We welcome readers' opinions on matters of interest to our community.
The weekly deadline for Letters to the Editor is noon on Wednesday. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Letters from the same writer will be accepted no more frequently than every 30 days.
Due to limited space, coverage of community news, and production costs, only two letters regarding a certain issue will be printed each week. All other letters will be posted on this web site.
The newspaper reserves the right to accept or reject letters, and to edit them for clarity and length.
Letters must be accompanied by the author's full name, address, and daytime phone number for verification purposes.
Please limit letters to 300 words.
You may use this form to submit your letter via email.
For week of September 27, 2011
Dear Editor:
Thank you for the article regarding the report card rating for the Washington Local Schools. We have extremely high expectations and standards in the district, and we are surely not satisfied with an Effective rating.
It is vital to point out that the state of Ohio changed the way they calculate the value added designation that the district achieved for the past three years. That designation, in effect, boosted the district to Excellent in each of those years. Each year, the state gives every district a performance index score. The score is a comprehensive measure of the combined academic performance of a school district's students. It is, in essence, a district's grade. Washington Local achieved our highest performance index score ever in the history of the district. We also achieved the most academic indicators (23 of 26) in the history of the district.
Washington Local has a high number of students who live in poverty, have special needs, are limited English proficient, or are part of a minority group. The federal government requires that each of these subgroups meet adequate yearly progress. We have 46 such sub groups in our district and 41 met adequate yearly progress which equates to the highest number of sub groups attaining this distinction in the history of the district.
Jefferson Junior High was rated Excellent with Distinction, and Hiawatha and McGregor Elementary Schools were rated Excellent. We will work hard to replicate the success those schools are experiencing across our district.
I am also of the belief that core subjects, attendance rate, and graduation rate only tell a small portion of the story of our school district. Our commitment to core values, special education, diversity, transportation, food service, maintenance, career and technical education, the arts, music, service, wellness of staff and students, safety, athletics (first public school to win the all sports trophy in 26 years), psychological services, etc. should be included in a true report card.
We value the trust that this community has placed in the Washington Local School system. We will continue to work diligent, honestly, and with transparency, and we are committed to being diligent stewards of public trust and public funds.
We value each of the 6,700 kids who come to our door each day, and they do mean the world to us. We will continue to provide them with individual attention and infinite opportunities. We strongly value the partnership we have with the families and taxpayers of this district and will work hard to maintain and grow that solemn trust. Patrick Hickey,
superintendent
Washington Local Schools
