What’s RedCrossHeroAward - Lancaster High School Chalkmarks.pdf · mathmadness...

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What’sInside ...What is the Role of YourSchool Board? . . . . . . . . . 2

Lancaster Voters ata Crossroads . . . . . . . . . . 3

Sherman Students UsingDrums to Learn . . . . . . . . 5

Marketing Students Qualifyfor State Competition . . . . 6

All the World’s a Stagefor LHS Drama Club . . . . . . 7

What Will it Cost toUpkeep our Schools? . . . . . 8

Broadcasting StudentsDocument OSBA Event . . . 9

Journalism Students CovereTech Conference . . . . . .10

2012-2-13 SchoolCalendar Finalized . . . . .12

FEBRUARY 2012

By DUSTIN KNIGHTPrincipal, Tarhe Elementary School

Tracey Miller, an employee of Lancaster CitySchools, was recently awarded the Red Cross HeroAward in the category of Health Care Hero.

Tracey has been employed by Lancaster City Schoolssince 2001 as a speech language pathologist, but shehas been in the field for over 28 years. Although shehas been a long-time teacher and speech therapist,she also is a certified grief counselor. She uses this titleworking for FairHoPe. It is in this position that shemay be wearing her educator and grief counselor hat atthe same time!

Miller was nominated for the Red Cross Hero awardby Amy Sampson for her outstanding efforts in helpingthe family when Lancaster High School teacher,husband and father Brian Sampson passed away in2010.

Tracey has dedicated much of her life to educationand most recently helping others through the processof grieving the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately,Tracey was introduced to helping others cope with thedeath of others after personal loss. Miller soon founda calling to volunteer to help others in the grievingprocess; especially children. Last fall, she was askedto take on a more permanent role with FairHoPe tohelp children understand and provide support when aparent, grandparent or other relative dies.

Death is a part of life, but it is never easy tounderstand. Miller has a skill of communicating toothers in a way that helps them make some sort ofsense out of why it happens. Many times families haveeach other to help overcome the loss of someone. Butsometimes families do not know how to talk aboutdeath with children let alone help them to grieve. This

is where Miller comes into the picture. She does not,however, come into the picture in a normal health careworker sense! She is behind the scenes, working andcaring for loved ones who are about to die or who areabout to lose a loved one. She has the task of workingwith the father who has two weeks to live. She has thetask of helping that father write letters to his childrenexplaining how much he loves them. She has evenhad the task of saying goodbye to friends and formercolleagues. This is not an easy task for anyone, butTracey has felt a need to address concerns surroundingdeath and how children must be able to grieve andunderstand it. She has always believed that childrenmust be able to grieve at home, at school or whereverthey are. She has created a positive partnershipbetween Lancaster City Schools and FairHoPe by

School Employee ReceivesRed Cross Hero Award

See HERO, page 4OH-0004686767-01

2 Lancaster City Schools: A Community Focused on Student Achievement

Lancaster City Schools345 East Mulberry StreetLancaster, Ohio 43130

(740) 687-7300(740) 687-7303 (Fax)

AdministrationRob Walker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SuperintendentJulie Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TreasurerSteve Wigton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Human ResourcesJerry Rainey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business OfficeKevin Snyder . . . Education Information and Technology ServicesDonna McCance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Student Services

Jenny O’Hare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instructional Services

Board of EducationAmy Eyman, President ............................................654-2417

Lise Ricketts, Vice President .................................654-6696

Gary Mauller ...............................................................654-0279

Kathy Kittredge .........................................................681-1997

Tom Shaffer ...............................................................653-7150

Our Vision“A community focused on student achievement”

Our Mission“To prepare students of all ages to meet academic, social, civic,

cultural, and employment needs of the 21st Century”

No Child Left Behind NotificationParents may request information regarding theprofessional qualifications of their student'sclassroom teachers, including:

licensing criteria for the grade level andsubject areas taught;

or provisional status;

certification, and field of discipline;

paraprofessionals and if so, theirqualifications.

