Akron School Levy

Thank You for making our Schools First

2006-11-08T03:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you Akron!

This means so much to our students for their future and yours.
We thank you for your support!

Marcia Skidmore
Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts

2006-11-07T20:31:00.001-08:00

APS STUDENTS THANK YOU!

2006-11-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU AKRON VOTERS!!!

Off to VOTE!!!

2006-11-07T04:21:00.000-08:00

I am leaving to go make some of the most important choices of my life. One of the easiest is to vote YES for ISSUE 6! We have stated multiple reason for supporting ISSUE 6 but I think the Mayor has simply summed it up the best in saying "It's for the children". It's agreed that adults need to figure out how to change school funding and perhaps this Election will address that as well, but right here and right now we have a chance to change our future... or better yet the future of our children. I do not have any children of my own, but I feel like every day walking into a classroom I have 21 children that I care about. Please think about these children and all the children of Akron when making the right decision and voting YES for ISSUE 6!

No Ordinary Time

2006-10-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

As I stump for the levy, I'm finding many voters find that the students of today are very different than when they were in school. That the kids and the culture have changed drastically from what they experienced when they were growing up.

No doubt, Akron Public Schools have changed. But so has the world in which we live.

Akron has changed.

We are living in a world in which nations such as China and India spend more on education than they do on anything else. Our children are not just competing with the students in Hudson, they're going up against students from Hong Kong.

Gone are the days when a decent high school education warrented a good job and a stable career. Our job market has changed so rapidly that the 'good old days' of Akron Public and the manufacturing base in Akron have left us forever.

We are in need of a 21st century education, so we can develope a 21st century workforce. And that's exactly what Issue 6 will do.

And the culture our students experience has changed. Students are relying more on our schools for needs and services than ever before. If we can't provide those services, they turn to less positive things and we end up paying in other ways.

We need Issue 6 so we can keep our kids in afterschool programs and off the streets. We need Issue 6 so our students learn teamwork by playing a sport, and not by joining a gang. We need Issue 6 so that our kids have a place to go, when often they have no where else to turn.

When you vote, please think of the child who is working hard and beating the odds. She's doing her homework while working part-time. She's active in school and is making it on her own. You may not know her name, but she's out there. And there are many more just like her, who need Issue 6.

An APS Family

2006-10-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

I awoke with optimism today. I am feeling very good about many things. My mom Dr. Jan Enright had a very scary medical emergency this week and it really put things in perspective for my family and me. Mom is a proud retiree from APS most recently serving as Principal at King. She is the reason I am who I am today. I remember the day I told her I wanted to be a teacher and she replied “no”. She was against me going into education without me really knowing what education was all about. Mom made me visit Crosby and Robinson and spend time with teachers before she would sign off on me becoming a teacher. I had a great time and learned so much from the likes of Jeff Moats and the late Larry Marshall.

I am so lucky to be working on my 11th year as a teacher in the Akron Schools. I love my job so much and feel so great about working with these awesome students at Mason and developing friendships with my fellow teachers. My “real” (because everyone knows teachers are not real people!) friends tease me because I have never missed a day of school. Eleven year and I have perfect attendance. I have missed a chance to play Firestone South because it was a school day. I missed a NASCAR race because of travel and it was a school day. I missed a trip to Vegas because school was in session and countless other activities with my friends. But the reality is I would rather miss that stuff because I would hate to miss the little miracles my first grade munchkins create every day.

I guess the point of this post is to say please vote yes for Issue 6. The values I have learned from my mother, Larry Marshall and Jim Modugno, and all the great teachers I have been honored to work with are what make APS special. I am but just one person who represents our great school district. As a person with 20+ more years in this system I want to be able to carry the torch that so many before have. Please vote YES and allow us to continue to move this district up and beyond.

Support Levy 6

2006-10-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

Please consider coming out to vote on November 7th and bring a friend!!! Don't tell yourself that one vote doesn't count -- it does! Every vote counts. Have you asked your friend and neighbors if they are voting??

Consider putting a sign in your yard.
Call a neighbor, friend or relative.
Get in to vote yourself!
Email or call someone who is undecided and motivate them to help the students of Akron.
Put up a sign at work.

Every vote counts!
The kids count!
Can we count on you??

Marcia Skidmore
in the skidZone!
Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts

My favorite memories

2006-10-17T03:05:00.000-07:00

What is an education? While I certainly work hard to prepare these students with skills for life - work, home, community - education is also chocked full of the memories of your youth. What do you remember? What do you want for these students?

