State gives district high marks

ST. HENRY - The school district is doing well in student performance, according to a state survey.

St. Henry schools superintendent Rod Moorman showed board members Wednesday a state ranking of the districts' state performance index (PI) scores - one component of the state report card. The high school ranked 49th out of 737 schools; the middle school placed 14th of 643; and the elementary school was 26th out of 1,746.

"With all the things going on in our district, look at what we're doing here academically," Moorman told board members. "This is awesome."

A PI score provides an overall indication of student achievement on annual state standardized tests. Schools and districts earn points for all tested subjects in grades 3 through 8 and 10. PI scores range from 0 to 120, with 100 as a statewide goal for all students.

St. Henry elementary, middle and high school scored 110.7, 109.52 and 108.15, respectively.

Moorman said the school's scores were compatible with those in "well-to-do" counties or wealthy school districts across Ohio.

Other area schools achieving high PI marks were Minster, Versailles and Marion Local.

The state next year intends to couple the PI rankings with data representing the amount of funds each school spends annually per pupil, Moorman said, adding he was in favor of the change.

Soon after the start of Wednesday's meeting, board members held an executive session to discuss personnel. No action was taken. Present for the session were the superintendent, all principals and Terry Bills, the head of maintenance at the school.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the appointment of current board member Ruth Nerderman to fill a vacant seat for the term January 2012 through December 2013. If she wishes to remain on the board in 2014, Nerderman will have to file her intention for re-election to complete the four-year term.

Nerderman was disqualified as a candidate from the November ballot after she forgot to write how many signatures she witnessed on the back of one of her petitions.

The other open seat on the board will be filled in January by Paul Moorman, who ran as a write-in candidate in November. Moorman attended Wednesday's meeting.

Moorman will fill the open seat of Rick Werling, who opted not to seek a new term. Werling was appointed by the board earlier this year after Ron Gelhaus resigned to become village administrator.

• Approved a resolution in opposition to Ohio House Bill 136, which takes funding from public school districts to use as subsidies for students wishing to attend nonpublic schools.

Officials plan to send the resolution to state legislators.

• Presented a special school pin to Haley Hogenkamp, who finished first in the competition "So You Think You Can Sing" at Shawnee High School. Hogenkamp showcased her talent by playing guitar and singing "Viva la Vida."

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the St. Henry Education Association to extend by several days the insurance open enrollment period.

• Approved a $16,000 reduction in recently-released 2012 appropriations due to an error in calculations.

• Congratulated the high school volleyball team for winning the state title on Saturday - the seventh volleyball state title earned by the district.

• Approved the annual trip to Chicago for the fifth-grade gifted class on May 10 and 11. St. Henry students will travel with Minster students.

• Approved a contract with the Mercer County-Celina City Health Department for nursing services for calendar year 2012.