By Kelsi Langston
For Miami Valley Today
COVINGTON — Jim Sagona, director of Technology & K-12 Curriculum, presented an overview of the 2022-2023 state report card during the Covington Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, the Oct. 18.
The district received an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, with its top performing areas being graduation, achievement and early literacy. The elementary school received a 3.5-star rating, the middle school received a 3-star rating, and the high school received a 4-star rating, Sagona’s presentation showed. Several Miami County schools received the same overall rating, including Bradford, Newton and Bethel. However, the state compares schools to others with similar characteristics such as small town, low student poverty and small student population, versus location. When looking at other districts within those parameters, Covington’s performance is average.
The state has broken the standards down into five categories: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation, and early literacy. Covington received four stars in achievement, gap closing, and early literacy, five stars in graduation, and one star in progress. Progress is measured by the state using a growth index, which means statistical certainty that students did or did not make expected growth.
“We think that because of our high achievement in the lower grade levels, the state’s expecting our kids to continue, and maybe that kid has been overachieving it for early on now they’re just ‘achieving,’” said Superintendent Joseph Hoelzle.
“It’s hard to maintain that highest level of excellence where they’re overachieving their, you know, original potential or perceived potential,” added Sagona.
More information on the district’s state report can be found online at https://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/ .
In other business, the board approved the following items on the agenda:
• Eleven new certified substitutes;
• A continuing contract for English teacher Morgan Schmitz;
• Thirteen parent volunteers for the Washington D.C. trip;
• A long term substitute for a teacher on FMLA leave;
• A supplemental contract for the Middle School Art Club advisor;
• Two swimming volunteers, softball and baseball volunteers;
• Supplemental contracts for the boys high school JV basketball coach and assistant baseball coach.
• Donations towards various school sports, scholarships, and other programs were gratefully accepted from Altrusa International, Kona Ice, Ebberts Field Seed, Amvets Post 66, Steve Blei, Brad Hall, Hartzell Propeller Inc, Jason Sterling, and an anonymous donor totaling $8109.
• A contract with Finfrock Construction Company for snow removal and ice control for the 2023 to 2024 school year;
• The purchase of five row aluminum bleachers for the softball field. The cost of the bleachers is $11,807.46 and the board approved the hire of JOS Contracting to assemble the bleachers at a cost of $3,600. Hoelzle expressed the need for permanent bleachers at the softball field, as the transportation of the collapsible bleachers currently being used is unsafe.
The reading of NEOLA policies, which are recently updated policies set forth by the state, were approved, as was a resolution to enter into an agreement with the Miami County Educational Service Center (ESC) as part of a biannual requirement by the Miami County ESC.
• Resolutions for Covington high school students to participate in both OHSAA swimming championships and indoor track & field. The school will not contribute financially in either of those endeavors with the exception of OHSAA membership dues.
Board members Kerry Murphy and Mark Miller were absent at the October meeting. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m.
The writer is a regular contributor to Miami Valley Today.
