NOVEMBER 2023

HERE We Grow MONTHLY HEADLINES FROM THE ESC OF LAKE ERIE

WEST COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CENTER

DIRECTOR'S HEADLINES

MORE INSPIRING

READS THIS MONTH:

Significant Improvements to Safer Ohio School Tip Line

What has changed?

New Reporting Options: Tips can now be reported through calling, texting, using the new Safer Ohio School Tip Line app, or using the new web-form.
Multiple Users: Schools determine who receives notification of tips and those people have access to a dashboard, where they can read the tips, provide updates and report actions taken.
Immediate Notification: Tips can be received by multiple people and the system has text and email options for notifications.
Crisis Response: The tip line will now be answered by crisis response professionals that will be able to assist someone through crisis.
Accessibility: Tips can now be received in 10 different languages.

School Spotlight	2

ESCLEW Book Club

Headlines	3-4 Governing Authority
Headlines	4 Academic Services

Headlines	5-6 Compliance

Headlines	7 Special Education
Headlines	8-9

Case Management: The dashboard allows for easy auditing and annual reporting of tips to comply with Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.6610 requirements.
Faster Processing: Tips will be directed to the county 911 centers if the tip warrants law enforcement intervention. They will no longer be contacted by the state fusion center when a tip comes in.

Building Hope Impact Awards

Professional Development

Headlines                    10 ESCLEW Staff              11

OUR MISSION

"The ESCLEW Community

Schools Center is a student-

APPLY NOW! Building Hope has opened up applications for $175,000 in grant awards that will be presented to charter schools that excel in Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment and Charter Leadership. Three awards will be presented in each category in the amounts of $10,000 or $20,000.
Application Window: October 23 - November 30, 2023.

centered authorizer of charter schools, advancing quality educational opportunities throughout
the state of Ohio"

To apply click here https://buildinghope.org/impact/grants/

2	NOVEMBER 2023

School Spotlights CONSTELLATION SCHOOLS: STOCKYARD COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
Annual Father’s Walk

The annual Father’s Walk event is designed to enhance the engagement of fathers in their children's education. The school leaders believe fathers play a crucial role in fostering a collaborative partnership that can contribute to a more positive school culture and bolster academic success.

This event extends an open invitation to the students, welcoming any male role models that have had a positive impact in their lives. In the absence of a male figure, they extend the same warm welcome to female role models. During the event, refreshments of donuts and juice were provided. The event saw a significant turnout, with attendees expressing enthusiastic appreciation.

SUMMIT ACADEMY AKRON MIDDLE SCHOOL Welcoming the Opportunity of a New Building

Starting the year off in a new clean building has increased staff and student morale, while providing more space for creative programming and increasing enrollment possibilities. Teachers and students spent their first week of school getting to know each other by playing meaningful and relevant team-building games.

SUMMIT ACADEMY- YOUNGSTOWN Going Country

Students from kindergarten through fourth grade had an opportunity to leave their daily urban setting and explore what the country had to offer. Students went to either Countryside Farms in Lowellville, Ohio or Iron Mills Farmstead in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. For many of the students, this was their first time experiencing fall themed activities such as hay rides, pumpkin picking, and going through a corn maze. A highlight for those visiting Iron Mills Farmstead was watching pigs race!

3	NOVEMBER 2023

ESCLEW Book Club

Headlines Written by Julie Kadri

To Lead is to Teach:

Stories and Strategies from the Classroom to the Boardroom

Author Jim Mahoney divides his book into two parts. Part I is a short memoir of his growing up and formative experiences as an educator. Part II includes compact lessons informed by the author’s experiences and thoughts and practices of current writers, thinkers, and researchers. At the end of each chapter are three actionable pieces that can be used by practitioners to introduce, reinforce, or teach the topic of that chapter.

Part I Life Story – Chapters 7-12

Losing

In Chapter Nine, Jim shares the story of a large-scale, and ultimately unsuccessful professional development he planned as an administrator at East Muskingum Schools. The following day he sat down with his superintendent, Larry Miller, feeling humiliated. Instead of berating him, his superintendent asked two questions. First, “If you were doing this over, what would you do differently? And second, “What did you learn?” Jim Mahoney says the advice he received from Miller has stayed with him ever since: “Remember, there are no failures, just lessons.”

Winning

After reflecting on multiple mistakes early in his career and the tragic death of his daughter, Jim Mahoney shares about the success he experienced working with schools as their superintendent and as the founding CEO of a non-profit, Battelle for Kids. He drew an analogy between succeeding as a CEO and a winning as a coach. He says, “Did I want to win games? Yes, every game I coached at any level. But I always believed that winning was a byproduct of doing other things right – creating cultures of hard work, focusing on effective practices, building team chemistry, and the like.” When describing a particularly effective staff he was proud of, Jim said, “These weren’t just the right people, but people who did things right. And they created a culture that attracted and kept people. On purpose.”

4	NOVEMBER 2023

November Google Classroom Discussion Board Question: Making Mistakes

ESCLEW Statewide Meeting
Mistakes are a difficult and unavoidable part of growing as a successful human, teacher, and leader. Consider how you handle mistakes with students in your classroom, with staff at school, and with multiple stakeholders in the boardroom. Do you have a strategy that works well when talking with people and helping them learn from their mistakes?

