Pat Kimble Superintendent Adams County/Ohio Valley School District
Now that the 2007-08 school year has come to a close, a busy and full summer schedule of renovation work at the CTC and our three high schools is underway.
A complete and total renovation of the CTC has begun. Modular classrooms were set up prior to the close of the 2007-08 school year, and classroom furniture and supplies were moved from the main building into the modular classrooms in preparation for work to begin in earnest on or about June 2.
I could list again all of the renovation work that is scheduled for the CTC over the next 15 months. However, it would be much easier to simply say that this renovation will be total and complete.
Much of the CTC renovation work will be associated with infrastructure. By that, I am referring to electric, technology, heating, cooling, fire safety, security, phone systems, and so on. There is also an extensive list of cosmetic renovations to be completed, including painting, flooring, ceiling replacement, light fixtures, and so on.
There is more to be done at the CTC than we will be able to do during the summer months. The project will be spread out over multiple phases, and should be completely finished by the start of the 2009-10 school year.
Renovation work will also be taking place at each of the three high schools. The biggest physical change that you will notice when the new school year begins in August will be the leveling of the cafetorium floors in each of the high schools, complete with new tile flooring throughout the commons area of the first floor of each of the high schools. There will also be new lighting installed in all three of the gyms and round rooms.
Along with other cosmetic improvements, there will also be upgrades to the electrical, technical, security, and phone systems in each of the high school buildings. The technology upgrades in the high school buildings will be substantial.
As far as the new construction process for the elementary schools is concerned, the early site work continues to move forward. The Peebles Elementary site is the furthest along with everything, including the drilling, installing, and connecting of the geothermal well field.
The North Adams site is nearing completion with early site work as well. However, geothermal wells are still being drilled at the North Adams Elementary site. Once the drilling has been completed at North Adams Elementary, the installation and connecting work with the North Adams Elementary well field will take place.
More and more equipment is moving in daily at the West Union Elementary site. There is a great deal of infrastructure work to be done at the West Union Elementary site, including all of the geothermal well field work. The building pads should be poured at some point in August.
Bids for the new elementary schools are currently being advertised. Bids will be opened on July. Walls should start going up in August at all three elementary sites.
Throughout the construction and renovation work, I respectfully ask for everyone's patience. It is summer (or soon will be), so there will be dust and dirt. There may be traffic delays at times at some of the constructions sites.
Access to the high school buildings and the CTC will be very limited during the summer months. I would suggest that anyone needing to go to one of the high schools or the CTC call ahead to check on access before you make the trip. With gas costing $4 a gallon, it becomes even more important to plan ahead.
Reminder of Summer Opportunities for Students
As we gear up for the summer months, students will have opportunities for participation in various activities during the month of June. The elementary schools in the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District will offer Summer School Intervention for students who have completed Grade 2, and Grade 3 during the 2007-08 school year.
Summer School will be held at each of our three elementary sites (North Adams, Peebles, and West Union) June 23-27, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Summer School provides an opportunity for students to receive instruction in reading and math in a small group setting.
Summer School Intervention is intended to provide a boost to students in preparation for the Ohio Achievement Test (OAT). Students who have just completed second grade will take the Third Grade Reading Test in October of 2008.
Summer School Intervention is offered for 3rd graders who scored below proficient levels on the fall and spring administration of the OAT. I urge you to please call your building principal for more information about this important opportunity.
Also, the AC/OVSD will offer Ohio Graduation test (OGT) tutoring and testing for the 2007-08 sophomore (10th), junior (11th), and senior (12th) grade students who have not yet passed all parts of the OGT.
This tutoring will take place from June 10-19, 2008, at all three of our high schools (NAHS, PHS, WUHS), and the Career and Technical Center. OGT testing dates will be from June 23-26, 2008. Each participating tenth and eleventh grader will need to complete ten (10) hours of tutoring in a tested area in order to be eligible to take the test.
Students may take up to three sections of the test during the summer administration of the OGT. Seniors who did not graduate due to not passing all sections of the OGT are urged to participate in the summer tutoring and testing opportunity. Again, parents, I would urge you and your child to contact your building counselor or principal for registration information.
Finally, I want to remind everyone of the summer hands-on enrichment program called Camp Invention. Camp Invention is for students in grades 4, 5, and 6. It's purpose is to inspire creativity and inventiveness through enriching activities in an inquiry based program aligned with state and national standards in science, math, history, and language arts. It is a great opportunity for your children.
Camp Invention will be held at West Union High School from June 23 thru June 27, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. For more information or to enroll your child, contact Karen Young at 544-5586.
If you have any questions about the contents of this week's article, please feel free to contact me at 544-5586. This is my final article for the 2007-08 school year. I encourage everyone to be careful and be safe throughout the summer months. Classes are scheduled to resume on Friday, August 22. Have a great summer, everyone!
Before I close this article, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Todd Scott, our Transportation and Warehouse Supervisor, the best of luck in his new position.
Todd is leaving the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District to assume a similar position with Beavercreek City Schools. Todd has been a great employee to the District for several years. We will miss him, but wish him the best in his new position at Beavercreek.
