BLOOMDALE – A new academic boost club is being introduced at Elmwood High School.
Community member Pam Frankforther said at the Oct. 20 board of education meeting that the high school does a lot of small things to recognize its top academic students.
“But I think we can do more,” she said.
Frankforther said there are athletic and music boosters and high school administrators do a fantastic job of creating rewards for kids who get good grades.
“We’d like to put some money and experience behind that to make it go a little farther,” she said.
Statistics from last year showed 64% of high school students made the honor roll in the fourth quarter, Frankforther said, and that excellence needs to be promoted.
The club’s goal will be to recognize academic excellence, she said.
Frankforther said the club could create a student-to-student tutor database, develop ACT and SAT study groups, offer after-school workshops in finance or art and support new clubs such as chess, book or poetry.
Sending students to state and national events, such as Power of the Pen and academic camps, also is being considered, Frankforther said.
She also suggested the expansion of career shadow day, the development of an academic signing day and the creation of an alumni success newsletter.
In-school perks could include lunch in the reading garden for students who make the honor roll, she said.
There also may be scholarships in the future, Frankforther added.
“We’re really excited to give it a go,” she said.
“You have a lot of really great ideas,” said school board President Debbie Reynolds. “I really love this.”
The board voted 3-0 to approve the booster group for the 2022-23 school year. Brian King and Melanie Davis were absent.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Learned $415,700 in additional funds were placed in the permanent improvement account after millage was moved last year.
“This is great,” said Treasurer Jenalee Niese during her report.
The district was able to complete blacktop work and playground repairs last year, with $163,000 available this year, she said.
However, the shift in millage into the permanent improvement fund means there is less income in the general fund.
“It does take away from our general fund money,” Niese said.
She predicted the district is looking at deficit spending this year.
• Heard that the cafeteria is struggling to get payments since the federal free lunch program has been canceled.
Niese said the cafeteria budget to date is $6,000 in the red with 317 student accounts in the negative.
“It’s pretty early to be that far down,” Niese said.
• Approved a $4,490 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to purchase two water bottle refilling stations for the high school gym.
• Approved the purchase of a 2012 Ford F550 dump truck for $41,000 from Long Electric.
• Changed next month’s meeting to Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the middle school media center.
