Weathersfield schools satisfy state for Average Yearly Progress Groupings

December 18, 2013 at 8:42p.m.

MINERAL RIDGE

Weathersfield Local Schools have been notified that the district has reached the “independent” level in the Ohio Department of Education for “Average Yearly Progress Groupings.”

The rating defines how the district is doing in categorizing, teaching and administering to the needs of special education, minority and financially disadvantaged students.

The ratings were first given by the state in 2006, and ratings are measured by how students do on the Ohio Academic Achievement tests given in the spring, schools Superintendent Damon Dohar said.

The state monitors schools at a high, moderate or low level. If a district has succeeded with its students, the “independent” level is reached, meaning the district no longer has to prepare an annual plan for the state.

In other business Wednesday, the school board learned this week about the tatus of the $26 million Ohio School Facilities grant project in the district. Dohar said the roof on Seaborn Elementary is expected to be completed this week. When students return to school on Jan. 6, the high school office will be moved to the back of the building, in the former location of the athletic director’s office.

Parents who need to go to the office should enter at the back of the building and use the old teacher’s parking lot until the new main office is completed.

The board approved raising the minimum wage to $7.95 an hour, effective Jan. 1, 2014, as per the Internal Revenue Service mandate. The rate had been $7.85 an hour. Employees affected by the change are substitute custodians, cooks and secretaries.

The board has named Tracey Thomas as president pro-tem, and will have a reorganizational meeting at 7 a.m. Jan. 3 at the middle school.

Regular meetings for 2014 will continue to be on the third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m., except for next month, when the meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.