By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
New Superintendent James Grubbs has had an action-packed first 10 days in charge of Galion City Schools, and his second board meeting in that same time frame proved to be a continuation of that busy schedule. It was an agenda that was loaded with significant content, and that content sparked some very serious discussion.
October is five-year forecast time for area school districts, and Treasurer Charlene Parkinson had a largely positive report to present. Overall the picture looks pretty good, especially in light of how dire some of the reports were only a few years ago. Parkinson is predicting surpluses for each of the next five years, with a high surplus of $940,975 predicted for fiscal year 2016. It should certainly be kept in mind that these are predictions, but considering that these numbers were made without included potential funds by a levy passage this November, the situation looks rather solid indeed.
The biggest reason for this new situation is Columbus has reversed some of its funding patterns from a few years ago. Payments to local schools are on the rise across the area, and Galion is set to see a healthy rise in that department. For last school year, the per-student funding was $5,800, of which the state provided 74 percent. For this school year, that number has gone up to $5,900 and the state’s share grew to 75.5 percent, which equates to a raise of $162.50 per student. As Galion City Schools enrolls somewhere in the region of 2,100 students, this amounts to an increase of funds of well over $300,000.
Grubbs began his superintendent’s report by expressing his extreme gratitude at how quickly the community has taken him into its arms.
“I feel like I’ve been a long time resident in just my short 10 days,” Grubbs said.
He continued that it has been a busy 10 days, with much to get acclimated to and many events to attend. Connections Weekend, with its great attendance of Galion alumni who no longer live in the community, was a great chance for Grubbs to meet and greet, and a great advertisement for the sense of belonging fostered by the school.
Grubbs concluded his report by sharing a story of what he called, “One of my best days in schools in 25 years.”
He recalled being informed via text by Jennifer Kuns of a middle school pep rally. Grubbs did not see the text until it was almost time to begin, so he hurried down to the middle school gymnasium, and when he got there the atmosphere blew him away.
“The place was rocking,” Grubbs said, “The excitement was unbelievable.”
He recounted the excitement of students and teachers as they participated in the afternoon’s events, and how energizing it was to see that so early in his new tenure. He assured the board that if that is the effect of these events on student energy and participation, that they are very worthwhile activities and to expect more of them in the future.
On the subject of student energy, elementary physical education teacher Matt Tyrrell gave a very informative outline of his new Learning Readiness Physical Education Program (LRPE). Tyrrell recalled how at the end of last school year, he had some new money arrive in his budget. After doing an audit and taking stock of his department, he realized his inventory of balls and bats and mats and so forth was pretty full.
“I have plenty of stuff.”
Tyrell decided then to turn his attention, and new funds, to some academic journals on the subject of physical education. Through these journals he came across this concept LRPE. Its exponents are Naperville High School in Illinois. They came to the attention of a Harvard scientist for their consistently high national rankings in math and science scores.
The crux of this program is that brains, of all ages, are in their best condition to learn immediately following a period of physical activity. That exercise releases the appropriate chemicals in the brain to provide the energy and focus necessary to provide a maximum learning environment.
So, what does this mean for Galion City Schools? Tyrrell, with the aid of the fifth grade teachers to whom he expressed his extreme gratitude, has introduced a program of morning workouts at the fifth grade level. He used some of his funds to purchase pedometers for the kids, and they have physical activity every morning. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, are “Get Miles Days.” The only goal is to see how many miles each student can accrue. Tyrrell set up a running lane and walking lane in the gym, so students can move at their own pace. Tuesdays are an organized workout day, and Thursdays are a free play day.
While it’s only been a month, Tyrrell is very optimistic about the progress the program has made. The students themselves seem to be taking to it quite enthusiastically, and so far the results are good. Tyrell cited the “discipline charts” from last year to this as an early indicator. Galion has a color code for its write-up system of student bad behavior: yellow, red, and blue, with blue being the worst. The current fifth grade class, in September of 2014 when they were fourth graders, had the following chart: 23 yellows, eight reds, one blue. This September, their chart was seven yellows, zero red, zero blue.
It’s obviously very early in the program, something which Tyrrell admitted, but he was backed up by one of the fifth grade teachers whose students are participating. Sue Stark was very positive and stated her belief that discipline, focus, and performance have all been much improved. In perhaps the ultimate sign of respect, Stark said how she and other fifth grade teachers have noticed the kids dragging a bit in the afternoon and have taken to getting them to move around the room some as a way of refocusing them.
Galion is going back on the ballot in November with a 7.73-mil renewal levy.