New Bremen High School among best in Ohio, U.S.

NEW BREMEN - New Bremen High School is ranked in the top 10 percent of schools in the state and nation.

"It's a credit to the job we do here," principal Brian Pohl said as he informed board members at their meeting on Wednesday.

US News & World Report's annual high school evaluation showed New Bremen ranked at 1,741 out of more than 22,000 schools in the country. Three percent of schools received a gold rating while 7-10 percent, including New Bremen, received the silver rating. The rankings are based upon proficiency in English, mathematics, advanced placement and college readiness.

In other news, superintendent Andrea Townsend, on behalf of the board and administration, thanked residents for supporting the recent levy issue for the construction of a new K-8 building. Board member Scott Bertke echoed her thoughts and added thanks to "community members who were on the levy committee and presented the message to the public." Revenue from the levy will help construct a new K-8 building east of the current high school at an estimated cost of $20 million.

Board members also accepted a $74,394 donation from local resident Diane Komminsk to purchase equipment and software. Technology coordinator Brian Puthoff said these funds will allow the district to update the network storage system and the virtual software network, which he said is a major summer project.

Elementary school principal Diane Kramer reported summer school will be offered to students in grades K-3 who need reading intervention.

"The goal is to keep them from falling behind, keep them reading over the summer," she said, adding sessions are planned for both June and July and are free of charge to students.

Members also approved the renewal of 17 certified and seven classified employees for the 2017-18 school year. Also approved was a long list of supplemental contracts for both athletic and academic positions for next school year being filled by both staff and community members.

Also on Wednesday, board members,

• approved seeking bids to replace an 18-year-old school bus through the Ohio Education Purchasing council.

• learned Alexa Paulus had been honored as the NBHS nominee for the Franklin B. Walter award. Her sister, Katelyn, has received a Joyce Ivy Scholarship to attend Harvard for two weeks this summer.

• approved the list of 43 seniors set to graduate May 28. The New Bremen Education Foundation will award 70 scholarships, and 35 other local or regional awards also will be given.

• recognized a list of 18 employees who have reached milestone service awards, including elementary school teacher Darlene Gilberg, who is completing her 30th year.

• learned eight junior high students have qualified for the first OHSAA Middle School State track meet to be held Saturday in Lancaster. To be eligible, the athlete needed to record a time or distance that put him or her in the top 16 in the state, regardless of school size.

• met in executive session to discuss employment with no action being taken after the session.