Northridge Local School District Northridge Schools Shows

Northridge Local School District
www.northridge.k12.oh.us
6097 Johnstown-Utica Rd • Johnstown, OH 43031 • Phone: (740) 967- 6631 • Fax: (740) 967- 5022
Dear Residents:
It’s a Great Day to Be a Viking!
A
recently finished up my first year in the job.
s we are heading into the second
As I reflect upon this time, one thing is
half of the 2013 school year,
clear - great schools mean a lot to
we have a lot to be
people and communication is a
proud of in our
You can now follow me
communities that make
key part of our success.
on Twitter. I recently
up Northridge
As a means to increase
created a Twitter account to
Schools. New
public awareness and
interact and keep our
learning standards,
transparency, Northridge
community informed about the
new report card
Schools
have created this
great things happening in our
rankings and new
newsletter
so that
schools. You can find me
testing requirements
community
members,
“@northridgesupt.”
all stand to challenge
parents,
staff
and
students are
Looking forward to the
our students and ensure
informed
on
what’s
going on
conversation!
we are more accountable to
with
our
schools,
including
our
our parents and citizens. At a
achievements
and
some
of
the
time of great challenge for Ohio
challenges we may face from time to time.
schools, we have more than held our own.
In fact, we have progressed, and I want to
The Northridge Board of Education and
take this opportunity to thank you for
I recently outlined goals and ongoing
making this success possible.
measures of success for the school year that
As Northridge superintendent, I just
reached an important milestone as I
serve to keep us accountable to students,
parents and taxpayers. From academic
0%
performance, to
communications,
and leadership,
we are committed
to making sure
our students have
the tools they
Dr. Chris Briggs
need to not
Superintendent
only achieve in
our Northridge
classrooms, but to continue on a path of
success wherever the future takes them.
We are also committed to accomplishing
these goals in the most economical means
for our taxpayers.
As we look to the future, we have an
incredibly exciting year ahead of us and
I look forward to continuing on a path of
success and working with you to take our
schools to the next level. It’s a great day to
be a Viking!
Northridge Schools on May Ballot for Zero Tax Increase Renewal Levy
T
he Northridge
Schools Board of
Education is in the
process of placing a 5-year
renewal levy on the May
2014 ballot. Since it is a
renewal levy, it will NOT
increase the tax rate of
residents.
“This coming spring is an
important time for our
schools and community,”
stated Board President
Doug Hart. “This is a lean
request — simply a renewal
of existing taxes — and will
help maintain quality
programs and services
for our kids.”
Funding from this zero tax increase renewal levy will go to our dayto-day operations including teachers in the classroom, textbooks,
It’s a Great Day to Be a Viking!
and utilities. This levy
represents $2.1 million
in funding for schools
and students.
“This renewal levy is not a
new tax and will keep
Northridge Schools on a
path to excellence and
progress,” stated
Superintendent Chris
Briggs. “Without it, we
will have to enact cuts
that will impact the
quality of our schools.”
In the coming months,
you will be hearing more
about this critical issue
and its impact on our
schools and community. If you have any questions, please contact
Dr. Chris Briggs at (740) 967-6631.
Northridge Local School District
Northridge Schools Shows Commitment to Conservative Finances
T
he Northridge community has made it
clear that it expects our school district
to stay focused on being as efficient as
possible, and at the same time, providing a solid
education for our students. This past October,
I presented the board of education with a five
year financial forecast that will help Northridge
Schools plan for our future and our ultimate
goal of providing great schools at a reasonable
cost to taxpayers.
Northridge Schools is committed to cost control
and has made $4 million in reductions over the last
two years to ensure the leanest budget possible,
while still maintaining programs and services that
help our students succeed.
A major factor that is important to the stability
of our schools and community is an upcoming
emergency levy that is set to expire in 2014.
Britt Lewis
This levy is vital to our day-to-day operations and
Treasurer/CFO
represents over $2 million in our current funding.
Every October and May, the Ohio Department of
The superintendent, board of education and I are in
Education requires an update of the financial
the process of talking to residents about this levy
five-year forecast for school districts across
Northridge Schools is
and its impact on our schools and community.
the state. The purpose is to provide a
committed to cost control and
Since it would be a renewal of a current levy,
planning tool for Boards of Education to
has made $4 million in reductions
it is not a new tax.
analyze the trends within the school
over the last two years to ensure the
As we look forward, Northridge will continue
district budget. The forecast is a snapshot
leanest budget possible, while still
our
commitment of providing great schools
in time that changes as new information
maintaining programs and
at
a
great
value for our community. We will not
becomes known.
services that help our
lose sight of our goal to continue to be a high
students succeed.