Board of EducationUndergoes Changes

From the Board President

By Amy EymanPresident, Board of Education

In January, there was a change in the makeup ofthe Lancaster City Schools Board of Education as theBoard welcomed two new members – Lise Rickettsand Tom Shaffer.

Ricketts, a 1970 graduate of Lancaster High School,taught art in Lancaster City Schools from 1975 to2010. During her career with Lancaster City Schools,she served as the Art Department Chair and as anExecutive Board Member of the Lancaster EducationAssociation. Lise was also active in the LancasterTrack and Cross Country Parent Organization andrecently served on the District Facilities Commission.She will serve as vice president of the Board for 2012and as the district’s Legislative Liaison. Lise willco-chair the Finance and Program Board standingcommittees.

Tom Shaffer moved to Lancaster in 1972. He taughtat Stanbery for one year and then spent the next29 years teaching at Tarhe Elementary, mostly as afifth grade teacher. After retirement from LCS, Tomspent five years teaching GED instruction. He is avolunteer at The Lighthouse and the Fairfield HeritageAssociation at the Georgian Museum. Tom willco-chair the Personnel and Support Services Boardstanding committees.

Both of these individuals come to the Board with awealth of experience in the field of education, whichwill offer a unique perspective to the current Board.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention and thankBill Bickham and Hollie Saunders. Bill served onthe Board for four years, three of those as BoardPresident. He was a valuable member of the Board,put in many hours and always had the best interest ofthe students in mind. His hard work and dedicationwill be missed. Hollie also served on the Board forfour years. With a background in education and asa graduate and lifelong resident of Lancaster, Holliebrought a unique perspective to the Board. Hollie’slove of education and interest in the students of thedistrict made her a valuable member of the board.

I thought I might take this opportunity to talkabout what a school board member does. I knowthat when I considered running for the Board, Ispoke to several past Board members and two retiredsuperintendents to try to figure out what the jobentailed. The role and function of Board members isoften misinterpreted by the public and, in some cases,by Board members themselves.

Most all boards of education in Ohio join and aremembers of the Ohio School Boards Association(OSBA). OSBA is a statewide organization foundedto serve Ohio’s public school boards. OSBA’s missionis to unite boards of education and to provideinformation, services and representation to itsmembers. The majority of the information in thiscolumn, including the roles of the board, comesdirectly from OSBA’s website.

A school board sets educational goals andestablishes policy for the school district based onstate and federal laws and community values. Themost important responsibility of a school board isto employ a superintendent and a treasurer and tohold them responsible for managing the schoolsin accordance with the school board’s policies. Thesuperintendent is the chief executive officer, thetreasurer is the chief financial officer and the board ofeducation is the legislative body of the district.

Board members make decisions on a widerange of issues, such as hiring and evaluating thesuperintendent and treasurer; setting district policy;planning student services; goal-setting and long-rangeplanning; approving curriculum; establishing budgetsand forecasts; engaging parents and the community;being good fiscal stewards; acting in the best interestof the school district and within the scope of theirlegal authority; and serve as a link between schoolsand the public. Board decisions are only made bythe board as a whole and at a public meeting. Afterpolicies have been adopted, administrative proceduresare established. The board then depends upon itssuperintendent to implement these policies, goals andobjectives through the agreed-to procedures. Board

