The Ada Schools interim superintendent Dennis Recker provided the following 23 highlights for 2023 on the live feed portion of the schools website HERE and on the Ada Schools app.
Ada Community,
The school district has had a productive school year to date, and you should be made aware of our highlights to date.
1. The board and administration reviewed and implemented 67 education requirements, based on legislative action, court rulings, and legal opinions.
2. Administration provided written testimony to the Buckeye Association of School Administrators which was provided to legislators to protect the district from losing state foundation funds and local revenue due to potential millage floor reductions.
3. Ada expanded occupational therapy and mental health services to students.
4. Building principals created programs to reduce chronic absenteeism.
5. Senior leadership focused on mentoring administrative staff to ensure highest levels of professionalism.
6. The district assisted the village park board in attempting to secure capital budget funding for needed upgrades.
7. We finalized implementing air quality recommendations with ESSR funding
with the issuance of contracts.
8. Appreciative of community support for passage of levy, ranking in the top 20% of rate of community support among Ohio schools.
9. Lighting in the parking areas were repaired and updated to improve safety.
10. The district hosted veterans' day breakfast and senior citizens luncheon to thank them for supporting our children. Our students served as hosts and servers as part of this inter-generational event.
11. Conducted a table top cybersecurity review to learn how to address a cyber-attack.
12. Met with Ohio Facilities Commission member to determine if Ada is eligible for future state construction funding. Answer is "NO".
13. Thanks to Ohio Northern University, we have designated a reunification site, if ever needed.
14. We're using ACT student survey data to see if we can provide more educational opportunity with credentialing, associate degree, and bachelor degree attainment.
15. We solicited architectural proposals to conduct a school buildings and grounds facilities review.
16. Re-aligned administrative responsibilities to gain best results utilizing administrative talent.
17. Beginning transition process for district leadership with Superintendent VanBuskirk's retirement.
18. Of 373 middle and high school students, 309 are engaged in fall and/or winter sports, 131 are active in music programs, and 317 currently active in school clubs (FFA, robotics, academic, service). Nearly 83% of the student body demonstrate service as an extension of learning or represent us in a positive manner.
19.Student attendance rate for first semester of 92.99%, compared to 93.4% overall last year, in spite of "flu bug" the last two weeks of the semester.
20.42 elementary students receiving daily gifted instruction, and Ada providing space for after school Destination Imagination programming, along with afterschool tutoring services.
21. Parent volunteers numbering 76 for elementary school Christmas party.
22. Student math competency for 8th graders was 23 points better than the state average, and for Algebra 1 students, 32 points better than the state average. The Ada proficiency or better rates were 69.8% and 78.4% respectively in 8th grade math and Algebra 1.
23. Ada high school recognized by Ohio School Boards Association as a Purple Star recipient, for serving families of military veterans, which is a deserved honor since Ohio ranked 6th in the nation for men serving in WW2.