I want students to remember a positive experience.
I want students to remember my classroom as bright and cheerful.
I don't want them to remember how they didn't have enough text books, classes were crowded.
I don't want them to remember the year they lost French and there wasn't going to be any choir.
I want students to remember the class play, art class, and band practice.
I want students to remember me.

Vote yes on Issue 6.
Keep the memories coming.

OUR Children, OUR Schools, OUR Community

2006-10-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

I am lucky enough to live in the same community as my parents. My parents would never dream of voting no on a school levy because it affects their grandchildren. In speaking with my father the other day I asked the big question; "If you didn't have grandchildren in the area would you still vote yes?" He seemed very disappointed that I would ask that question. He told me that although his grandchildren are of the utmost importance to him, all the children in the community need a wonderful, well rounded education. He went on to discuss the importance of extra curricular programs and their impact on keeping children active and out of trouble. He also stated that someone payed for him to go to school and someone paid for his children to go to school (he didn't do it alone). My dad told me that to vote no would impact the whole community and eventually would affect the value of his home. To cast a no vote could prevent people from wanting to move to the community, to cast a no vote could cause crime to increase due to lack of quality education, to cast a no vote could leave hundreds to thousands of kids without anything to do but sit on the couch and play video games or even worse, run the streets and get in trouble. The people that work for APS have worked too hard to improve student achievement to allow these things to happen. If you listen to no one else, please listen to my dad! I am finding as I get older that he is quite a wise man!

My Favorite Teacher

2006-10-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a Board Member, and I see this Levy though that lens most of the time because that's my job. But I'm also a fairly recent graduate of Akron Public Schools (Firestone Class of '02). And I try very hard to see the Levy from that perspective as well. And when I think of my time as a student in APS, I begin to see the impact the passage or failure of Issue 6 has on current students. Let me share a story with you that I think about often, especially when thinking about Issue 6.

We all can remember that one teacher we had that made a real difference in our lives. We can all think back to a particular grade or class where a certain teacher or school staff member took an interest in us above and beyond what was required. For me, that was my Choir teacher Mrs. Schneider.

I didn't go to Firestone because of the Visual and Performing Arts. I wasn't in the program and I didn't know much about it to be honest. I was in choir my freshman year but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. So I figured my singing career was over and I didn't give another thought.

During my Junior year of High School, my father passed away from cancer. I was 16 years old. My father had just taught me to drive, and then he was gone. Coming back to school seemed like a nightmare. I hated it. The subjects I used to enjoy began to feel like a drag on me. My grades began to slip. Coming to school was more of a chore than it should be for a person at the age.

I'll never forget stumbling through the halls one day, when Mrs. Schneider came up behind me and gave me the biggest hug and asked how I was doing. She told me to hang in there and asked if I wanted to come back to Choir for my Senior year? Come back to Choir!? It had been two years since I sang in a Choir and I didn't even know if Mrs. Schneider remembered me! She did remember me, and she cared enough to check up on me. So I said 'sure', and when I got my schedule at the end of the year, Choir had been added.

I came to realize later, that Mrs. Schneider had granted me my biggest wish and I didn't even know it at the time. Singing in the Choir for my Senior year was beyond therapeutic. I looked forward to school again. My grades went back up. I regained my confidence. I started having fun. I really believe that none of that would have been possible had Mrs. Schneider not grabbed me in the hall that day and almost demand that I join the Choir. I suspect she knew it would help me get over my loss, and get me back to being myself.

Issue 6 is about keeping the Mrs. Schneider's of Akron around for another generation of students. It's about the programs that drive students like me to want to come to school and learn. It's about people.

Without Mrs. Schneider and the Senior year I spent in Choir, I honestly don't know where I would have ended up. That one simple thing, a Choir, changed my whole perspective at that time. And as a result, changed my life.

We need to keep our Choirs, we need to keep our Mrs. Schneider's, we need Issue 6.

Welcome Akron Beacon Journal Readers!

2006-10-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

To all our Akron Levy bloggers:

Our work was noticed today by the Beacon Journal as part of the Levy Kickoff article! So to all those visiting our blog after reading about it there...Welcome! Feel free to read, post a comment, and tell your friends.

Third time's the charm everybody! Vote YES on Issue 6!

The Arts

2006-10-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

The Arts. We teach through the Arts. It is the story of our success.

Miller South again has earned an EXCELLENT rating on our school report card because of our Arts Integration. You can be so proud of these students. By finding the key to their engagement, we are meeting our goal.

But without the support of the levy, schools in Akron stand to lose the arts - visual arts, music, dance - these programs that make a difference. These seem to be considered 'the extras'. At Miller South we consider them the key to academic success.

