The Roughrider- December 2021

Welcome to the second edition of The Roughrider! This is a new, quarterly newsletter designed to provide regular updates to the going-ons of the Jefferson Local School District. We hope you enjoy it! Thank you for your continued support of the District, its staff, and most importantly its students.

From the desk of Superintendent Mullett

As we soon will be embarking on another winter with the looming threat of both Covid and flu season I would like to review some of the results of our academic efforts from last school year. The take away for me is that our plan and practices we employed were very effective in keeping our learning loss at a minimum. This was particularly true at the elementary where our everyday all day schedule helped us keep our students on track.

Value added is a measure of academic progress made by all students. Our value added scores were quite impressive at our elementary. We scored in the dark green level which indicates that the school’s students made more growth than expected in Language Arts and Mathematics, which were the subjects tested last year. These test results are outstanding, particularly given the challenges we faced with Covid. I am very proud of the efforts of our Norwood administrative team and staff. It certainly highlights the importance of students having the opportunity for in person instruction.

Our High School scores were also very good. We scored similarly in the dark green, meaning more growth than expected in Language Arts both years One and Two. Algebra One scored in light green which is evidence that the students growth was as expected. Our Middle School scores are still in need of improvement. We anticipate our new administrative structure will allow for the same successful efforts we are seeing in the high school.

The value added scores are one of the best indicators of how we make academic progress because they measure every student and the expected growth for a one year period. While some of our students come to us behind in the grade level expectations providing a year or more of growth at each grade level is the best way to ensure all students ultimately reach the expectations required by both the State and ourselves. We will continue to make this our goal and focus as we navigate yet another challenging second semester of the school year.

The Bottom Line By: Mark Ingles, Treasurer/CFO

Last month I presented to the Board of Education a five-year financial forecast for its approval. I am required by law to produce and submit to the Ohio Department of Education a five-year financial forecast by the end of November with an update by the end of May. While the forecast is a legal requirement, it is also a useful financial tool for the District. The forecast provides a road map of sorts that allows for effective budgeting in future fiscal years while identifying potential issues that should be addressed as early as possible.

The five-year forecast presented in November 2021 has several pieces

of positive news for the District. Revenues are expected to increase over the last fiscal year for several reasons. One reason is that the District will collect the full amount of property taxes following the reappraisal conducted by the County in 2020. Property tax collections did not see the expected increase in delinquencies due to the pandemic, which is a good sign for the local economy. Speaking of the local economy, income tax collection has remained strong despite the pandemic. The state approved a new funding measure that is forecasted to have a positive impact on District finances. The full details of how it will apply to Jefferson LSD will be released in January 2022.

Expenses are forecasted to increase due to approved salary adjustments after years of flat increases due to the District’s financial condition. The staff has made numerous sacrifices to help keep the District afloat, and with improved finances we were able to make necessary corrections. Inflation is also expected to increase the District’s supply costs to levels higher than the historical trend. We are keeping a close eye on inflation trends and will make necessary changes in the May 2022 forecast update. The District is utilizing federal COVID relief funds to help shield the General Fund from increased costs related to the pandemic. Those costs include additional cleaning supplies, technology, and support staff. Those increases are not reflected on the forecast as I am only to show the General Fund in my forecast.

The bottom line of the forecast is that if the District keeps to its forecasted fiscal year 2022 budget it will see an operational surplus, allowing the District to increase its ending fund balances and
help reduce the need for new money levies in the near future. The District will be on the ballot in November 2022 for a substitute levy, that will essentially renew a long standing emergency levy. In essence the substitute levy will function as a renewal for existing tax payers buy bring in more revenue on new construction in the District. It is imperative for that levy to be renewed for the long-term fiscal health of the District. The loss of those funds will result in the District eroding its fund balances to negative levels, which will break all budgetary laws. Renewing the levy is forecasted to keep the District in
the black throughout the forecast.

The full forecast can be found on the District website. Thank you for your continued support of Jefferson Local Schools. Go Roughriders!

SPORTS!

