Highlights from 2/20/14 school board meeting

Math curriculum raises math success significantly
Upcoming meetings on important topics
Current fundraising programs & events
If it quacks like a duck
Extracurricular Update
Athletic Update

Here are the highlights from the 2/20/14 school board meeting:

• The Partners for a Drug-Free Milford Miami Township shared the :30 commercial addressing prescription drug use their students created and that will air this spring on local cable.  Stacy Mathis, director of the program, also talked about the free forum on opiate abuse to be held Thursday, March 6, 6:30-8 pm at Wyler Automotive Family on Milford Parkway.  It’s extremely important for the public to understand what is happening with opiates, especially since they can be the gateway for even more dangerous drugs such as heroin.
• Gwen Walden from the Kiwanis Club of Milford recognized Dr. Bob Farrell, Milford’s superintendent, for his support of the club and also of Key Club in the high school.  Due to Dr. Farrell’s encouragement, Key Club was reinstated several years ago and has been highly successful.
• The district’s finances are on track and will be reviewed in more detail in the next few months.  Under the new state funding formula, we will receive more funding than ever before for our preschool program, which is required by state law for special needs students.  We had projected to receive appr. $90,000 this year, and we will actually receive just over $400,000.
• Work on the two new schools, Seipelt and Boyd, continues.  There has been much discussion about land usage, which is a concern on the Boyd E. Smith site.  Although there is quite a bit of land on that site, not much of it is usable without incurring major expense.  Because of this, the architect is looking at a two-story building that will fit on the available space.  We will likely use the same design at both sites for efficiency, which means the Seipelt building will likely be two stories no matter which site is used.  The design committee is also looking at how best to use the 53,000 sq. ft. in each building.  There will be three classrooms built for each grade, and a vibrant media center will be a focus.  Finally, the Ownership Program of Requirements looks at ongoing cost and management of buildings, ensuring utilities, HVAC, storm water, etc, will all be handled effectively not just when the buildings are built, but 5, 20 and 50 years down the road (based on what we know today).
• Summer school dates have been confirmed.  They are:
  • Summer PE, June 5-25, 7:30 am – noon
  • Summer School, June 9-27, 7:30 am – 11:30 am
  • Junior High Remediation, June 12-26, 9 am – 11:30 am
  • Summer school fees have also been approved.  All non-resident fees are $25 higher than the resident fee.  Residents are given priority for registration, although summer school has not filled to capacity in the past.  This year’s fees are:
  • • Summer PE, $150 resident
    • Credit Recovery one course, $150 resident
    • Credit Recovery two courses $200 resident
    • Government/Health original credit $150 resident
    • Health/PE combo, $175 resident
    • Junior High remediation, $150 resident