Students need a full curriculum ~ all the subjects ~ to succeed. Vote Yes on Issue 6 to keep a full curriculum. Our middle schools have already lost their foreign language programs. Our classrooms are full. We've lost valuable staff that are desperately needed to service our children's needs. As we lose teachers and programs and are prevented from supplying the students with textbooks and materials they need how can we expect these children to succeed? Yet Akron Public Schools manage to keep rising to the occassion. We are doing our part -- Please help and Vote Yes on Issue 6.

Have questions? Please Ask!
Not sure your vote counts? Yes! It Does?
Call a Friend and be sure they are voting!

The levy only failed by a small margin last time -- Be The Difference! Go In and Vote!
Vote to make Columbus as strong as it can be and Supportive of EDUCATION! It will make a stronger Ohio!

Marcia Skidmore
in the skidZone!

RALLY 4 ISSUE 6

2006-10-12T04:38:00.000-07:00

Today from 3-6pm there will be a Rally for Issue 6 at Lock 3. Show your support for the Children of Akron and the future of the Akron Public Schools!

I have personally witnessed the damage of a failed levy. A very special friend of mine and truly gifted teacher was one cut this year. She has now found employment elsewhere. While she has certainly landed on her feet, I told you she was a gifted teacher, it now becomes a loss for the Children of Akron. We cannot afford to lose any more talented and dedicated teachers.

Support Issue 6... get you friends talking about Issue 6... if you have questions about Issue 6, ask them...find me, or anyone else in the Akron Schools and listen firsthand at our stories...but most importantly VOTE YES for ISSUE 6.

Vote Yes

2006-10-12T03:14:00.000-07:00

Our students are talking about it. Our teachers are talking about it. Are you? Right now we are learning about the birthplace of democracy -- Ancient Greece. We are learning about Ancient Rome and how the republic developed -- another stepping stone to our current government. And our students are learning that yes, every vote counts.

This lesson obviously leads to our modern world and questions for them. When do we vote? How are we represented? Who decided what was on the ballot? On what issues are we represented and on what issues do we decide?

Show the students you care -- vote!
Show them that your vote counts! -- vote yes issue 6!
Show them that you value public education -- vote yes issue 6!

Yesterday in class we had a great day. Help us keep giving these kids great days by supporting the levy that gives them their teachers, their texts, their supplies, their programing.

Marcia Skidmore
in the skidZone!
Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts

Good Morning Akron!

2006-10-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

Today is going to be a great day at Miller South. Last night we had our monthly staff meeting and worked together brainstorming more ways to integrate the arts into math. All the schools are doing similar activities -- they are called Sight Improvement Plans (SIP) and it is a way for schools to constantly be working to improve the quality of education in their building. Our Sight Improvement Plan is centered on Math, Writing and Arts Integration. Our math teachers are going to go this week to a national math conference for inspiration and ideas. These are all ways we work to keep our school report card at Excellent!

Support our efforts to maintain an active Site Improvement Plan and an Excellent Rating! Vote Yes on Issue 6!

Our Kids Come First!

Marcia Skidmore
in the skidZone! @
Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts

Our kids come first!

2006-10-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

Our kids come first because they are our future. It is a great day for me to walk into the skidZone! my classroom and see these kids, work with these kids, teach these kids. I sometimes spend more time with them than my own four kids! We laugh together, cry together, argue with each other, eat lunch together ~ I can tell you they deserve your support. Please help us keep Akron Public Schools strong.

This levy is that pot of money all about operating day to day in the classroom. It is providing teachers who work hard to have the best of training and work every day to give the kids an engaging, successful classroom. It is providing the materials from paperclips to technology to prepare these kids for life. It is about giving our students the best we can. I know you want the best!

I'm so proud of our students. We have an excellent group of students with such potential!

Our kids come first because they are our future!

Have questions? Blog with me! Ask and we'll do our best to answer!

Marcia Skidmore
in the skidZone!
Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts

NO SCHOOL IN AKRON HAS ACADEMIC EMERGENCY RATING

2006-10-08T19:22:00.001-07:00

MORE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR'S REPORT CARD!

APS met 7 of 25 indicators, up from three last year.

More students are testing at higher levels. Since 2003-04, the number of students testing at accelerated and above increased 165 percent, while 25 percent fewer students are testing below proficient.

Over the past year, test score rates of improvement have risen dramatically including:

Reading:
District – up 31%
Grade 6 – up 45%

Math: Test scores are up across the district and in every grade tested.
District – up 76%
Grade 3 – up 10%
Grade 4 – up 23%
Grade 6 – up 13%
Grade 7 – up 2%
Grade 8 – up 23%
Grade 10 – up 3%

Writing:
District – up 22%
Grade 4 – up 15%
Grade 10 – up 7%

The graduation rate increased to 80.3 percent.

