Northridge March Board Report

Board President Jayma Bammerlin emphasized the strides made toward achieving the Superintendent's goals for the academic year. She praised the Superintendent's initiatives aimed at improving communication and transparency within the district. Additionally, Mrs. Bammerlin shared her excitement about the new strategic planning process for the district, which mirrors the Superintendent's overarching vision. She described the plan as a guiding framework for the school community, that will outline specific goals and strategies to ensure continuous achievement and advancement.

The update on the stadium project was another key highlight. With lights now installed, the project is rapidly coming to life. Mrs. Bammerlin indicated that the development is not just a win for our athletes but a significant addition for all community members.

Mrs. Amy Warren, Director of Curriculum, presented on the Ohio School Report Card, specifically spotlighting Northridge Local’s student readiness rate for the College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness Component (CCWMR). The Board highlighted the importance of aligning student readiness with future opportunities. This includes integrating such readiness measures with district goals and adjusting graduation requirements to meet these essential benchmarks.

Additionally, Mrs. Warren reiterated the invitation to parents to complete the parent survey on current career and college pathways. This is a vital step to ensure that parents' insights and opinions are incorporated as the district works to tailor its educational strategies to meet the needs of students.

The Board has approved the recommendation from both the treasurer and the superintendent to give Meta Solutions the green light to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for competitive retail natural gas service. The goal is to find the most cost-effective and reliable supplier through a competitive bidding process. This approach uses the power of collective bargaining to negotiate better terms for our natural gas supply, guaranteeing that the district saves money while maintaining high service quality.

Mr. Lewis provided an update on the Capital Funds Plan, which outlines changes in funding--both increases and decreases--that was developed in collaboration with Dr. Michael. He detailed how funds from various sources, including the permanent improvement funds from the 1997 bond issue, are being pooled together to kickstart the fire panel replacement project this summer.

Robertson Construction reported significant progress on the stadium construction project. The preparations for the grandstands have been completed, with the lighting system now installed and operational. The utility installations, including storm sewer, water line, and sanitary sewer, are near completion. The electrical and HVAC systems for the concession stand have been installed. Importantly, the project remains on budget with a healthy contingency in place.

Northridge Elementary School

• Spring planning at Northridge Elementary is well underway, with activities including a Spring Craft Show, field trips, a flower sale, and an April BOGO Book Fair. The enthusiasm and support from our amazing parent community continue to make these events possible and successful.

• Author Marcy Campbell visited Northridge Elementary and the middle school, engaging students with discussions on her books that focus on compassion, friendship, and kindness, themes we've been exploring in our reading program.

Northridge Middle School

• The middle school conducted its third and final Blitz Day, a dedicated 45-minute period designed for students with five or more missing assignments to catch up or seek assistance from their teachers in a small group setting, focusing on completing these assignments.

• This week, we celebrated 22 students added to the “We Are Northridge” wall for exemplifying respect, responsibility, and safety, as nominated by their teachers. Each student's achievement is honored with a certificate and a teacher summary displayed on the wall, and their guardians receive a personal call detailing the nomination.

Northridge High School

• Spring Sports are beginning practice and scrimmaging and preparing for the season. Go Vikings!

• A representative from OSU came out to see our students’ School-Based Action Research Projects (SchYPAR) which is part of a state and federal project that Mrs. Garee is assisting. One 10th-grade student said about this project: “This is one of the best things we’ve done so far this year.”

• Last week NHS completed ACT testing for juniors.