By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Wynford Board of Education welcomed in a new member of the administrative staff and approved two resignations during its monthly meeting Monday evening.
Dominick Kaple was officially welcomed when the school board unanimously approved him as the school district’s athletic director and assistant principal for grades 7-12. Kaple was approved for a three-year contract and will be coming from Western Reserve where he served as dean of students.
After being introduced Kaple addressed the Wynford board.
“I am excited to be part of this district, and look forward to wearing the blue and gray.”
Kaple explained his goals for Wynford.
“My first goal is to continue the traditions that they have already set here. From an athletic what they have done in the past speaks for itself,” Kaple said. “On the assistant principal side is like I said take my experiences, sit down with Mr. Holbrook, and Mr. Mohr and twinkle in some things that I think will help out and continue the tradition that has already been set.”
During his report to the board high school Principal Jeff Holbrook said, “I have high expectations of Kaple, I think he will make me a better person, and I look for great things from him.”
Kaple, a 2004 graduate of Buckeye Central, will replace Travis Moyer, who has accepted the postion of head football coach at Wapakoneta High School.
Moyer’s resignation, which will be effective July 31, was also unanimously approved Monday night.
The board approved the resignations of Katie Benedict as assistant cross country coach and David Miller as spring weightlifting coach, and retirements of elementary art teacher Kathleen Riley and Sandra Needham as educational consultant.
Continuing contracts for Meg Hastings, and Michelle Howard were also approved.
Common Core was discussed yet again. Board President Jeffery Schiefer explained some of the concerns/questions about Common Core.
“Common Core was an initiative led by the states. It is a set of standards, not curriculum which has been misunderstood. People should not equate standards to textbooks.”
Elementary Principal Murphy said, “Take out the words common core and use the word standards. We have always has standards, they have just evolved. With today being a more mobile society it evens the playing field.”
Holbrook said, “To me it is a set of standards. For instance students in Ohio will be learning about fiction in Ohio the same week that they are learning about fiction in Texas. It is a guide to be unilateral; not telling how to teach it.”
Board member Fred Hendricks spoke on the Common Core set of standards.
“It was formed out of the State Governors Association. There were 30 committee members with 5 standards writers with only 1 member on the committee being a teacher. Five of the 30 committee members didn’t sign. “
“New York and Kentucky have used Common Core with low test results, but it has only been implemented for one year.” Hendricks continued.
Superintendent Steve Mohr closed the board discussion.
“Education has always been a state and local function. The Board of Education is responsible for the curriculum and text books. We will continue to move forward providing a Wynford Education.”
The Wynford first grade team comprised of teachers Tonya Kimmel, Laura Rall, Tracey Frombaugh, Dawn Shaaf, Becky Pranger presented how they are preparing the first grade students for the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
During their presentation the teachers explained that they use a Development Reader Assessment (DRA) three times a year to see where the students’ reading level is at. With hope that most kids score at a level three with a goal of having kids reach level 16 which is a second grade reading level at the end of the school year.
Students are placed into groups based on DRA level in which they set goals and report progress to their parents. Books are then chosen based on a student’s DRA level in which the students then read, write and discuss the books being read with the goal of two books per level.
The team explained to the board that six of the 22 first graders have already reached a level 16 since the new reading program has begun at the beginning of the school year.
The Wynford Board of Education also approved all items of the operational agenda including an agreement with Mohican Rehabilitation Services to help injured athletes, an agreement with the Ohio High School Athletic Association to host Sectional baseball and softball tournaments in May of 2014, and a $7,148.21 order to Scholastic Book Fairs.