Attendance is at 93.4 percent.

Three schools received a rating of Excellent (Ellet, Firestone, Miller South).

Sixteen schools received a rating of Effective, up from nine the year before.

Twenty-seven schools received a rating of Continuous Improvement.

81% of Akron's schools rated Continuous Improvement or higher.

NO SCHOOL IN AKRON HAS ACADEMIC EMERGENCY RATING

2006-10-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

Great News About All 7 High Schools!

2006-10-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

At the Board meeting on September 25: All seven APS high schools were honored by High Schools That Work for outstanding achievement. Recognized 36 times, all seven Akron Public Schools high schools are ranked in the top 100 high schools out of 1,028 schools in 32 states. Akron Public Schools is the largest and only district in Ohio to have all its high schools ranked in the top 100. High Schools That Work sets a culture of high expectations and rigorous academics. Congratulations to Buchtel, East, Ellet, Firestone, Garfield, Kenmore and North. Central-Hower also received this honor.

What do the Akron students stand to lose?

2006-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

If you want to see what Akron students have to lose come to Firestone and look in the empty dance room in the afternoon. That room was filled last year with very talented students.

If you want to see what Akron students have to lose come see the production of Anne Frank this week by the theatre department. Imagine the theatre empty next year.

Many of the programs that will be lost will be very difficult to bring back. Many of the programs that will be lost are the parts of high school that the students will remember the most as adults.

What makes a good community is family, neighbors, and good schools.

Programs, Teachers, and Textbooks

2006-10-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Lots of folks ask me; "Where will the money from the levy go?" A very valid question. It's a question we don't always do a good job of answering as a district. Here's my attempt at an answer:

Issue 6 dollars will flow directly into Akron. They will directly impact the quality of education in our district. I believe Issue 6 will go to three main areas: Programs, Teachers, and Textbooks.

Programs

-Issue 6 money will go towards maintaining and expanding the enrichment programs we have in our district. Everything from Sports and Art, to VoEd and IB. Our afterschool programs, that keep kids in school and off the streets and our academic programs that make Akron a unique learning environment.

Teachers

-Issue 6 money will go to retain and recruit quality teachers. We all can agree that one of the keys to success is a quality teacher in every classroom. With Issue 6, we can keep the teachers we have and work towards lowering class sizes by recruiting new teachers.

Textbooks

-Issue 6 money will go towards new textbooks and classroom/building resources so that we can deliver a 21st Century education.

Issue 6 will help solve our financial problems across the board, but these areas will see the biggest positive impact. I hope this helps answer some of those questions out there about where the money will go.

Why?

2006-10-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Why is this levy so critical to Akron? Why do I ask this manner because Akron has the most to loose? Do people move to area with poor schools? Only if they have to! If they can’t afford to live in an area with quality schools. The schools in any community have an important role as a focus of pride and a promise of prosperity for the future.

This levy is a reflection of or community. Akron has always held promise for it citizens, it has a brilliant history, from it’s canal days to it’s tire manufacturing. Akron’s future is very bright with its work with the military on a new generation of lighter than air surveillance blimps.

Which will Akron attract even more industry, which means jobs.

I have lived in Akron all my life and it has only been in the past year that I have heard such pessimistic view of our city.

It is true that Ohio is not paying it’s share, it is true that Ohio is braking the law in its funding of schools. But we cannot let our children suffer because the politicians in Columbus don’t find the youth of this state important enough to even attempt to fix the problem.

Our children are our greatest asset can we afford to not pass a levy that builds on the foundation of our city.

Registration deadline

2006-10-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Deadline to register to vote is October 10th! Remember you don't even have to leave your home to vote!!

New Absentee Guidelines: You may now vote Absentee for any reason.
To Apply for an Absentee Ballot:
Fill out the downloadable form and mail it to:
Summit County Board of Elections
470 Grant Street
Akron, Ohio 44311

If you can not download the form please write your information on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. You must include the following information:
Name and voting residence address
Your birth date
A form of Identification. This may include Driver's License No., last four digits of you SSN, a copy of a current photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or other government document that shows your name and address. (Please provide one form of identification)
Election in which you wish to vote
If the election is a primary declare your party choice or ask for an issues only ballot
The mailing address where the ballot should be sent
Your original signature is required

Registering to vote

2006-10-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

The most important thing we as Americans can do is to register to vote and utilize our power! A lot of people take for granted the rights we have been given. If I had one wish it would be for everyone of age to register to vote and utilize that right. For those that aren't registered, here is a list of places to go; At any county board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office.
At public libraries.
At the offices of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
At any public high school or vocational school.
By mail. You may request a registration form from a board of elections by mail, telephone, in person or by having another person obtain it for you. The number is (330) 643-5200!

