Olentangy Schools Notebook: We're already prepping for 2022-23 and beyond
In late May, Olentangy Schools celebrated nearly 1,800 graduates, their accomplishments and closed out a successful school year despite challenges surrounding the pandemic and staff shortages.
I am proud of our staff, students and families for navigating an ever-changing landscape with a continued dedication to our mission: to facilitate maximum learning for every student.
This summer, our staff are hard at work planning curriculum and professional development, cleaning facilities and buses, writing back-to-school messaging and posting supply lists all in preparation to kick off another outstanding school year starting in August.
There is always something special in the hope and excitement surrounding the work in getting ready for a new school year, and this year is no different.
The 2022-23 school year also will bring new leadership across many Olentangy schools. We look forward to welcoming new principals Monica Asher (Olentangy Orange High School), Steven Tartt (Olentangy Shanahan Middle School), Brian Baker (Olentangy Liberty Middle School) and Michael Warren (Arrowhead Elementary School). Former assistant principal Dana Kimchi also will step into the principal role at Johnnycake Corners Elementary School. We look forward to students benefiting from their impressive experience, talents, and passion for education.
Work continues on our sixth middle school, Olentangy Berlin Middle School, which is expected to open in August 2023. As we prepare to welcome students into a new school, the district will conduct a fairly extensive redistricting process in the coming months, with new attendance boundaries announced by January 2023.
Recently, the district hosted an Ohio Fair School Funding summit, gathering educational leaders, school board members and state legislators to discuss fair funding. Olentangy Schools will continue its advocacy work for fair funding to help ease the local tax burden on district residents.
As a result of our fiscal oversight, funds received due to the pandemic and from the state, Olentangy will exceed its three-year promise to stay off the ballot and does not anticipate returning to voters until 2025.
Although this is good news, we will remain vigilant in advocating for fair funding.
I look forward to welcoming many of you back to another great school year in August.
Mark Raiff is superintendent of Olentangy Schools.
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Olentangy Schools Notebook: We're already prepping for 2022-23 and beyond