To participate in the discussion board, please use a Gmail address to sign-in to your Google Drive account. Navigate to Google Classroom, click the plus sign in the upper right corner, and select Join Class. Our class code is 2jibhol. If you intend to participate and have never used Google Drive, I am happy to help you set up an account.

Governing Authority Headlines
Written by Julie Kadri

State Board of Education Update

After issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the Ohio Department of Education transition, a Franklin County judge approved the dissolution of the TRO allowing the transfer of the state education board’s powers to shift to a governor-appointed individual. Governor DeWine appointed Jessica Voltolini, former Chief of Staff at the Ohio Department of Education to serve as interim director of the newly formed Department of Education and Workforce. The state has asked the court to dismiss the case for lack of standing. Plaintiffs have 14 days from the last hearing on October 20th to object to the denial of the preliminary injunction.

5	NOVEMBER 2023

Academic Services Headlines
Written by Kristi Hayward

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTS

Every year, the ESC of Lake Erie West (ESCLEW) produces an Annual Performance Report for each community school it oversees for use by the school and other stakeholders. The report summarizes the school’s academic performance, legal compliance, financial health and sustainability, and organizational and operational performance according to the most recent data available and past data over the contract term.

ESCLEW is committed to promoting high-quality education for public school students in Ohio. This Annual Performance Report is produced in order to:

1.Provide timely information to the community school on its performance relative to the standards and expectations established by applicable federal and state law and the charter contract.
2.Identify the school’s strengths and any areas needing improvement.

3.Provide information that enables the community and the public to understand the school’s performance, including its fulfillment of public obligations.

These annual evaluations were emailed to school leaders and governing authority members in October. The last page highlights the school’s performance summary and prospects for renewal. The prospects for renewal section is for reference only as a preliminary calculation and does not guarantee renewal. Renewal determinations and subsequent contract terms are based on each school’s renewal application. Prospects for renewal are based on the assumption that the school will continue to produce consistent levels of performance as documented in the data trends of the previous sections of the report.

6	NOVEMBER 2023

Academic Services Headlines
Written by Kristi Hayward

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTS - CONTINUED

The 2022–23 Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West’s Community Schools Center Sponsor Annual Report is a combination of all sponsored Community School’s Annual Reports and will be provided to all school stakeholders in early November. ESCLEW is required to provide a written report to all parents of students enrolled in sponsored schools and the Department of Education and Workforce by November 30th of each year.

The 2022–23 Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West’s Community Schools Center Sponsor Annual Report is required to be posted to the schools’ websites by November 30, 2023, to serve as notification to parents of students enrolled at each school.

The 2022–23 Annual Performance Report goal determination was based on the 2022–23 Performance Framework Accountability (Attachment 11.6) goals. Under the requirements of the 2022–23 Performance Framework goals, schools were required to show an increase in the School Report Card ratings to meet the goal for the year.

Beginning with the 2023–24 school year, the Performance Framework goals will follow the new evaluation guidelines in which schools will be required to earn at least three stars on the School Report Card to meet the goal.

The Regional Technical Assistance Educators (RTAE) will be reviewing the current evaluation metrics and progress towards meeting those goals throughout the year during monthly site visits as well as at governing authority meetings. The RTAE will also share the PBIS Technical Documentation with schools during site visits to ensure all schools are aware of the correct EMIS codes that are required moving forward to ensure schools are meeting this goal.

If you have questions regarding your school’s Annual Performance Report or the current Performance Framework goals, please reach out to your RTAE or Kristi Hayward, Academic Services Team Leader.

7	NOVEMBER 2023

Compliance Headlines ITEMS OF NOTE

School Safety Drills and Emergency Management Test Reminders

Per ORC 5502.262, schools shall conduct at least one Emergency Management Test (EMT) by December 31st of each year. The EMT After-Action Report shall be submitted/documented using the School Safety Plans Portal via OH|ID. After completing an EMT, you have 30 days to document the exercise.

Per ORC 3737.73(D), schools shall conduct school safety drills, in conjunction with the police chief or other similar chief law enforcement officer, at least three times during the school year. Advance written notice shall be provided to law enforcement not later than seventy-two hours prior to the date the drill will be conducted and shall include the date and time the drill will be conducted and the address of the school. In addition, a theoretical school safety drill shall be conducted with faculty and staff.

Not later than December 5th of each year, the principal or person in charge shall provide written certification by mail, facsimile, or electronic submission of the date and time each school safety drill required under division (D)(1) of this section was conducted during the previous school year, as well as the date and time each drill will be conducted during the current school year, to the police chief or other similar chief law enforcement officer of the municipal corporation township, or township or joint police district in which the school or institution is located.