Birthday Gift

2006-10-02T18:08:00.000-07:00

Election day is on my birthday. All I want for my birthday is the levy to pass. The last time the election was on my birthday was in 2000 but we won't discuss that one. Ha Ha.

Issue 6 and Elections Thoughts

2006-10-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

Akron School Levy

So we have an election two days after my birthday. I would like to congratulate the people responsible for the decision to have a professional development day for teachers on Nov. 7th. I am afraid in the day and age we live in, we have to take safety precautions for our children and having buildings open with multiple visitors throughout the day it isn't safe. I think it was a very wise decision to close schools for the children. But all students out there with no school on Nov 7th, make certain your parents get out and vote for issue 6.

Welcome and introducing myself!

2006-10-02T04:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Akron Levy enthusiasts! My name is Christopher Pashke, the Information Technology teacher, High Schools That Work Contact, and Technology Coordinator at Firestone High School. I teach in one of the greatest schools in all the area and I am proud to be a part of the one of the greatest staffs in all the area. In my 18 year career, I have been asked why do I stay in Akron Public Schools and I say "the students". We have some of the best individuals in the country and the world in my opinion. Of course there are good students and bad but getting to know each of the different types you will find excellent traits in each of them. It just takes a different approach to see and hear greatness from them. I look forward to continuing my career in APS and participating in this blog.

Money Questions

2006-10-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

I've talked to quite a few people who are confused by Akron's financial situation. The most common question they ask is, "If the school system needs money so badly, why are they building new schools instead of staying in the old ones?"

The simplest answer is that money for the building project is coming from a different source. The state is supplying some of the funds while a city income tax provides the rest. Since this money has been earmarked for new buildings, it can not be used for anything else. It has nothing to do with the current levy or the lack of funds.

Another popular question is, "What about all that lottery money? How can the schools be in trouble when the lottery system puts money back in education?" Unfortunately, the schools have not won the lottery. There is no huge payout to public education as many citizens believe. The money Akron receives from the lottery would keep the district operating about 1 week.

If you want to learn more about the school district's revenues and expenses, visit the Akron Public Schools Levy - FAQs page (http://www.forakronschools.com/content/faqs.html)

Introducing Me...

2006-10-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hello Akron (and the world!). My name is Greg Enright and I am a very proud teacher at Mason Elementary. I teach 20 of the greatest 1st graders and have been honored to work in Akron Public Schools for 11 years. I am also a student at The University of Akron and through my course work I have made many friends outside of APS. Over my 11 year career I have received several offers to change school systems. Of course I have declined and the main reason is my strong belief in our schools and the great children we get to work with.

I look forward to participating in this blogging.

APS Grads Support Issue 6

2006-10-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

I found something interesting today while updating my Facebook profile online. Facebook is an online 'yearbook' if you will where college students can keep a profile, and in doing so, keep their friends up-to-date. Now I know services like this have received some bad press, but Facebook is harmless if you use your head.

Anyway, you can start little online groups within Facebook to show your support for a political candidate, a sports team, or in this case a ballot issue. An APS graduate who is now attending college started a group in support of Issue 6. Currently this group has 400 members from all over the country!!! All APS grads now attending college all over the nation!

This just goes to show that the students and graduates of Akron Public Schools understand the importance of Issue 6. As many of them told me when I joined the group, "We want to make sure the students coming after us have what we had."

They're all emailing their friends and parents encouraging them to get out and vote for the levy. With 400 members (and growing), it's sure to make a difference come November.

Akron Schools are awesome!!

2006-09-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Akron has made such wonderful progress! Everyone from the board, the administrators, the teachers, and the students have really been working to make Akron the best of the best in the Ohio urban schools! Sylvester Small made a commitment to the community and he has lived up to all the promises he made to the citizens of Akron. We aren't asking for much, just to be able to continue the great programs we have in place for the students of Akron.

2006-09-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Eighty percent of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen

Hopefully we can get more people out to vote. As a history teacher I am a strong advocate of people using their right as an American to vote.

Welcome!

2006-09-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the inaugural post for the brand new Akron Public School Levy blog. We will be posting everyday, all the things that are happening with the levy campaign as well as APS as a whole. Different contributors will be with us this Fall, all posting about their experiences with our schools as well as the campaign. We hope you will continue to come back and read whats new and exciting with the Akron Public Schools.