The West Jefferson HS/MS has had a very successful fall season for all of our athletic teams. Our middle school had several teams earn high honors this year highlighted by our 8th grade volleyball team placing 2nd in the Ohio Heritage Conference and our middle school soccer team only losing two games this year! Our varsity athletic teams also had successful seasons along with numerous students earning post-season honors. Below are high school student athletes who earned all-league honors for the 2021 fall season.

All Ohio Heritage Conference Selections Abby Arteaga- Honorable mention soccer	Adam Fry – 1st team football
Aiden Clerico- 1st team soccer	Aleithia Wilson- Honorable mention volleyball Autumn Lewis- 1st team soccer	Canyon Schneider- 1st team football
Ethan Miller- 2nd team football	Garrett Higgins- Honorable mention football Hayden Salyer- 2nd team football	Jarrett Simmons- 2nd team football
Jeff McClish- 2nd team golf	Juan Santiago- 2nd team soccer Kiera Piazza- Honorable mention volleyball	Laney Lambert- 2nd team volleyball
MJ Book- 1st team football	Owen Clerico- Honorable mention soccer Rylan Archey- Honorable mention golf	Zac Thompson- 2nd team golf

The winter athletic season for grades 7th-12th have begun and schedules as well as links to buy tickets may be located at online.

DIVISION 6 REGIONAL CHAMPS!

School Happenings

Welcome New Faces!

Maria Murray- MS Art (starting January 2022)

Shari Lewis- Permanent Substitute MS Language Arts

Meals Served Increased

More Roughriders are eating school lunch than ever before.           25,000 Compared to the fall 2019, i.e. pre-pandemic, the cafeteria has      20,000
served over 15,000 more meals in 2021 than the comparable	15,000 period. We are happy that our students are enjoying the new	10,000 offerings by Chartwells. The increased participation also helps        5,000 our bottom line by reducing the need to subsidize the Food                   0 Service Fund using General Fund dollars, keeping more
dollars in the classroom.

2019

2021

ROUGHRIDER OPTIMIZATION CENTER (ROC)

Several years ago local resident Richard Dickerson was helping coach our varsity baseball team. As is often the case, the spring weather caused us to travel and pay to go to the indoor facility called Bo Jackson Elite Sports in Hilliard. We made that trip around 21 times. From that experience the idea of an indoor practice facility came into being by Mr. Dickerson.

Mr. Dickerson had two children, Abby and Conner, who were successful graduates of West Jefferson High School. The great experience they had as both students and athletes became the impetus for Mr. Dickerson to give something back to our school community. Their success also resulted in much of the anticipated cost of college being unnecessary because of their high achievement. Mr. Dickerson and his family decided to use some of the money set aside for college to provide the start-up funds ($100,000) to begin our ROC project.

However, the work was only just beginning. Mr. Dickerson, with the support of the West Jefferson Athletic Boosters, took on the project with the explicit goal of completing the indoor facility with 100% donated funds. We are on track to successfully achieve that goal with an anticipated opening of the facility in late spring 2022.

So many individuals and businesses have contributed to the project, both with cash and in-kind contributions. Madison Health also pledged a $100,000 donation to match Mr. Dickerson’s contribution. “Without the donation of Madison Health, finishing the building would not have been
possible,” Mr. Dickerson said. Mr. Dickerson accepted the check on behalf of the West Jefferson Athletic Boosters during a presentation on September 13, 2021. Dan Engle, Madison Health CEO and Cindy Stout, Vice President of Marketing, said it makes sense to build a facility like the ROC. “We take pride in being able to help fund communities throughout the area,” Mr. Engle said.

The facility, known as the Roughrider Optimization Center, or ROC, is a 120’ x 160’ open span steel building located behind the varsity baseball field. It will provide a year round practice space for all athletic teams, the marching band and for large academic school projects. This will save the time and cost of going to facilities such as Bo Jackson Elite Sports and also free up space in our other indoor facilities.

