PHSC Administrators and School Counselors
Administrators: Tom Lanier, Principal
A-D - Carly Wells, Assistant Principal
E-K - Lazaro Fuentes, Assistant Principal
L-Ri - Roshawn Parker, Lead Assistant Principal
Ro-Z - Joseph Cooper, Assistant Principal
Counselors: Please note that the Counselor Alpha has been adjusted. Click on the counselor name to schedule an appointment with the counselor.
New Initiative Update for the 2024-25 School Year
Like many of you, I have been following the news and updates over the past several months regarding personal communication devices and their affect on student engagement and overall health. As an educator entering my thirty-third year in this profession I have to provide you with my own observation of how much of an affect these devices have on our students on a daily basis along with the affect that they have on the overall school climate and culture. There has been a profound increase in student reliance on these devices at school which has had a negative effect on student engagement, academic performance and behavior at school. Our teachers and staff have made the same observations and it is one of the biggest concerns that teachers have when it comes to working with their students. Finally, the State of Ohio also recognized this issue when the General Assembly passed HB250 this summer that requires school districts to eliminate personal communication device use in schools (with exceptions for students with health needs).
All of this is to say that we will be moving to a practice of students powering down and putting their personal communication devices (cellphones, etc.) away during the academic day. This includes classrooms, transitions, lunch, restrooms, and study halls. This shift is going to be an adjustment for our students as they return to school and try to navigate what their day will look like without using their devices. The purpose of this approach is to enhance the academic and social experience for ALL of our students and staff. School districts and high schools that have moved to this approach have reported higher student engagement; improved academic performance; and an improved learning environment with fewer behavioral incidents.
We also know and understand that this will be a partnership with our families and ask for your support in having conversations with students prior to the school year and that your discussions support the school in our efforts to ensure that students understand the reason for the adjustment along with supporting the school in implementing the approach. Details on the logistics of implementation along with a plan for how to monitor student compliance is in the works and will be shared prior to the beginning of the school year.
Thank you in advance for your support with this initiative!!
Pardon Our Dust This Year
If you have been able to drive past Central during the summer you can't help but notice that construction is well underway for the new learning spaces that are set to open in the 2025-26 school year. The Ruscilli team has been very busy with the renovation of the library and flexible learning area that will be the center piece of the building moving forward. This part of the project should be ready for students to use when we return from the winter break. In addition to the academic space work the final touches are being made to the new athletic stadium that is just east of the high school. We are excited to begin new traditions as we will host the first athletic contests there in August. Exciting times are ahead for Tiger Nation and we ask for patience as we navigate the school and construction dance that will occupy the school year.
