Northwestern High seniors get high marks for academic accomplishments

Linda Hall
·2 min read

Northwestern Local Schools Board of Education

May 16 meeting

KEY ACTION Heard reports of student academic achievement.

DISCUSSION Principal Randall Hafner said Northwestern High School seniors are in good shape to graduate and move on having earned a total of 425 graduation seals, "which is approximately 4.33 seals per senior," he said, noting the sales are "a portrait of what they've accomplished."

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"The state requirement is two seals for each graduating senior," he said. "Our seniors have gone above and beyond that, which is a good representation of what it means to be a Husky."

Hafner told the board 81% of Northwestern seniors have earned the OhioMeansJobs readiness seal; 91% have earned the citizenship seal; 94% have earned the science seal; and 77% have earned the student engagement seal, "which is a 21% increase from last year's graduating class."

The engagement seal signifies 3/4 of the seniors have participated in a school activity all four years, Hafner explained.

According to the state, the seals show students demonstrate knowledge and skills in a variety of areas, including academic and technical, for beginning college, staring a career or enlisting in the military.

Superintendent Jeffrey Layton said he is proud of teachers, staff members and students. He also praised the district tutoring efforts for lessening the "extended hardships" connected with the pandemic.

Health premiums up for fiscal 2022

In other action, the board approved a 4.9% increase in the monthly health insurance and prescription drug premium for fiscal year 2022.

Layton said the amount is comparatively "really good. You're hearing a lot of districts and consortiums (have increased premiums by up to 15%)."

FOR YOUR INFO

  • Guests at the meeting included Northwestern High School students Brett Alberts and Kylee Purdy highlighting their media communication project. Also recognized were Northwestern Elementary fourth- and fifth-grade Safety Patrol members Tessa Buzzard, Natalie Koch, Cash Russell, Miles Terwilliger, Keston Weaver, Ruger White and J.D. Yarwood.

  • Reading Under the Lights will be 6-8 p.m. May 24 at the Northwestern High football field and will feature a free meal and free books for every child in kindergarten through fifth grade as a way to help close the reading gap that occurs over the summer.

  • The district received the state Transportation Collaboration Grant to be shared with the Mapleton district, $10,000 each. House Bill 110 awarded grants to public school districts that reduced transportation costs through shared resources, bus route consolidations and regional collaboration. Northwestern will use the grant money for transportation software and professional development and training of personnel.

UP NEXT Meets at 6:30 p.m. June 20 in Northwestern High School library, 7473 Elyria Road, West Salem.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Northwestern High School seniors earn academic seals