As the country continues to recover from
quality school system, while at the same time
these tough economic times, Northridge
striving to be one of the leanest. For more
Schools are working hard to live within our means.
information, please contact me at (740) 967-6631.
Page 2 • Winter 2014 | Vol. 1 | Issue 1
Northridge Local School District • 740-967-6631
DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT: Department of Teaching and Learning
N
orthridge Local Schools is
committed to proving high quality
teaching and learning
opportunities for students and their
families. The T&L Department includes
Dr. Sabrina Vallery, Director of Teaching
& Learning and Mrs. Heather Clark,
Curriculum Coordinator. The T&L
Department provides leadership and
support to district administrators,
principals, teachers, and students. As a Race to the Top district, the T&L
Department facilitates the Scope of Work
and Professional Development Plan. Key
items include the development of courses
of study and curriculum maps, using
student data to inform instruction, and the
implementation of the Ohio Teacher
Evaluation System (OTES).
The construction of the course study
continues to be a work in progress.
Professional days and team time have been
devoted to their development. Multiple
www.northridge.k12.oh.us
The district is working to improve gifted
measures of assessment data are used to
programming for students and
drive instruction. Examples include
families. Northridge currently
MAP in grades K-9, pre- and
provides pull-out services to
post- assessments, OAA
We are very excited
students in grades K-5.
scores, and ongoing
The intent is to grow the
formative assessment.
about the progress thus far
model to a more
regarding the improvement of
Other current initiatives
inclusive framework. We
teaching and learning at Northridge!
include the establishment
are seeking out
Our intent is to offer students
of a DLT (District
professional
Leadership Team), BLTs
optimal opportunities to
development for our 6-12
(Building Leadership
achieve success.
teachers to improve
Teams), and TBTs (Teacher
differentiation, instructional
Based Teams), improving and
strategies, and practice for high
expanding on gifted programming,
achieving students. Northridge is also
RTI (Response to Intervention), the Third
evaluating the process for acceleration and
Grade Reading Guarantee, and providing
course offerings.
high quality professional development
We are very excited about the progress thus
opportunities. Formal professional
far regarding the improvement of teaching
development is offered to teachers and staff
and learning at Northridge! Our intent is
through district teacher work days, early
to offer students optimal opportunities to
release time devoted to formative
achieve success.
instructional practices, and building
specific staff meetings.
Winter 2014 | Vol. 1 | Issue 1 • Page 3
N o r t h r i d g e Lo c a L S c h o o L d i S t r i c t
6097 J o h N S to w N - U t i c a r d
J o h N S to w N, o h 43031
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Permit No. 1213
Vision
VISION, MISSION
and VIKING
VALUES
Our vision is to ensure
that every student reaches
their fullest potential.
Mission
Our mission is to empower
all students with the
knowledge and skills
necessary to be college
and career ready.
Viking Values
Trust, Communication,
Leadership, Collaboration,
Respect, Integrity, and
Accountability
Northridge Local School District
Winter 2014 | Vol. 1 | Issue 1
Northridge High School
Northridge Middle School
6066 Johnstown-Utica Rd.
Johnstown, OH 43031
Principal: Amy Anderson
School Secretary: Pam Paisie
Guidance Secretary: Debbie Stone
Phone: (740) 967- 6651
Fax: (740) 967- 6958
6097 Johnstown-Utica Rd.
Johnstown, OH 43031
Principal: Sherry Birchem
School Secretary: Crissy Willeke
Phone: (740) 967- 6671
Fax: (740) 967- 7083
Northridge Primary School
124 College St.
Alexandria, OH 43001
Principal: Jamie Johnson-Greiner
School Secretary: Diana Hupp
Phone: (740) 924-2691
Fax: (740) 924-6013
Northridge Intermediate
6066 Johnstown-Utica Rd.
Johnstown, OH 43031
Associate Principal: Jason Brasno
School Secretary: Nina Shoe
Phone: (740) 967- 1402
Fax: (740) 967- 2140
Important District Numbers: Administration: (740) 967-6631 • Fax: (740) 967-5022 • Bus Garage: (740) 967-7533
www.northridge.k12.oh.us
It’s a Great Day to be a Viking