does inadequate state funding and the current economy affect revenue for
Q: How
Northmont Schools?
state money continuing to decline, it creates the necessity of relying more on local monies. The
A: With
district has a nine-mill levy that was originally approved in 1990 and has been renewed several times.
This levy is due to expire at the end of 2010. The Board voted to place the issue on the May 4 ballot
for the replacement of the nine mills. As always, the district is also reviewing all budget items for
possible reductions to help balance the budget.
EXCELLENCE
. . . through fiscal efficiency
are Northmont Schools funds
Q: How
spent?
spending chart shows that almost
A: The
all of the school district’s general
Expense By Function
Trans. & Maint.
13%
Excellence Maintained
O. R. Edgington Elementary
Readiness to Learn
Support Services
11%
fund dollars are spent on items that
directly impact students: instruction
AAdministration
(regular and special), pupil support
6%
services (counselors, librarians,
Regular & Special
Instruction
speech therapists), and transportation
67%
and maintenance.
How does Northmont compare in per pupil spending to other districts in the
county/state?
Expenditure Per Pupil
Montgomery County Schools
Northmont works on a “lean
budget” and spends significantly
less in per pupil expenditures than
schools in Montgomery County
County Average
and across the state. As indicated
$10, 868
in the per pupil expenditure chart,
Northmont expenditures per pupil
rank 14 out of 16 in the county
and is well below the state
$8,993
Northmont
average. Northmont has done a
great job of managing its money
State Average $9,990
while maintaining an excellent
product eight years in a row.
Treas. & Bus.
3%
Q:
A:
$5,000
$7,000
$9,000
$11,000
$13,000
Jefferson
Dayton
Northridge
Kettering
County Avg.
Trotwood
Source: ODE “Cupp Report”
Vandalia
Centerville
Mad River
Huber Heights
Oakwood
W Carrollton
Miamisburg
Valley View
Northmont
New Lebanon
Brookville
State Average
does Northmont receive its
Q: How
funding for general operations of the
2009-2010 Revenue
Other
2%
Northwood Elementary
Veteran’s Day Speakers
Local
47%
District?
State
51%
receives 47% of its general
A: Northmont
fund revenue from local tax dollars and
2% from other local sources; and 51%
from the state foundation program and
other state revenue.
Q: Did Northmont Schools receive stimulus funding?
received stimulus funds in special grants which must be used only for
A: Northmont
special education and intervention services. The district also received stimulus dol-
lars through the state foundation program, which was not an actual increase in state
funding. The dollars were used to supplant existing funding with zero increase to
the foundation formula. Stimulus dollars were only approved for two years 20092010 and 2010-2011. Will the loss of these dollars be replaced? There are no
answers at this time.
GREEN PRIDE
. . . reaching out to the world
Throughout the year, classrooms are enhancing lessons with iPod Touch classroom
sets. Mobile technologies encourage exploration, investigation, categorizing,
utilization, data collection, and making predictions. Students have worked
independently and at varying paces, meeting their individual needs. Learning has been
up close and personal. The iPod Touch has given students immediate feedback and a
positive reward to keep moving.
With the assistance of their parent and family booster organization, the Northmont
Senior High NJROTC collected over 1,000 toys for the U.S. Marines sponsored
“Toys for Tots” program. Assisted by their parent and family booster organization,
the NJROTC cadets approached this effort in three phases.
The Watch D.O.G.S. program expanded to Englewood, Northwood and O.R. Edgington this school year with more expansion planned for the future. Watch D.O.G.S. is a
national program that organizes fathers and father figures providing positive male role
models for the students, enhancing school security. Additional information about the
Watch D.O.G.S. program can be found on the National Center for Fathering website.
After a month-long series of events, Northmont Middle School donated over $3500
to American Cancer Society-Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Among their
efforts was the formation of a giant pink N. Thanks to all in the Northmont community who contributed to this effort.
Northmont maintenance team members Dave Ernst, Rob Ingles and Ben Hoover
volunteered for a seven-month program becoming certified building operators.
These nationally certified building operators demonstrate and apply skills in developing and assessing energy consumption profile for our facilities. By exercising
preventive maintenance, they optimize equipment operation for energy efficiency.
The Northmont Education Foundation provides funds to enhance the education of
students in the Northmont Community through grants and scholarships. Last year
$76,000 was awarded to teachers and students through grants and scholarships.
Northmont Board of Education
Northmont City School District
4001 Old Salem Road
Englewood, OH 45322
Information Line
937-832-5032 or
[email protected]
www.northmontschools.com
Winter 2010
Non-Profit Organ.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1002
Dayton, OH 45001
11th Annual Auction
Friday, March 12, 2010
Meadowbrook Country Club
Excellence Maintained
ECR WSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Englewood Elementary Readers
NHS U.N.I.T.Y. Day
Our Mission:
Englewood Hills Watch D.O.G.S.
Union Elementary Food Drive
The mission of Northmont City Schools is to guarantee
academic excellence to all learners that will prepare them
for their future through a progressive curriculum,
dedicated staff, and state-of-the-art facilities enhanced by
extra-curricular programs.
Northmoor Elementary Hand Bell Choir
Middle School Seminar Student
50
1959
2009