by Phil Keren
Editor
Cuyahoga Falls -- The Woodridge Local School District has "started to make a lot of noise," according to its leader.
District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Graham delivered his yearly "State of the Schools" address to about 70 people at the Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Sheraton Suites Nov. 18.
Graham said recent academic and athletic accomplishments have helped give Woodridge an identity in the region.
"In the past, when I told people that I was from Woodridge, they typically had no idea what or where I was talking about," said Graham. "I can assure you that they do now because we're starting to make a lot of noise. Whether it's in academics with our excellent with distinction designation or in music with our talented band growing in both quantity and quality or in successful athletic programs, through the hard work of our students, coaches, teachers and athletes ... people are quickly becoming aware of where Woodridge is."
Graham said the district earned a rating of Excellent with Distinction on the Ohio Department of Education report card for the 2008-09 school year.
"This is especially exciting for us, because we've worked diligently over the course of the past five years to move out of [the] Continuous Improvement [designation] and to see our students continue to improve year after year," said Graham. "An achievement gap that was once one of the widest in Ohio has now narrowed significantly to rank us with the best schools in the state."
Graham said achieving the state's top rating was a result of team work by "students, parents, staff, administration and the Board of Education."
In May, district voters OK'd a 10.01-mill renewal levy "with a 72 percent approval rate," said the superintendent.
"This represented the highest margin of victory our district has ever seen in any levy campaign," said Graham. "As a result, and assuming the state makes no changes in school funding, Woodridge Local Schools will not need to return to the ballot for new money until 2012."
Graham added the district will have to put one more levy renewal request on the ballot in May 2010.
The superintendent offered high praise for the district's athletic squads.
According to Graham:
* The Woodridge boys cross country team won its fourth consecutive state championship earlier this month, and the girls cross country squad finished 10th in the state. The boys and girls cross country teams have never lost a Portage Trail Conference meet;
* The girls soccer team had its first ever District Player of the Year;
* The football team advanced to the state playoffs for the first time in school history, and followed that up with two postseason wins (after Graham gave his speech Nov. 18, the football team's season ended with a loss to Chagrin Falls Nov. 21).
"This year we are lucky to be a part of a very special time in Woodridge sports history," said Graham. "In the future, I think we're going to look back on the fall of 2009 as a legendary moment in Woodridge when an extraordinary group of young athletes put our small district on the map."
In the area of athletics, Graham noted that work continues on an 18,000 square-foot field house at the high school, and thanked George Conner and Dr. Tom Shaheen for their efforts in spearheading the project.