Please see the School Safety Compliance Requirements – Guidance and Resources LiveBinder for more details pursuant to the Emergency Management Test requirements. Access Key: safety

November 2023

Compliance Requirement	Due Date	Type	Responsibility

Monthly Financial

Financial Reports - October	November 15	Submission	Linda

Board Submissions

Approved Governing Authority Meeting Agenda

Approved Governing Authority Meeting Minutes

#105 Policy Governing Academic Prevention and

2 Weeks After Meeting

2 Weeks After Approval

November 30

Submission

Submission

Submission

Regional Rep

Regional Rep

Kristi

Intervention Services - This submission requires annual review

#111 Policy on Career Advising - This submission requires a review and update every 2 years (Grades 6+)

#902 Grade Promotion and Retention Policy

#903 Policy on Parental Involvement in Schools that

Includes Foster Caregiver

November 30

November 30

November 30

Submission	Kristi

Submission	Kristi

Submission	Julie

School Submissions

Special Education Policies and Procedures (FY24)

#S-609 Annual Report

#513 Un-auditable Community School

November 30

November 30

November 30

Submission

Certification

Submission

Special Education Specialist

Julie

Julie

8	NOVEMBER 2023

Special Education Headlines
Written by Jessica Bair and Heather Tester

OHIO’S ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE DISABILITIES (AASCD) SPRING ADMINISTRATION RESOURCES

The following AASCD Administration resources are expected to be available in the Resources section of the AASCD Test Portal on November 2, 2023:

AASCD Test Administration Manual (AASCD TAM)

AASCD Supplemental Instructions for Paper Testing Manual (AASCD SIFPT) Updated TA-Alt Certification Course:
Edits have been made to the course to reflect the new TA Interface layout. There are no changes to the course regarding policy or procedure.
New Embossed Tactile Graphics Training Video:

This short video provides information on the policies and procedures around administering embossed tactile graphics for students that are blind or have visual impairments.

AASCD On-Time Order Window

The AASCD on-time order window is open in TIDE November 21-December 6. District test coordinators place orders under the “Paper Orders AASCD Spring 2024” administration task in TIDE. All orders are subject to Department approval.

Notable Item

The Ohio Department of Education released an updated copy of the testing accessibility manual. It can be found here.

9	NOVEMBER 2023

Special Education Headlines
Written by Jessica Bair and Heather Tester

Operating Standard Revision Highlights

Evaluation-O.A.C. 3301-51-06

(*note the district now has a timeline of 30 days which was not specific in the past)

Evaluations for children who transfer educational agencies in the same state:

(a) An educational agency has thirty days from the date the prior educational agency’s evaluation was received to either:

(i) Accept the evaluation from the prior educational agency; or (ii) Obtain consent for a reevaluation.

(b) Reevaluation under this section must be conducted within sixty days of parent consent.

Special Education Ratings Released

Every year, districts and community schools in Ohio receive a federally required rating on the performance of their special education program, known as the Special Education Rating.* The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (the Department) calculates this rating using final Education Management Information System (EMIS) data, which results in one of four possible ratings — Meets Requirements, Needs Assistance, Needs Intervention or Needs Substantial Intervention. Ohio receives an annual rating from the U.S. Department of Education based on the same four categories.

The 2023 Special Education Rating is primarily based on final special education program data for the 2021-2022 school year. The Special Education Profile received in January 2023 includes the data used to calculate the rating. The overall rating calculation will include only compliance indicators, just like last year. The department will also provide a projected rating which includes all the same indicators plus results, specifically indicators 1 and 2. These results indicators will be included in the overall rating beginning in 2024. For more information visit the department's website HERE.

10

Professional

NOVEMBER 2023

Development

Headlines

Our fall 2023 Professional Learning Newsletter is now published. Please take a few moments to read about the upcoming professional learning available as well as consultation services that are always available and ongoing.

Please visit our Professional Learning Website to discover additional face-to-face and virtual learning.

11	NOVEMBER 2023

ESCLEW Staff

Superintendent Sandra C. Frisch

ESCLEW Governing Board

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION

DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CENTER

Kurt Aey (419) 246-3142

Jared Lefevre

Jeff Bunck

Joan Kuchcinski

TEAM LEADER, ACADEMIC SERVICES

Kristi Hayward (419) 214-3893

TEAM LEADER, OPERATIONS

Julie Kadri (419) 724-4288

Barbara Laird James Telb

Treasurer Richard A. Cox

Director

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACADEMIC SPECIALIST

Aimee Mendelsohn (419) 280-1661

SPECIAL EDUCATION SPECIALISTS

Jessica Bair (419) 367-3562 and Heather Tester (419) 260-4793

Kurt A. Aey

Administrative Offices

2275 Collingwood Blvd.

Toledo, OH 43620

FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

Linda Moye (419) 724-4291

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Natalie Miller (419) 246-3137

(419) 245-4150

Community Schools Center

4955 Seaman Rd. Oregon, OH 43616
(419) 246-3137

IN NEED OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE?

Contact your school's regional technical assistance educator (RTAE) for direct support related to on-site visits, governing authority updates, compliance, academics, and more.

Brittany Beck	DeAnna Hardwick	Augie Herman

(419) 461-5375	(330) 591-0217	(937) 243-4900

www.esclakeeriewest.org                Allison Lentz

(419) 260-7708

Joyce Lewis

(419) 290-4759

Jennifer Little

(419) 764-9545