Board Events Postponed

For Immediate Release

Board Meeting Postponed

Xenia Board of Education events scheduled for tonight have been postponed.

The reception, the Organizational Meeting Board Meeting, and the Special Meeting have been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. The reception and meetings will take place at the Board Office, 819 Colorado Drive in Xenia.

Please note: The deadline for any person wishing to apply for the vacant seat on the Board of Education has been extended to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2014. Applications should be submitted to Ms. Tracy Jarvis, Treasurer, 819 Colorado Drive in Xenia.

The Board Offices are closed today, Monday, January 6, 2014.

Please join us on Tuesday, January 7 at 6:00 p.m. for the Board reception and meeting.

 

 

A Statement from XHS Principal Mr. Ted Holop

Today at XHS, a written threat was found on a bathroom wall.  The threat was not specific to any individual or group, and had no specific timeframe.  An investigation has begun and will continue in collaboration with the Xenia Police Department.  Safety of students and staff is our most critical responsibility, and it will be at the core of our decision making dealing with this threat.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest credibility to the threat; however we will put procedures in place to assure XHS is secure and safe tomorrow.  School will begin at the normal time and police will be on site starting at 6:45 a.m.  All students will enter the school through two areas and have any bags or backpacks searched by school personnel.  Hall passes will be limited for the day and access to the school after 7:45 will be through the front entrance only where a staff member will greet people.

Learning will go on as usual tomorrow and we look forward to a good day at school.  The investigation will continue and further developments will go out through the one call system.

A Statement from the Xenia Board of Education

At its regularly scheduled meeting on December 9, 2013, the Xenia Community School’s Board of Education voted to approve a Separation Agreement with Dr. Deborah Piotrowski, Superintendent of Schools.  Dr. Piotrowski’s last day in the district will be January 3, 2014.  She will be on a leave of absence through July 31, 2014 and considered an employee of the district.

The Board of Education is expected to name an Interim Superintendent as soon as practical.  Until that time, Mr. Ted Holop, Superintendent Pro Temp will be the acting Superintendent starting on January 4, 2014.

As a District, we wish to thank Dr. Piotrowski for her many efforts to further the cause of public education in Xenia, Ohio.  We wish her well in all future endeavors.

It is the intention of the Board to move forward.

We look to our future with hope and optimism.  We would like to thank all of our administrators, teachers, and staff  for the work that they do each day to benefit the students and families that we serve.

A Statement from Dr. Deborah Piotrowski

For Immediate Release

My time in the Xenia Community Schools has been a joy and a pleasure.  It has been my honor to work side-by-side with some of the finest teachers, administrators, and staff members in the State of Ohio. Serving the students and families in the Xenia has been rewarding, and I have made memories for a lifetime.

I love children; I truly enjoy watching students learn and grow.  Children inspire me to be a better person, and my efforts in Xenia have been focused on placing resources in the classroom to create a better learning experience for all students.   At the end of every day, I have reminded myself (and all those around me) that we are in the business of educating children.  I have focused my efforts and energies on what is best for our students.

The time has come for me to move on to other endeavors.  While I am looking forward to a new chapter of life, I am proud of the following accomplishments during my service in the Xenia Schools:

• The Xenia Schools have led Greene County (and many other areas districts) in annual growth measure (value-added) for the last two years.  We are providing the majority of our students with more than a year’s growth in the grades where we have the value-added metric.  Our teachers are getting the job done-even under trying circumstances.
• The district is in a much stronger financial condition than when I arrived in 2010. The down-sizing and right-sizing of our school district has received statewide recognition and has resulted in a stable financial forecast for the next two years.
• We have made significant, measurable progress in the area of technology with a fiber-build and a technology platform which provides the necessary access for 21^st century instruction and assessment. We are fully prepared for the next generation of assessments.
• We completed the multi-million dollar building project; on-time and under budget. Generations of Xenia students will benefit from these wonderful new buildings.
• High academic expectations and new teaching strategies have led to increased student scores.

