LEWISBURG — Tri-County North’s School Board met on Monday, May 16, and discussed textbooks, handbooks, and the end of the school year.
Elementary School Principal Joe Finkbine spoke to the board regarding a report done by Montgomery County ESC. The report focused on the amount of non-on-task behaviors.
“The data analysis that they had given to us shows that from the beginning of the year to the end of the year we had an 81 percent reduction,” he noted.
According to Finkbine, with the reduction of non-on-task behaviors the students are allowed to have wacky prizes such as playing finger drums for one minute on their desk or they get to sit on the table for 30 seconds.
“The kids just think that’s a big deal,” he said.
The fifth graders have been working on a presentation where they create a representation of jobs within a shoebox. They visited the Preble County Fairgrounds to present their shoeboxes to professionals in that field.
“It’s kind of exciting for fifth grade to do some career exploration,” Middle School Principal Joe Hoelzle said.
The board approved new handbooks for every grade with minor changes. In the middle school handbook, the biggest change was to cut the word “pager” from the handbook and insert “smart watch.” Students will not be allowed to use their smart watches while in the classroom.
To honor this year’s seniors, the school held a spirit week for the seniors and played “Kick Out Seniors” kickball. The school also held a fourth quarter celebration to congratulate and reward all students for their hard work throughout the school year.
The high school plans to teach a new course which “will allow students to earn their student leadership, excellence, manufacturing skills, standard credentials,” according to High School Principal Kristen Mills. The new course will be taught by Phil Chatwood, currently a World History teacher.
The board also approved the purchase of new science books for grades 4 through 12.
It has been 11 years since the school had updated its science textbooks, according to officials. A committee of teachers volunteered their time after school and looked at 35 different school districts to see what they were using as textbooks. Then the textbooks were narrowed down to four. The teachers read all the books and used rubrics to decide which two to choose. They then tested them in the classrooms and found the textbooks which they felt were best.
There is one textbook bought for grades 4-8 and seven different category textbooks for high school. The high school textbooks are environmental science, physical science, physics, zoology, anatomy, chemistry, and biology.
Grade 4-8 textbooks cost around $66,000 and all of the high school’s textbooks cost around $29,000, according to officials. The high school’s textbooks cost less because they do not have to buy as many in each area — the school only requires three years of science, and many students leave to attend MVCTC, officials said. All textbooks are digital textbooks which will be included on the students’ Chromebooks provided by the school.
The price also includes online labs, workbooks, and the subscription which will update automatically.
TCN school staff is excited to introduce these to the students next school year.
