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Get RSS FeedOlentangy will work to stretch levy this year
By BRETT NUCKLES
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The Olentangy Local School District will continue to tighten its belt in 2012 as its student body continues to grow.
This year, the district will look to the future, making plans to to stave off the construction of new schools and examining new ways to integrate technology into the curriculum, officials said.
While the district won't have to turn to voters for extra revenue this year after passing a levy in March 2011, school board members said they want to make the district leaner to stretch taxpayer dollars.
District growth showed signs of slowing last fall, but with more than 800 students expected to enroll in 2012, the district will remain the state's fastest-growing.
This year, the district will look to the future, making plans to to stave off the construction of new schools and examining new ways to integrate technology into the curriculum, officials said.
While the district won't have to turn to voters for extra revenue this year after passing a levy in March 2011, school board members said they want to make the district leaner to stretch taxpayer dollars.
District growth showed signs of slowing last fall, but with more than 800 students expected to enroll in 2012, the district will remain the state's fastest-growing.
As state funding continues to lag in 2012, district leaders will continue to look for alternatives to delay the need for a new high school and middle school, said Superintendent Wade Lucas.
Enrollment projections indicate the district would need to consider construction of a fourth high school and sixth middle school in the next few years.
In 2012, the school board will continue to examine ways to house more students in its current facilities, Lucas said.
"We need to stop building," he said. "Right now we're asking, 'How do we use our current facilities in a more efficient manner?' "
In 2011, the school board looked at options for constructing add-ons to current school buildings, one of several possibilities.
Dual-enrollment opportunities and new online classes will free up some space while simultaneously giving ambitious students a chance to excel in 2012, leaders said.
Teachers will unveil new online classes this year that they began to develop in 2011.
Lucas said he hopes to see more Olentangy high school students earning college credit this year than ever before.
The district's alternative high school track, OASIS, is expected to expand in 2012 after getting its start last year.
Meanwhile, the district's all-day kindergarten experiment at Heritage Elementary School will end after just one year as a cost-cutting measure.
In February, the school board will begin to consider plans for redistricting at Heritage, which currently enrolls just kindergarten and preschool students. It will become a K-5 building for the 2012-13 school year.
Unlike last year, when Olentangy saw the grand opening of two schools, the district has no major capital improvements projects on its 2012 calendar.
The school board will continue to look for other ways to trim the budget this year with a new goal to make levy revenues last longer than the promised three years.
"Making the levy last four years is what we started working on from the beginning, and we will continue to work on that," said board President Julie Wagner Feasel.
Enrollment projections indicate the district would need to consider construction of a fourth high school and sixth middle school in the next few years.
In 2012, the school board will continue to examine ways to house more students in its current facilities, Lucas said.
"We need to stop building," he said. "Right now we're asking, 'How do we use our current facilities in a more efficient manner?' "
In 2011, the school board looked at options for constructing add-ons to current school buildings, one of several possibilities.
Dual-enrollment opportunities and new online classes will free up some space while simultaneously giving ambitious students a chance to excel in 2012, leaders said.
Teachers will unveil new online classes this year that they began to develop in 2011.
Lucas said he hopes to see more Olentangy high school students earning college credit this year than ever before.
The district's alternative high school track, OASIS, is expected to expand in 2012 after getting its start last year.
Meanwhile, the district's all-day kindergarten experiment at Heritage Elementary School will end after just one year as a cost-cutting measure.
In February, the school board will begin to consider plans for redistricting at Heritage, which currently enrolls just kindergarten and preschool students. It will become a K-5 building for the 2012-13 school year.
Unlike last year, when Olentangy saw the grand opening of two schools, the district has no major capital improvements projects on its 2012 calendar.
The school board will continue to look for other ways to trim the budget this year with a new goal to make levy revenues last longer than the promised three years.
"Making the levy last four years is what we started working on from the beginning, and we will continue to work on that," said board President Julie Wagner Feasel.
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| Levy passes, Olentangy opens two new schools in 2011 | Fighting back: Sullivan returns to ring after shooting |
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