Olentangy board reviews improvement plan

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Each year, the Olentangy school board reviews and approves a “continuous improvement plan” for the district.

The most recent review took place at the board’s annual retreat on Tuesday.

“The continuous improvement plan is responsible for a lot of the banners hanging here,” chief academic officer Jack Fette said to the board, referring to a wall in the district’s office filled with annual “Excellent with Distinction” proclamations from the state.

The plan features eight benchmarks for the district that the board feels, if achieved, will result in continued excellence. The benchmarks are:

• “Achievement at or above projected performance levels” from at least 80 percent of students in a majority of subject and grade levels.

• “Facilitate a year or more growth for every year of instruction” for the district/building, gifted students, students with disabilities, and students in the lowest 20 percent of achievement statewide.

• “Meet state standards at the district and building levels,” with an increase in the state performance index or remaining at the highest possible rating.

• “Top of state and nation” with at least 60 percent of students scoring at advanced or accelerated levels; surpassing similar districts and remaining in the top 10 percent of all school districts; and have at least 80 percent of juniors and seniors scoring 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams.

• “Graduates prepared for educational/vocational pursuit of their choice,” with at least 90 percent of seniors giving top two ratings on the exit survey; maintain an ACT mean score of 25 with 50 percent of students meeting all four college readiness benchmarks; and top 500 high school in the nation rankings from national magazines. For example, the Aug. 19 issue of Newsweek ranks Olentangy Liberty as number 453 in the nation, and the seventh-best in central Ohio.

• “Responsible financial management” by obtaining a Government Finance Officer Association award; receiving a successful audit; and maintaining the district’s bond rating.

• “Resource allocation and utilization that balance fiscal responsibility as they support student achievement” with top rankings against similar districts in expenditure cost per pupil, and percent of operating expenditures for classroom instruction versus non-classroom instruction; and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 16:1 or higher.

• “High community engagement and stakeholder satisfaction” by receiving high survey results and measurable community outreach.

The board will vote on the 2015-16 plan at a future meeting.

In addition to the district, each school has a continuous improvement plan, which can be accessed by visiting http://www.olentangy.k12.oh.us/Page/975.

By Gary Budzak

[email protected]

Gary Budzak may be reached at 740-413-0904 or on Twitter @GaryBudzak.

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