See BOARD, page 4OH-0004686768-01

Lancaster City Schools: A Community Focused on Student Achievement 3

City of Lancaster Finds Itself at a CrossroadsFrom the Superintendent

The citizens of Lancaster are at a crossroad. Theycan choose to continue as we have operated for thelast 45 years, repairing and maintaining the district’sbuildings using our General Fund Operating budget.The other option is to choose to support the ideaof replacing our current eight elementary buildingswith five new buildings utilizing $27 million fromthe State of Ohio. As we have previously stated,operating three less buildings will provide the districtwith operational savings due to less personnel.Districts that have implemented this strategy haveseen operational savings from $200,000-$600,000savings per building. Simply put the choice isbetween continuing to spend money on repairs andmaintenance or choosing to invest in new facilitiesand our students quality of education. With the knowledge that our investmentscould benefit the district for another 60 years, as the current buildings have done,I think the choice is clear. In choosing to use our General Fund Operating Budgetwe will continue to average spending $750,000 per year on basic repairs andmaintenance. This strategy would continue to work only if we were not dealingwith buildings that average 62 years of age. Unfortunately, as our buildingscontinue to age, we will endure facing substantial repairs and maintenancethat will greatly exceed the yearly average costs of $750,000 for repairs andmaintenance just to keep the buildings open and operable.

It is important to note that basic building upkeep does not offer our studentsthe best learning environment or provide them with opportunities that arecommon in today’s world. While we will always strive to offer our students thebest education, aging facilities will restrict what we can offer, particularly in areasof technology.

A primary concern with any aging building is the area of infrastructure –

roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, etc. In this area alone, district repair andmaintenance costs could exceed $25 million in the next 20-25 years.

Another cost category that will require substantial repair and maintenance inthe immediate future will be in the area of Health and Safety – security systems,emergency/egress lighting, fire alarms, handicapped access, etc. Estimates forthese repairs and maintenance also may exceed over $25 million in the next 20 -25 years.

Obviously, there is no timetable when the above mentioned repairs andmaintenance to these systems will occur or if a given repair would necessitate theclosing of building and/or the transfer of students/staff into a temporary location.Safety and security to our students and staff are always paramount and willcontinue to be our primary focus.

Costs to maintain minimum standards to our aging buildings could potentiallyexceed $50 million over the next 10 to 15 years. Even with that investment we willstill have buildings that are overcrowded, lack the infrastructure to facilitate 21stcentury teaching and learning, and will continue to require yearly repairs andmaintenance. To be clear, these repairs and maintenance are not remodeling orrenovations to the existing buildings, and the district is not receiving additionalinstructional space or separate rooms for music or physical education.

Voting “Yes” for Issue 3 on the March ballot will provide $27 million in statefunding for five new elementary buildings. We must pass this important issuein order to secure those funds. If Issue 3 does not pass, Lancaster City Schoolswill not receive the $27 million in state funding, the offer from the Ohio SchoolFacilities Commission will expire in July 2012 and the funding will go to anotherdistrict for their building project.

The citizens of Lancaster are at the crossroad of choosing repair andmaintenance or starting the process of building new buildings with five newelementary buildings with state funding. Our students deserve opportunities thatthese new buildings can provide, not maintenance of buildings that do not meettheir needs. The March 6 election outcome will determine the path for the future.

Rob WalkerSuperintendent

Volunteerism Alive andWell with Lancaster High School StudentsBy DebbieThompsonLancaster High School Teacher

Students enrolled in the Work Adjustmentclasses are developing employment skills includingethics and relationships in the work place. Theyare usingThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens bySean Covey as a guide for work success. Studentsare encouraged to independently interview and fillout applications on paper and computer.

Two students – Megan Conant and Alan Parrish– are volunteering at the Fairfield County HumaneSociety, where they are responsible for cleaning and

caring for the animals. One student, Blake Swingle(pictured right), is currently volunteering at AlleyPark as a Naturalist Assistant. Blake previouslyvolunteered during the fall as a tree trimmer atRising Park for the Lancaster Parks Department.Stephanie Carter and Megan Conant volunteeredat the Lancaster Parks Department painting andcleaning chaise lounges for the pool area. DallasNewlun is currently working with TeenWorks at theLancaster YMCA.

Students have been enthusiastic and motivatedthrough-out the school year to gain employmentand to be successful as they go out into the work

force. They havealso seen the valueof being volunteersand being a partof the solutionrather than a partof the problems asthey give of theirtime and energy tobetter the Lancastercommunity.

