BCSD Buzz
Late September, Vol. 11
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BCSD's Building A Brighter Future Project Committee Work to Begin |
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BEDFORD — The BCSD Community Facilities Project Committee will meet for the first time next week to begin the process to make recommendations to address our aging and costly buildings.
The Bedford Board of Education earlier this month approved a resolution allowing the district to explore participating in an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission program that would pay for a portion of the building project costs.
Passage of the resolution doesn’t bind BCSD to the state program — officials can decide not to pursue it later. The resolution does ensure that the district is eligible for that funding if it chooses to follow that program. With current market conditions, the district qualifies to have the state pay 22 percent of the project cost. That’s up from 20 percent just a few years ago.
Participation in the program, called the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), means the district cannot ask voters to approve a bond issue in May 2023 as had previously been discussed.
The BCSD Community Facilities Project Committee’s work will enable the district to review how to best meet the needs of our students and community. Nearly 90 people signed up to participate in this important work.
“It’s gratifying to see so many people interested and willing to share their input as we shape the future of our students’ education,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Cassandra Johnson. “Our buildings need our attention. Our students and our community have waited long enough. Our time is now.”
Committee members will be divided into subcommittees each of which will focus on a different area. The group will meet throughout the fall and winter, hearing from architects and district officials.
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BCSD Fathers Walk to Support Students |
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Sept. 22 marked the Fathers Walk across Ohio and dads and male mentors from Central and Glendale Primary schools showed up in droves to support their children.
At least 100 men participated for Central's Fathers Walk, carrying posters and signs and cheering as they walked their young ones from Giant Eagle on Northfield Road to the school.
Glendale's Fathers Walk brought more than 80 dads and father figures out to support their students. They gathered at Hutchinson Park and walked their children to school.
The Fathers Walk started in Cuyahoga County in 2006, led by members of the I Am A Dream organization, as a way to get men more involved in their children's education.
The participants took at pledge after walking to the schools, vowing to teach their children the value of education and the value of family, encourage them to do their best in school, help with school work and other promises.
The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood sponsors the Fathers Walk throughout Ohio,
Great job, gentlemen!
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Bearcat Family Additions: A. Cory McDaniel |
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The Bearcat Family expanded this school year with the addition of many new teachers, administrators. Welcome!
Cory McDaniel joins BCSD as the new principal of Carylwood Intermediate School.
Q: What was your most recent position before coming to Bedford?
A: I was the Principal of Cleveland Arts & Social Sciences Academy.
Q: What's your hometown?
A: Cleveland, Ohio.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: Bachelors of Arts in Communication, Bowling Green State University; Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, American College of Education; pursuing MBA in Accounting from BGSU.
Q: What do you want to share about your family?
A: I am married with two kids and counting! :-).
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Working out, traveling, a good book and good meals with family and friends!.
Q: Why did you decide to enter education as a career path?
A: I believe that education is our most important asset to live a life of true freedom and liberty and my goal is to ensure every child is equipped with that asset.
Q: Why did you decide to join the Bearcat Family?
A: As a current resident of Bedford, I am excited to give back to my community. I also get to be a part of this transformational leadership team under the direction of our Superintendent, Dr. Johnson, and the District Office Administrators. There are some amazing things happening here and I am blessed to be a member of the team.
Q: What's something most people would be surprised to learn about you?
A: I am only 9 years old! I am a Leap-year baby!
Welcome to the Bearcat Fam, Mr. Mack!
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BCSD ranks high in PI score increase |
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BEDFORD — The Bedford City School District saw one of the highest Performance Index increases in the state on the latest state report cards.
The district’s PI score jumped from 42.1 the previous year to 62.7 on the 2021-22 report cards.
“All of our teachers, students, parents, staff and administrators are dedicated to the academic achievement of each student,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Cassandra Johnson.
The Performance Index measures whether student performance on state tests met thresholds and how well students performed overall on state tests. Only Painseville and Athens saw larger PI score increases than Bedford compared to the previous year.
The PI assesses performance of students in grades three through 12.
“The increased PI score is especially impressive considering that some of our students returned to schools and classrooms last school year for the first time in nearly two years,” Dr. Johnson said. “The goal has been to provide targeted instructional supports to assist our students’ specific needs. This dedicated focus and implementation of resources such as title tutors and of evidence-based tier 1 instructional strategies has paid off. We’re still not where we need to be, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction. I’m immensely proud of our students, teachers, parents and caregivers, administrators and staff. They should be proud of themselves as well. We are moving in the right direction and will continue working tirelessly to provide excellent educational opportunities for our children.”
Kenya Harrington, BCSD’s executive director of academic achievement, who will explain more about the district’s report card at the Bedford Board of Education’s regular meeting Oct. 6, agreed.
“The increased PI score is an example of the concerted efforts by our students and staff in working toward addressing the identified needs with intentionality,” he said. “We commend everyone with regard to their determination and understand we are on the right path. Therefore, we will continue to plan accordingly and implement systems and structures that are beneficial in supporting our educational community.”
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Primary/Intermediate Intramural Athletics Tips Off |
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BCSD is expanding opportunities for younger students to get involved in sports beginning this year with intramural athletics.
Coach Zac Toth who is leading the program supported by Interim Superintendent Dr. Cassandra Johnson and the Bedford Board of Education, explained that in the past, BCSD hasn't had many athletic opportunities for our younger students.
"We only provide sports for middle school and above," he said. "This year we are starting an entire program in order to change that. We will be having an eight-week fall basketball session, an eight-week winter volleyball session and an eight-week spring soccer session."
The program is for first through fifth graders. The first session alone prompted 150 students to sign up.
"The goal of our program is to provide more opportunities for students in our district, create an interest in sports and develop a feeder program for our middle school and high school teams," Coach Toth said.
While he oversees the program, he's quick to point out that more than 20 district teachers, coaches, security guards, secretaries and others run the day-to-day practices. Practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1.5 hours for 8 weeks.
"Instead of just playing games, the students will learn fundamental skills for each sport," he said. "Our hope is to teach our students various sports, and then get them involved with community-based teams and travel teams that we also are looking at starting for various sports."
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A group formed this year at Carylwood Intermediate School, called Carylwood Cares, is off to a great start.
On Sept 24, group members, Capt. Bridget Ewing and Principal Cory McDaniel and Amanda St. Clair, participated in the St. Jude Run/Walk.
The annual event raises money to fight childhood cancer. Carylwood Cares raised $610. Way to go!
September is Childhood Awareness Month and St. Jude treats students from all 50 states and around the world.
Since St. Jude's 1962 opening, treatments invented there have helped boost the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80%, according to the St. Jude Run/Walk website.
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Check out some of the happenings across our communities. |
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City of Bedford Events and Activities |
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What's happening in Bedford Heights |
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On Sept. 22, about 30 Heskett Middle School students attended a basketball and hockey camp conduced by coaches from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The camp was at the Bedford Heights Community Center and was arranged by Mayor Fletcher Berger; Officer L. Barnes, Heskett's school resource officer and Detective Ericka Payne of P.A.C.T. Watch a video of the camp
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