We have made tremendous progress.  I am proud of our students and staff, and I know we have laid the foundation for boundless success.  My best wishes to the staff of the Xenia Community Schools.  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve.

Sincerely,

Deborah A. Piotrowski

Superintendent of Schools

Thanksgiving at Arrowood

Arrowood’s kindergarten students celebrated Thanksgiving by having a feast of their own. Thanks to the many volunteers in each of the classrooms who helped make this a memorable event for our students.

Football Math at Arrowood

Ms. Connor’s 5th grade math students completed a variety of hands-on math activities that were related to the stats behind the upcoming Ohio State – Michigan game.

Xenia Preschool to Open New Classroom

Xenia Preschool is excited to announce the opening of a brand new classroom! The Ohio Department of Education recently awarded Xenia Schools with the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Expansion Grant, which provides funding to help preschool programs across the state add more students. Xenia Preschool will now operate 16 total units (8 morning and 8 afternoon), making it one of the largest public preschools in Greene County!

Veterans Day at Arrowood

Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Stroble welcomed Master Sergeant Brian Lawrence and Chief Petty Officer David Lawrence to their class in recognition of Veteran’s Day. Brian has served 12 years in the Air National Guard and David 12 1/2 years in the Navy. They have been deployed to Iraq, Afganistan and/or Qatar . Students enjoyed asking lots of questions about their experience in the military.
Pictures: Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Stroble welcomed Master Sergeant Brian Lawrence and Chief Petty Officer David Lawrence to their class in recognition of Veteran’s Day. Brian has served 12 years in the Air National Guard and David 12 1/2 years in the Navy. They have been deployed to Iraq, Afganistan and/or Qatar . Students enjoyed asking lots of questions about their experience in the military.

Business Manager Earns State Award

Xenia Community Schools Business Manager Earns Statewide School Business Management Award

Award Provides $500 College Scholarship for Local High School Student

COLUMBUS, OHIO (November 13, 2013) – Today, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials’  (OASBO) Foundation For School Business Management presented Christy Fielding, Director of Business & Technology for Xenia Community Schools, with its 2013 Outstanding Business Operations Manager of the Year award.

The awards program, in its 28^th year, was created by OASBO’s Foundation to recognize the accomplishments of Ohio’s public school business officials for their exceptional service to their school system, community and profession. The award provides a $500 college scholarship for a high school senior from Xenia Community Schools, sponsored by American Fidelity Assurance Company.

In just two short years since Fielding joined the staff at Xenia Community Schools, she has managed and successfully completed multi-million dollar projects, and has implemented several other projects and programs – some are enhancing classroom learning, some are providing an additional revenue stream for the district, and others are bringing estimated savings to the district over $100,000 per year.

Fielding has focused district-wide on implementing a solid technology infrastructure including: wireless and Voice Over IP phone systems, new payment and point of sale applications, a new website, and new classroom technologies to enhance the educational experience. (Every K-5 classroom now has interactive projectors, grades 6-12 have Smart Boards, and the district now has over 500 computers for students).

Fielding skillfully led led the school district through a successful $58 million Ohio School Facilities Commission project to open five new elementary buildings in just 19 months – on time and on budget. The Commission stated that this was the first time in Ohio to have five buildings open at the same time.

Keys to Success at McKinley

Students earn “Keys to Success.” These “keys” are earned through exhibiting positive behaviors. “Keys” can be spent on
“treasure” monthly at our PBS store. At the end of each quarter, students who have accumulated the required number of “keys” earn
the quarterly reward. The 1st quarter reward was a karaoke party and s’more treats.

Thank you to Kroger for discounting the s’mores for us! A “thank you” also goes out to, Deb Piotrowski, Officer Matheson from XPD, Jason Hofmann, Jenni Arnett, Angela Hawes, Patty Griest, and Charlene Landis for volunteering and helping us celebrate!