Blake Swingle

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News From The Schools

Hero, continued from page 1.sometimes coming into the schools to work with teachers, parents, butmost importantly, the children.

Anyone who works in education has seen or experienced the deaththrough students’ families or, sadly, sometimes students themselves. Itis a part of the profession. It is not an easy part of the profession, butnonetheless, it is part of the job. Tracey has always worked with childrenand is now putting her teaching skills to use outside of the classroom. Sheoften finds herself on the road late at night driving to a patient’s house,the hospital, a nursing home, etc., to talk with children who will soon losea parent. She usually has a caseload of up to 50+ children who she workswith on a weekly/monthly basis. Miller explained that the children havetaught her more about her job than she could have possibly learned on herown. The following is a list of ideas that she has learned from the childrenand she encourages educators and parents to take time to make themselvesaware in times of grieving:Lessons Learned from Students

1. When children and teens have their grief supported, they are able tosupport other children.

2. Adults need to honestly and openly prepare and involve children andteens in funerals and memorial services.

3. Children and teens want a chance to say “Thank You” and “I Love You”to their special person.

4. Children and teens enjoy telling stories of favorite times shared withtheir special person while drawing, painting or using technology.

5. When a special person is terminally ill, children and teens begin to askthemselves if their loved one will die. They want adults to answer truthfully.Not knowing can cause more apprehension than knowing.

I, like many Lancaster City Schools’ employees, have had the pleasure ofworking with Tracey. She is currently the speech therapist in the buildingwhere I am principal. She is a great person who has an abundance ofknowledge working with children. She helps them learn and find their ownindividual way to express their feelings while grieving the loss of a lovedone. I have seen her work first-hand. Nearly two years ago when BrianSampson passed away, she worked with him and his family. Brian was apersonal friend of mine, so I got to see both sides of a usually emotionalissue. I will miss Brian, but I also know that Tracey and her time that shespent with him and his family was necessary and magnificent. I asked herwhy she chose to sacrifice half of her time as a speech therapist to spendmore time working with FairHoPe. She explained to me that it obviouslywas not for the money. “ I do this because I look forward to the days whenthe children tell me they are doing OK, text me to help them with theirhomework or invite me to their graduation– when I know a student canmove on with their life after,” she said.

In the meantime, Tracey will continue to help families and childrencope with death and the big hole it can leave in many hearts. LancasterCity Schools is lucky to have a caring teacher with such talents!

members are expected to act in an ethical, professional, impartial and diplomaticfashion.

The board is a policymaking body, and its members are the advisers to thesuperintendent on community attitudes. Board members do not manage the day-to-day operations of a school district; they see to it that the system is managedwell by the superintendent and district staff. Board members are not educationprofessionals. They do not evaluate staff, other than the superintendent andtreasurer, nor do they become involved in employment interviews.

With that said, please feel free to contact any of your Board members with anycomments, questions or concerns regarding Lancaster City Schools. We will doour best to direct you to the appropriate person to address your needs. You can beassured that this Board will continue to work together to provide our students withthe opportunities needed to meet academic, social, civic, cultural and employmentneeds of the 21st Century.

Board, continued from page 2.

Art 4 student Savannah Smith poses with the cardboard cutout ofLancaster High School Principal Jack Greathouse she created as partof the décor for Study Island. Study Island is a tool students can use toprepare for the upcoming Ohio Graduation Testing.

OH-0004686771-01



Students March to the Beat of a Different DrummerGeneral Sherman general music students are

learning about African and Caribbean culturesthrough the use of newly acquired drum andpercussion instruments.

Music teacher Catherine Brown and guidancecounselor Linda Hecker wrote two grants toraise $6,800 to pay for the drums. One grant, theMartha Holden Jennings Grant, is awarded toOhio educators who justify the need for additionalfunds to enhance their classroom curriculum. TheFoundation believes in fostering good teaching topromote learning. Representative Gerald Stebeltonsupplied information to apply for The KinderMorgan Grant, which is awarded to school districtswhere pipelines have been constructed. Themission of the Kinder Morgan Foundation is toprovide today’s youth, who are tomorrow’s leaders,opportunities to learn and grow.