The generosity of the community in helping us to get to this point of near completion has been overwhelming. There remains some work to be done as well as an estimated $50,000 in additional funding. Anyone wishing to make a contribution can contact the Athletic Boosters or Superintendent William Mullett at (614)-879-7654 ext. 1112.

We are extremely grateful to Mr. Dickerson and all the many volunteers that have made such a great investment in our school facilities. This project adds to the already outstanding facilities we are so proud of in our school community. Thanks for your support.

We would like to thank the following donors to the ROC project:

ROC DONATION LIST FROM ROUGHRIDER CLUB PROJECT – 2020

Richard & Joan Dickerson W.J. Athletic Boosters Mike & Kathy Quinn David & Liz Harper
John Brenneman
In Memory of Dave Holland David Jasinsky
Larry & Patty Blake Jim Kaho
Doug & Pam Seeley

Tim Keckley
Roger and Melissa Jester Rich Rucker
Greg Gallis Mendenhall Family Don Arnold
John Baldwin Mike Blackwell
David & Cheryl Metz Dick & Jody Taylor

Craig Brenneman Ross Brenneman Michael Bute Keith Collins Richard Ellinger Joe Garka
Matt & Susie Higgins Brad Hunter
Skeeter & Sheila Nelson Joy & Jason Phillips

ROC DONATION LIST FROM 2021 FALL PROGRAM

Madison Health Mike’s Trucking MRC
Elfrink Enterprises HD Supply
EMP Services LLC Straight UP Equipment Precision Pipeline Jason Bogenrife
Todd Campbell Mike Culbertson Todd Elfrink Dennis Gray Mike Hart
Mitch Howard Chad Miller Mason Motts Cole Music Connor Roberts Wes Byler

WJ Machine Shop Applied Mechanical Nancy’s Blankets BACOM
Eitel’s Towing Service Olen Corporation Hunter Enterprises PEPCO
Dave Bradshaw Lonnie Castle Connor Dickerson Brian Farley
Carl Hamman Phil Haskins Brian Hunter JD Miller Zach Motts Randy Otis
Federal Express Freight Bill Houk

UTI Corporation Hilliard Auto and Tire Suburban NaturalGas Buckeye Concrete AEP – Ohio
Purdum Paving Keaton Anderson Brian Benchoff Kenny Cahill Butch Connors Jason Doran Vern Flowers Dave Harper, Jr. Rich Haskins Terry Hutchinson Ashton Motts Trey Morris James Pearson
WJ Golden Gloves Baseball Steven and Donna Saltsman

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

In 2019, the West Jefferson Athletic Boosters Club embarked on a journey to build The Roughrider Optimization Center, or THE ROC. This indoor facility will be available year-round for use by teachers, students, coaches, and athletes.

We are approaching the end of the journey.

CONCEPT DRAWING	CURRENT PHOTO

THE WEST JEFFERSON ATHLETIC BOOSTERS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED TO MAKE THE THE ROC A REALITY

Madison Health Mike’s Trucking
MRC
Elfrink Enterprises HD Supply
EMP Services LLC Straight UP Equipment

Precision Pipeline WJ Machine Shop Applied Mechanical Nancy’s Blankets BACOM
Eitel’s Towing Service Olen Corporation

Hunter Enterprises PEPCO
UTI Corporation Hilliard Auto and Tire Suburban Natural Gas Buckeye Concrete AEP—Ohio

FedEx Freight	West Jefferson Golden Gloves

Keaton Anderson Bryan Benchoff Jason Bogenrife Dave Bradshaw Kenny Cahill Todd Campbell Lonnie Castle Butch Connors Mike Culbertson Connor Dickerson Jason Doran

Todd Elfrink Brian Farley Vern Flowers Dennis Gray Carl Hamman Dave Harper, Jr. Mike Hart
Phil Haskins Rich Haskins Mitch Howard Brian Hunter

Terry Hutchinson Chad Miller
JD Miller Ashton Motts Mason Motts Zach Motts Trey Morris Cole Music Randy Otis James Pearson Connor Roberts