By Greg Denecker
Bluffton Schools Superintendent

As we enter the new year, there are two topics that I would like to address in regard to Bluffton Exempted Village Schools. First, with the passage of House Bill 1 (HB1) last year, the state required school districts, starting 2010-2011, to offer all-day, every day kindergarten.

In order to comply with this requirement, we would need to add between 1.5 to 2.5 positions or take teachers from positions that they are currently in and increase class sizes at other grade levels. Concurrently, our district's funding from the state has been cut 1% (around $40,000) for 2009-2010 and 2% (around $80,000) for 2010-2011. The all-day kindergarten requirement is being waived this year, though, if districts apply and are approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

We believe that our district has been performing very well under the current half-day kindergarten system, and this is one reason why we are planning to apply for the waiver.

Furthermore, studies regarding the effectiveness of all-day kindergarten versus half-day kindergarten are mixed. Under the half-day kindergarten structure, our students' scores on the state report card throughout all grades have remained perfect for each indicator for the last four years, and the district has continued to meet the "Value-Added" component each year that it has been in place. Thus, our district continues to enjoy the highest designation the state bestows: "Excellent with Distinction."

In addition, the performance index of our district, which shows how well our students are doing on each of the tests given to our students by the Ohio Department of Education, is a 105.4. This places our district in the top 6% of all districts statewide.

Another reason to pursue the kindergarten waiver is because it should allow our district to maintain its current balanced budget. As stated earlier, all-day kindergarten would require additional staffing at a time when our state funding is being cut. We have been working hard at balancing our fiscal year budget by being as responsible as possible with your tax dollars.

In fiscal year 2008, we deficit spent $111,000. Changes were made to decrease the size of our staff and move to a more efficient one route bussing system. These changes saved the district over $200,000 annually and allowed us to end fiscal year 2009 with $32,000 more than we started with the year before.

Permanent Improvement Levy
In other business, the permanent improvement levy will be back on the ballot in May for renewal of the 1/2 % income tax. This levy was first passed in May 2007 for a 3-year period, which is why the levy is back on the ballot in May 2010. We have been very transparent with the funds that have been spent on projects each year.

Articles have been published annually in the Bluffton News, and information has been sent home in the summer district newsletter to show exactly what the money was being spent on to maintain and improve our facilities. Some major renovations that have taken place over the past three years include roof replacements, the updating of high school classrooms in the 1933 section (including science rooms on the bottom floor), and the installation of new sewer lines for the 1933 section high school.

In addition, the 1933 section locker rooms have been repaired, and the restrooms in the high schools have been repaired, remodeled, and painted. A new bus has also been purchased each year, the sealing and tuck-pointing of the high school have been completed, windows have been replaced where cracked or fogged, and door replacements have been made where needed. Last, the high school plumbing has been replaced where needed, the foundation work has been repaired, and new asphalt now covers the elementary playground.

Over the next three years, the impending permanent improvement dollars will continue to be used to maintain and update our facilities.

This will include refurbishing classrooms in the high school and elementary, completing tuck-pointing where needed in the district, refurbishing the high school library, making improvements to both Steinmetz and Harmon Fields, replacing outside doors where needed, refurbishing gymnasiums as needed, repairing ceilings/roofs, updating technology, repairing foundation, purchasing a new bus if necessary, and replacing the elementary water line. Painting and paving will also be completed.

Emergencies may also arise that would require immediate attention and then go to the top of the list.

The passage of this levy will help us to continue to make our school an excellent learning environment for all of our students and protect the investment as well as the financial infrastructure of our district. If you would like to see firsthand the improvements that have been made, please stop in and I will take you on a tour.

Please contact me if you have any questions on these or any other school-related topics. Thank you for your continued support of Bluffton Exempted Village Schools.