The largedrum setincludes a totalof 38 drums, amix of tubanos,djembes,talking drumsand otherpercussioninstrumentssuch asmaracas,cowbells,claves, bongos,shakers andguiros. The setalso containsa world music

curriculum that meetsthe National MusicStandards. The focusof the curriculum ismulticultural with anemphasis on learninghow to communicatewith others, listento others in order toreplicate patterns, focuson task at hand, anddevelop motor skills.

Some of the drumming activities involve playingdifferent rhythms at the same time. The curriculumis designed to be used in a junior high setting withall levels of students. As students study the musicof a culture, they are also learning the geographyof the countries and something of the heritage ofits people. Students often respond to lessons intheir journals, thus utilizing standards of severalacademic areas. Because the drums did not arriveuntil the end of first semester, second semesterstudents will reap the benefits of following thecurriculum.

SupportSupport Our City ParksOur City Parks

Paid for by the Committee to Renew the Parks Levy, Brett Navin, Treasurer, 549 E. Mulberry Street, Lancaster, OH 43130

Renew - Issue 1Renew - Issue 1OH-0000756969

OH-000

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LHSMarketing Students Qualifyfor State DECA Competition

Lancaster District Competitors

Jordan Francis, 1st Place, Sports & Entertainment MarketingConnor Frilling, 1st Place, Automotive Services MarketingJacob Keister, 1st Place, Principles of MarketingBritani McManaway, 1st Place, Apparel and Accessories MarketingJenny Morrison, 1st Place, Marketing ManagementTanya Veverka, 1st Place, Retail MerchandisingTaylor Ashcraft, 2nd Place, Principles of Hospitality and TourismAshley Cook, 2nd Place, Principles of MarketingAndrea Dum, 2nd Place, Retail MerchandisingEmily Hileman, 2nd Place, Hotel and Lodging ManagementAlex Milliser, 2nd Place, Sports and Entertainment MarketingJacob Spearkman, 2nd Place, Sports and Entertainment MarketingTeam EventLogan Strope, 2nd Place, Sports and Entertainment MarketingTeam EventTesila Wetzel, 2nd Place, Principles of Business Management andAdministrationHolliann Bobbitt, 3rd Place, Hotel and Lodging ManagementKendall Elkins, 3rd Place, Apparel and Accessories MarketingRyman Weber, 4th Place, Principles of Hospitality and TourismDakotah Cottrell, 5th Place, Human Resources Management

Medill to HostMathMadness

We would like tothank our sponsors

who helped toprovide funding toprint Chalkmarks.

Great Educational Value.Choice of Degrees.Personal Attention.

High School Visit Days 3/9, 4/6, 5/4 Registration Begins at 8:45 amDiscover Your Promise. 740-654-6711 Ext. 215Discover Your Promise. 740-654-6711 Ext. 215

www.ohio.edu/lancasterLancaster | Pickerington|

OH-0000756965

OH-0004686776-01



All theWorld’s a Stage for LHS Drama ClubBy Anni MonksLancaster High School Student

After several seasons of successful performances,Lancaster High School Drama Department and LHSMajor Productions aim to continue their reputationof excellence.

LHS Major Productions traditionally performsthree shows every year – a fall play, a spring musicaland the Kiddie Show.

The play performed this fall was The Red VelvetCake War by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and JamieWooten. The southern-fried comedy portrays threequirky cousins who find themselves in charge ofhosting a family reunion for their even quirkierrelatives.

“Attendance could be better,” says StephenMathias, the department chair of the LHS DramaClub and the director of LHS Major Productions.“I’ve always believed that we are the best kept secretin town.”

