Fallsnewspress.com - Falls Schools' leader says district continues to make progress

RPC Photo / Phil Keren Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Holland addressed the city’s Chamber of Commerce at the annual “State of the Schools” address at the Sheraton Suites Nov. 19.

by Phil Keren

Editor

Cuyahoga Falls -- Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Superintendent Dr. Edwin Holland discussed the district's progress during the past year at his annual "State of the Schools" address at the Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce lunch Nov. 19.

Holland reviewed the district's status on both the academic and fiscal fronts before a crowd of approximately 75 people at the Sheraton Suites.

"We still must continue to be prudent with our budget, control our expenses and be good stewards of the community's tax dollars," said Holland.

The Falls Schools leader said the district is feeling the effects of the country's tough economic times.

"Our financial forecast projects a $2.6 million deficit in 2011 due to reductions in state and local property revenues and increases in the normal operating expenses," said Holland.

In an effort to "maintain fiscal transparency," Holland said the Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education is hosting dialogues with district members to discuss the financial forecast.

Holland encouraged chamber members to attend one of the dialogues.

"It is only with an informed and supportive community that our district will continue to thrive," said Holland.

Remaining dialogues will take place Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Roberts Middle School cafeteria, 3333 Charles St., and Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Cuyahoga Falls High School library, 2300 Fourth St.

District garners 'effective' rating on state report card

Holland said that, thanks to the work of the staff, students and parents, the district was rated effective on the most recent state report card. He explained all district buildings have continued to work on reducing the achievement gap among subgroups.

Holland noted the "value-added measure," which appeared on the state report card for the first time this year, examines the amount of progress a student made over the previous year's scores. This assessment, according to Holland, is used to ensure the student has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

"The value-added measure has demonstrated that our students, in all subgroups, including special education students, and our buildings, have made significant academic progress," said Holland. "We're very excited about the promise of the value-added measure because it really looks at the actual progress that a child makes from year to year."

Holland said the district must continue to move forward to improve those scores.

"We're very proud of our staff and students for all of their hard work, but we cannot stop here," said Holland. "We must continue to make academic progress and strive for excellence for all of our students."

Curriculum update

Holland said the district has expanded the implementation of the "Everyday Math" program into fifth grade this year and is working toward having the initiative in place for sixth-graders next year.

"We're continuing to rely on student data for reading and mathematics to aid our instruction and we are conducting quarterly assessments for math and science to monitor our sequencing and implementation of the curriculum," said Holland. "We have increased student instruction time at the elementary and middle schools and we've expanded our gifted programming at the middle school level."

Holland explained improvement is needed at all levels, but particularly "at the middle grades," for the district to ascend to the state's coveted excellent rating.

New strategic plan
on horizon

Holland said the district is now in the fourth year of its "Plan For Excellence" program and will soon use a new strategic road map.

"We'll continue to work the Plan for Excellence objectives for this year and we're in the process of developing the new Ohio Improvement Plan for the next three years," said Holland. "The Plan for Excellence objectives and the new Ohio Improvement Plan are crucial for our district to reach the Excellent rating."

He added Falls School officials were asked by the Ohio Department of Education to help formulate the Ohio Improvement Plan for other districts.

"[The Ohio Improvement Plan] is a strategic planning initiative that all school districts will be required to do ... over the next couple years," said Holland. "This Ohio Improvement process is very, very similar to the Plan For Excellence, and therefore, we've been asked to help develop this model ... it's a perfect segue for the Plan For Excellence to develop into this Ohio Improvement Plan."

E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3940