First Posted: 3/12/2015
LIMA — The Ohio Department of Education will finish its visit with Lima schools today.
Superintendent Jill Ackerman said the visit has gone well and representatives, who have worked well with district staff and administrators, have had the chance to visit “most of the schools.”
Teachers have been “happy and eager to tell their story,” she said.
Officials hope the visit will result in suggestions that will help to strengthen the current school improvement plan with specific strategic recommendations.
Overall, Ackerman said the interaction has been a positive one and that Lima schools remains hopeful.
The department’s distress commission and education reform team’s visit lasted for about a week, beginning Monday, while members reviewed documents, observed schools and classes and interviewed administration, teachers, faculty and staff. The commission’s goal is to determine district strengths and weaknesses and give suggestions for how the district can put an end to the failing assessments from the state.
The initiative is a result of new performance standards and a review process for Ohio schools. Beginning next school year, schools may only qualify as an overall failing district three years in a row before having to work with a distress commission. The distress commission could enact a total overhaul, taking complete control of the district if necessary.
Currently, only a few schools in the state qualify for such radical state involvement, none of which are in Allen County.
Ackerman said the district should receive the final evaluation sometime over the summer, possibly May or June. Officials would then start the work of meeting the recommendations before the next school year begins.
On Thursday, the school board also approved the contracts for a intervention specialist and school improvement coach. It also celebrated the success of various athletes in the district, gave positive updates from Liberty Arts Magnet and North Middle School and distributed funds received from a Allen County Retired Teachers Association donation.