The cast and crew of Major Productions arecurrently in the midst of preparing for their springmusical, All Shook Up. Based off Shakespeare’sThe Twelfth Night and featuring solely the musicof Elvis Presley, this musical takes place in a 1950sconservative town that is shaken up by the arrival ofa guitar-playing roustabout whose rebellious musicand hip swivels influence the whole town to fall inlove.

Due to the upbeat and recognizable tunes of ElvisPresley, Mathias hopes for a better turnout for thespring musical.

“I’m sad that, since I’m a senior this year, this willbe the last show I ever perform at Lancaster,” saidHannah Moore, who plays the part of Lorraine in AllShook Up. “I’m really excited for this show, though. Ilove all the songs, and I’m really happy that so manynew people have joined the cast.”

In order to be a part of the productions, however,every member of cast and crew must join the DramaClub.

“Being a part of the Drama Club has openedme up to so many new experiences,” said DanielleDunkel, a senior at LHS and the president of DramaClub. “I have continued to come out of my shelleach year that I have been involved, and I have made

many friends within the program.”The productions call for much involvement from

many of the career tech programs at LHS, includingCosmetology, Business, and Construction. This givesthem a different type of job experience that theymight not receive in class.

“We accept so many diverse types of studentsinto drama club, from AP students to students withspecial needs, to students in Career tech programs,”Mathias sais. “By being involved in drama, studentsgain the confidence to be whoever they want to beon stage, and to be themselves off stage.”

Along with being a member of the Drama Clubalso comes the opportunity to be a part of theNational Thespian Society. This is an honors societyin which students involved in dramatic arts receivepoints for academic, technical and performanceachievement in theater. Being a part of this societycan open up many opportunities for scholarshipsand careers in the future.

“Being an actress is the only thing I can see myselfdoing with my life,” said Catherine Quamme, a four-year member of the National Thespian Society andan intended double major in theater and film. “Beinga part of the club and being a thespian has given mea lot of the confidence and a lot of the speaking skillsI will need to use in my career.”

When educational finances are being considered,

the arts are among the first to be suggested to cut. Ithas been proven by multiple studies, however, thatstudents involved in the arts receive better gradesand perform better on standardized testing. The artsalso encourage students to think freely and formulatetheir own opinions.

“This is my first year in Drama Club and beinginvolved in the productions, and I have alreadybegun to feel more comfortable in my own skin,”said Brianna Keil. “The thought of arts being cutfrom schools is terrible; students need to be able toexpress themselves, whether it is on stage or not.”

If you are interested in supporting the DramaClub at LHS or joining the Drama Club Boosters,contact Stephen Mathias at [email protected]. To find out more about LHS MajorProductions and the LHS Drama Club, visit www.web.lancaster.k12.oh.us/s_mathias.

OH-0004686777-01


From the Treasurer

Estimated Repair/ReplacementSchedule for Elementary Buildings

The accompanyingchart shows thebreakdown of theapproximately $56.6million needed tolocally fund a capitaloperating plan for ourelementary buildingsover the next twentyto twenty five years(based on informationprovided by the OhioSchools FacilitiesCommission NeedsAssessment):

$27,899,909

$6,457,240

$13,062,590

$9,157,698

Health & SafetyEnvironmentalInfrastructureGeneral Facility

Julie TaylorTreasurer

Health and Safety Environmental Infrastructure

Walls, Roofs

General Facility

Demolition

The following items fall within each category:

OH-0004686780-01


Lancaster City SchoolsELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Cedar Heights 687-7334Jeromey Sheets, Ed.D., Principal

