BUCYRUS — The Wynford Board of Education received the report card from the 2018-19 school year, where the district earned an overall district grade of a “C.”
In the different areas schools are graded in, Wynford either raised or maintained their grades from the previous year in most areas.
In the achievement component, the schools earned a “D” rating, which is down from a “C” last year, and in Gap Closing, the district earned a “D,” whereas they had a “B” last year.
In what the board considered a positive, in progress, the school maintained a “B”, in prepared for success, it went from an “F” to a “D,” in improving at-risk K-3 readers, the school maintained a “D”, and in graduation rate, it maintained an “A.”
Also during the meeting, the board discussed senior projects, which may be looking at some school-mandated changes in the coming years. In a survey given to high school teachers, 75 percent agreed the senior project should be required for all graduating seniors, whereas only 65 percent stated they thought the students must pass in order to graduate.
Teachers were then asked if the senior project should be more career oriented instead of being a passion project, and 61.9 percent of teachers said yes, it should be career oriented, with 66.7 percent saying that there should be internship/job shadowing possibilities built in.
Treasurer Leesa Smith presented the board with the annual five-year forecast, and said the school is in good standing with the construction of the new high school building. The biggest expenditure that the school has is employee insurance, and the biggest source of revenue is unrestricted grants-in-aid.
The board elected to remain partially self-insured, as they benefit more than if they were to be fully insured by another company.
Board member Tom Kalb who did not seek reelection for his seat on the board, showed his appreciation for the board and school over the years.
“It is my next to last meeting, and I want to thank the board for inviting me to join them—I never thought I would get to be a part of what is going on with the construction and I never thought I would get to address a graduating class,” Kalb said. “I want to thank the board, Mr. Fox, the staff, and the students for making the district what it is, and I want to thank the voters for making the construction that we have going on possible. It’s been a pleasure.”
Ryan Pelter, another board member who will no longer be serving the board in the new year, also expressed his thanks to the board and Wynford community.
“I want to thank the board as well—I’ve enjoyed the last year that I’ve been able to serve, as it’s been a great experience,” Pelter said. “I look forward to continuing to support Wynford.”