ABOUT MYTH BUSTERS: With continuing and significant changes underway in public education, it is important that parents have the facts. Knowing the real facts can help Bulldog parents spot a myth when they hear one – and there are currently a number of myths out there.
Olmsted Falls School District features periodic “Myth Busters” on our Weekly Blog Post. This collection of Myth Busters is archived below. We hope parents will find this feature informative and, as always, we encourage you to contact the Board of Education office at 427-6000 with any questions.
IMPORTANT NOTES: With two Board of Education seats up for election this November 4th, parents are urged to be especially cautious about fact checking the information presented to them by campaigns. Olmsted Falls School District is NOT permitted to endorse, nor does it ever endorse individual candidates. However, the District will provide accurate facts and information to address any false statement represented and communicated as fact by a campaign.
Additionally, as always, all parents and residents are invited and encouraged to contact Superintendent Dr. Jim Lloyd with any questions or concerns about Olmsted Falls School District at 427-6000 or jlloyd@ofcs.net.
MYTH BUSTERS ARCHIVE
MYTH: The Olmsted Falls City School District is not using resources efficiently, is wasting money and needs to be accountable for spending.
FACT: The Olmsted Falls City School District is required by law to be annually audited and consistently receives exemplary audit reports – most recently earning the Ohio Auditor of State Award for exemplary financial reporting in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for its most recent audit of Fiscal Year 2014. Olmsted Falls School District maintains one of the lowest cost-per-pupil expenditure costs in Cuyahoga County.
The District has more than 40 individuals in our organization trained in Lean Six Sigma – an approach that forces us to continually seek ways to operate leaner and more efficiently. OFCSD is also an active partner in the Ohio Schools Council consortium for the purchasing of items ranging from cleaning supplies to school buses – resulting in significant cost savings to the District. In addition, OFCSD actively works to secure external funding sources available to the District in the form of grants, rebates and reimbursements – leaving no stone unturned to increase funds generated outside of local tax levies.
Olmsted Falls City School District has not needed to go back to voters for additional resources for nearly six years now. Strategic planning, prudent spending, and an ongoing focus on maximizing efficiencies across the District have resulted in the ability to stretch operating funds approved by voters in February 2010 well beyond the initial three-year pledge.
The Olmsted Falls City School District and Board of Education accounts for every penny of tax payer dollars that is spent and approves an updated 5-Year Forecast report twice annually, in May and October. The latest 5-Year Forecast, approved by the Board of Education at their most recent monthly meeting on October 15, 2015, shows the District carrying a positive ending cash balance in all five years of the forecast – further demonstrating the great care taken by District administrators and Board of Education members to stretch dollars as far as possible. This solid financial forecast is certainly not indicative of a school district that is “wasting money.” The most current 5-Year Forecast file is always available for public review on the District’s website, and residents with questions are encouraged to contact the Board of Education office.
MYTH: Olmsted Falls School District no longer teaches the skill of cursive writing to its students.
FACT: Olmsted Falls School District continues to teach students cursive writing. Students are currently taught cursive writing during second grade. Prior to this year, cursive writing was taught in 3rd grade. Beginning this year, cursive writing is being taught in 2nd grade. During this year’s transition, students in BOTH 2nd and 3rd grades are learning cursive writing to ensure that no class of students misses out on cursive writing instruction.
MYTH: Olmsted Falls School District gets rid of items it no longer needs (i.e., desks, chairs, shelves, furniture, equipment, books, etc.) by throwing them in the trash.
FACT: Olmsted Falls School District has a policy and process regarding how items no longer in use can be disposed of. Olmsted Falls School District, through its ongoing partnership with the Ohio School Council, utilizes an on-line auction service to post and sell items no longer being used in District buildings or on District grounds. Over the past 3 years, auction of unneeded furniture, equipment, buses, books, etc. has generated more than $30,000 in sales! Any items not sold during the initial auction cycle are posted again in the next available auction period. Ultimately, items that are not sold through auction are either placed in the District’s metal scrap dumpster, or otherwise properly recycled or placed in the District’s Republic dumpsters for trash pick-up. Items not sold through auction and placed in the District’s metal scrap dumpster also ultimately generate money for the District. Over the past 3 years, scrap metal sales have generated more than $3,200 for Olmsted Falls School District.
MYTH: Parents have a legal right to withdraw (opt-out) their child from participation in state-mandated testing.
FACT: Last year the Olmsted Falls City School District received a number of Student Opt-Outs for the accountability testing that was mandated by the Ohio Legislature. At that time, we did not have a legal opinion as to whether we were, or were not permitted to grant such a request. As a result, last year, we honored each one received. However, after consultation with legal counsel, we will no longer honor opt outs for the following reasons:
Ohio law requires all districts and schools to test students in specific grades and courses. There is no law that allows a parent or student to opt out-of-state testing and there is no state test opt-out procedure or form. Districts do not have the authority to give a child permission to skip testing.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3301 mandates that the state board of education adopt rules establishing a statewide program to assess student achievement, and that those achievement tests be aligned with the academic standards and model curricula adopted by the state board of education. Once those tests are developed by the state board of education, state law requires that each school district administer the tests.
There are very limited and specific reasons in the law that would excuse a child from taking all or part of the achievement tests mandated by the state. For example, special education students may be excused under certain circumstances if the individualized education program developed for the student provides for an alternative assessment. Likewise, students may be excused for medical reasons or any other good and just cause approved by the school, in which case a make-up test must be administered to the student within nine days of the originally scheduled date. (Ohio Revised Code 3301.0710). Again, the law does not provide for a general “opt out” of state testing.
MYTH: Olmsted Falls School District is now requiring students to identify specific career pathways at very young ages. The District has implemented a program that forces students to make choices about future careers as early as the elementary school level. At OFHS, students are required to choose a career path before graduation.
FACT: Olmsted Falls School District has placed a priority on exposing students to the idea that there are many careers and opportunities available to them in the world beyond Olmsted Falls Schools, and that they have choices when it comes to future career pathways. Olmsted Falls School District has existing and expanding programs that allow students to research and gain exposure to careers that may be of interest to them. Programs and exploration vary by grade level, and opportunities increase as students reach the middle and high school levels. Career Day events featuring parent and local community volunteers are one example of such exposure at the elementary levels. As students progress into the middle and high school level, more sophisticated guidance and exploration is available. Interest surveys and identification of academic strengths allow students to learn about and explore different directions that may be of interest to them as they prepare for the world beyond Olmsted Falls Schools.
While none of this is really new, Olmsted Falls School District has started to be more targeted in recognizing that students could be exposed to many more connections and opportunities to their particular set of career interests, and dedicating resources toward those efforts. To meet the goal of better preparing our students for their futures, a College & Career Counselor was put in place at Olmsted Falls High School this year. This position has already had a significant impact on resources available for our high school students, and will expand to more actively engage at the middle school level next school year.