East 687-7338Nathan Hale, Principal

Medill 687-7352Sandra Svoboda, Ed.D., Principal

Sanderson 687-7354Carol Spires, Principal

South 687-7340Robin Cathers, Principal

Tallmadge 687-7336Brian Lawson, Principal

Chief Tarhe 687-7330Dustin Knight, Principal

West 687-7332Terri Garrett, Principal

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

General Sherman 687-7344Scott Burre, Principal

Thomas Ewing 687-7347Steve Poston, Principal

LANCASTER HIGH SCHOOL681-7500

Jack Greathouse, PrincipalNathan Conrad, Assistant Principal

Anthony Knickerbocker,Assistant Principal/Career-Technical Director

Pam Bosser, Athletic Director

Broadcasting Students Chosento Document OSBA Conference

Lancaster High School seniors Adrian Krebs, Emily Drapp, Nick Reynolds and Savannah Smith posewith former CBS news anchor Dan Rather at the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conferencerecently in Columbus. The four students served as the official documentation team for the conference,producing video highlights of the event.OH-0004686782-01



Roundhouse Enjoys TimeSpent with StudentsBy David BickhamParent and Community Member of theDistrict Communication Committee

In times of reflection, many of us as adults thinkback to our time spent in elementary school. Formany, some of those memories surround lunchand cafeteria. If you close your eyes, you canalmost smell the aroma coming from the kitchenon Johnny Marzetti day and the excitement thatswelled throughout the line as we waited ourturn to pick up the plate with that treat known asschool pizza.

The menus may have changed, but therelationship the kitchen staff has with the studentsremains strong, even today.

Kathy Roundhouse, the managing cook at TarheElementary School, enjoys her time at work andgetting to know the students she serves.

“I’ve been here so long that I’m getting thesecond generation,” Roundhouse said. “Whenwe have gatherings, there’s always someone whocomes up and asks me if I remember them fromwhen they went to Tarhe.”

Roundhouse started her career with LancasterCity Schools in 1985 working part time so shecould be at home with her small children. As herchildren grew up, she accepted more hours andnow has been at Tarhe for 18 years. Over those18 years, she has seen several changes in how shedoes her job.

“Over the years, there’s been a change in foodservice directors,” she said. “I’m working under mythird director, and each is different. And we don’thave as many people working as we used to, wehave to adjust our menus. They aren’t as detailedas they used to be because we don’t have as manypeople working in the kitchen.”

As is the case with almost everything aroundus, there have been other changes as well. Moreemphasis is put on nutrition today, which affects

how the kitchenstaff goes aboutits job.

“The biggestchallengeis trying tomeet all theguidelines,”Roundhousesaid. “There areportion controls,and there arerestrictions onhow much fatthey can have onthe menu. You have to meet so many requirementson how much bread they get. It’s a challenge for allof us to make sure we meet those guidelines day-inand day-out.”

One change that has made things easier forthe staff is technology. Long gone are the days ofchildren digging through their pockets looking forchange to pay for their lunch.

“We’re on our third computer system,”Roundhouse said. “The children come in and entera six-digit number into a keypad, and it pulls uptheir account on a computer system.

“Their picture comes up, and we’re alerted toallergies or something their parent wants us toknow,” she said. “And then we ring up their lunchand charge their account. Parents can go onlineand add money to their accounts. They never haveto bring money to school.”

After 28 years, Roundhouse has a lot ofmemories. While she has thought aboutretirement, she’s not sure she’s ready to step awayfrom the kitchen.

“My husband is retired,” she said. “I think I’dlike to make it a nice, even 30 years. But at thattime, I may have to revisit that. I enjoy the job, andI’m off all summer. There are a lot of benefits.”

By Matt GravesLancaster High School Journalism Student

Lancaster High School Broadcasting andJournalism students were invited to helpcover the 2012 Ohio eTech Conference inOhio this February.“I was super excited. I am eager to see

what my future education has in store,” saidsophomore Alek LeVeck.The students worked with ShinyDoor, a

media technology group. Angela Siefer, theowner of ShinyDoor, and Dan Simrak, asocial technologist, were also in attendance.ShinyDoor informed participants of theplans on how to integrate ideas fromteachers to students.“I learned more about technology and

how to use it. I also learned how to betterinteract with people,” senior Ashlee Brillsaid.The students from Lancaster that

attended the conference wrote stories andupdated the conference blog on what thetechnologists said and introduced. Thetechnologists want to stress the point thattechnology is essential to today’s learning.The students at LHS interviewed several

of the technologists that were in attendancefor the conference. The technologists,as a whole, said administrators needto be informed of new technologies,learning trends and methodologies tosupport and encourage the teaching staff.Administrators who have a workingknowledge of technology tools andprocesses are better equipped to creativelymanage the information available to themand school operations.

