Lakeview plans new courses
Public given update on district treasurer
CORTLAND — The Lakeview Local School District is planning to add new courses at the high school and junior high to help students be more prepared for future goals.
Assistant High School Principal Michael DeToro told the Lakeview Board of Education and many parents at Monday’s meeting about the new curriculum offerings, which will serve a variety of purposes.
He said students begin looking at future career options in seventh and eighth grades so that when they are in high school, they can take preparatory classes to help them prepare for those careers.
“We want to be able to better steer our students in the direction of their career goals,” DeToro said.
DeToro said a curriculum committee reviewed the new course options.
“We are excited that our students will be able to have various elective courses to choose from,” he said.
Among the new courses will be College Credit-Plus U.S. History, where students can earn a college credit in high school for history, and Financial Literacy II, which expands on the first financial literacy class with a focus on investing and saving money.
Others include electives such as OHSAA game officiating and management, which will prepare students to help at sporting events, and “Living on Your Own,” which teaches daily life skills.
DeToro said this year, weightlifting was added and next year, meditation and yoga will be added.
He said there is an ACT prep class in math, but with more emphasis on English and language arts on the ACT, there will be an ACT prep class focused on ELA added.
DeToro said 66% of the ACT is on comprehension and English.
Superintendent Ashley Handrych said she credits the high school administrators and guidance department for revamping the course offerings at the high school.
“They were able to get creative with adding new courses without the cost of adding new staff members. Our teachers are outside of the box thinkers. They constantly step up to do more for our kids,” Handrych said.
TREASURER STATUS
In other business, officials were asked by residents the status of a new school district treasurer.
In June, the board approved reassigning Ryan Stowell from elementary principal to assistant deputy treasurer beginning Aug. 1 after former school treasurer Sean Miller accepted a job with Niles City Schools after Rhonda Amorganos retired.
Lakeview has had an interim treasurer in place, having approved in June using Interim Treasurer of Record services through the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio, who assigned Ryan Pendleton to the role.
Handrych said plans have not changed at this point.
“Ryan Pendleton is our treasurer of record. His contract is currently being reviewed by the board of education and I expect to have that completed in February,” Handrych said.
Residents have questioned the time it is taking to get a treasurer in place and the cost.
The board on Monday approved Pendelton as the public records officer designee for the district.
PROJECTS DISCUSSED
Also Monday, the board approved an agreement with Ameresco Inc. for professional design services for LED lighting and HVAC rooftop unit upgrades as part of a grant. The board also entered into an agreement with Ameresco for the purchase of rooftop units through the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
Handrych said the project is part of the five-year permanent improvement funds plan, but it is also contingent on the district being awarded a grant to cover the cost of LED lighting.
She said the cost of the rooftop units is approximately $200,000.
“Our high school kitchen is currently without heat and this project is desperately needed. The LED lighting will only be completed if the matching grant is obtained and will cost the district nothing,” Handrych said.