Journalism StudentsInvited to Cover OhioeTech Conference

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By Mark BohachOwner, WLOH Radio Station

I believe that to be truly wise, you need toadmit when you make a mistake. And that iswhat I am going to do now.

Take a good look at the picture to the right.I took this picture at Tallmadge ElementarySchool while waiting for my daughter to finishbasketball practice. The message inscribed onthis plaque is simple but quite frankly humbling.Such unassuming language – “Erected in 1955by a free vote of the people” – hanging on thathallway wall for the past 57 years gave me pauseto re-evaluate.

Let’s back up to last November when theLancaster City Schools was asking for our voteto fund new elementary schools. The plan was(and is) to replace all of the old buildings withfewer but more centrally located ones. The logicis that as population has shifted, the existingbuildings are no longer ideally located. Also, bycombining buildings, a cost savings in supportstaff, utilities, etc. can be achieved. There is alsothose pesky issues of energy consumption andlack of technology in those 50-plus-year-oldbuildings.

And while I agreed that this was a wellthought out plan and worthy of consideration, Iwas against it when it came down to raising our

taxes. After all, we are in a recession and timesare tough – at least that’s what I argued. “Wecan’t be raising taxes now,” I said.

So there I was, standing there in that hallwayat Tallmadge Elementary School staring at thatplaque. And here is what I realized ...

Those people back in the early 1950s – theones who freely voted to raise their taxes tobuild the schools we still use today – could haveeasily said “no new taxes.” But this was whatwe now lovingly callThe Greatest Generation.These were people raised during the greatdepression, an era where doing without was theway of life. They obviously knew their share ofhardship.

This was also the generation sent over toEurope and the Pacific to defeat the AxisPowers. Millions of them went and served.Hundreds of thousands came back missing bodyparts or with deep psychological holes in theirsouls. And more than 400,000 didn’t come backat all. They could have came back with a hugechip on their collective shoulders, an attitude of“you owe me.” Who would have blamed them inthose early post-war years if they thought theirtaxes were too high, that they had sacrificedenough already and voted “no” to those fancynew school buildings?

But they didn’t.What they did was come home, go to work,

get married, raise children and build one helluvacommunity to live in. They paid it forward,and we are still enjoying the benefits of theirgenerosity to this day.

Now it’s our turn.We need to honor the greatest generation

by living up to the standards they set forthemselves. What I have learned is that there isnever a good time to raise taxes. The economywill always have issues. There will always beexcuses why we shouldn’t.

But ask yourself this: 50 years from now,what do you want the plaque to say about yourgeneration?

Local Business Owner has a Change of Heart

CommunityCPR DaySaturday, May 198:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.at Fairfield Medical Center andvarious community locations.Go to fmchealth.org for a list oflocations and a registration form.

OH-0000756966 OH-000

0758

219

For more info call 654-0616Sherri - Ext. 244 or Jayne - Ext. 243

Child Care Open HouseEveryone Welcome!

• Before and after school childcare forchildren grades K-6, transportationto and from school

• Camp Discovery 2012 - Summer Camp• State Licensed preschool - Ages 3,4 & 5

Wednesday March 21, 2012 • 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Robert K. Fox Family Y465 West 6th Avenue, Lancaster

www.ymcalancaster.org

OH-000

4686

786-01


2012-2013 School Calendar Released

OH-0004686788-01

What’s RedCrossHeroAward - Lancaster High School Chalkmarks.pdf · mathmadness...

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