Caitlin Fertal
CFertal@News-Herald.com
@NHCaitlin

The Painesville City Local School board met Monday to discuss next steps on two important issues.

The district will seek a renewal levy next year and has taken the first step toward placing it on the ballot.

The renewal levy will not come as a tax increase to district residents, but a renewal of a 6.06-mill levy, which has an effective millage of 4.4-mills, according to the district.

The treasurer will partner with the Lake County Auditor to determine how much revenue the levy will generate before bringing the motion before the school board again for final approval.

The district also heard from search groups Finding Leaders and the Ohio School Boards Association about the upcoming superintendent search.

It is not yet determined when the board will make a decision of which firm to use, if either, said Board President Gerald D. Kalb.

The district will also seek a new treasurer to replace Sherri Samac, who has served the district while at the same time serving the Lake County Educational Service Center.

Samac's contract expires in January, but she will remain with PCLS until a permanent replacement is found, she said.

The Lake Academy — an alternative school in Willoughby — is celebrating its 15th anniversary next week. More details from a news release:
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In the fall of 1997, the Governing Board of the Lake County Educational Service Center developed an innovative new program in an attempt to satisfy the growing need for alternative schooling within our county.  According to William Kermavner, Director, “Through extensive study and planning The Lake Academy was created as a dynamic alternative for individual students.”  It is the goal of The Lake Academy to provide specialized programs offering opportunities unavailable in the mainstream educational curriculum.

On December 10, 1997, fifteen years ago, The Lake Academy began to offer a personalized educational setting, life-skills training/experiences, and direct interaction with a variety of therapeutic and social services individualized to the particular needs of each student. “At the heart of The Lake Academy’s philosophy is a strong and continually evolving cooperative effort between schools and the local social service agencies,” stated Mr. Kermavner.  Successful transition from the traditional school setting to the world of work and community living is difficult for all students, but especially difficult –if not, at times, impossible – for the population of students who cannot complete a traditional education.

The Lake Academy currently has fifty students from nine districts within Lake County, and from Chardon, in Geauga County.   The Lake Academy’s mission is “to provide students with positive social and academic life skills.”  The mission is accomplished through: on-site work experience, goal setting, small classroom setting, career exploration, individualized instruction and project-based learning activities.

Located in Willoughby, The Lake Academy provides services for “at risk” students in the 2012-2013 school year.  Many seniors would not have been in school if they were not enrolled in The Lake Academy.  In the past fourteen years, 684 other students have returned to their home schools and are “on track” in pursuing their studies.

At 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 14^th former students will give testimony of their successes.  Edward Cary, Holly Frankos, Bill Snyder and Joseph Frato will speak to The Lake Academy students in the Student Center.  At 11:30 a.m. everyone will enjoy a luncheon together with community members and support staff from the school districts.

Five $5,000 scholarships will be given to students 14 and older who tweet about the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to assemble and the right to petition.

To enter for your chance to win, tweet about one of those freedoms using the hashtag #freetotweet by Dec. 15.

Learn more on the Free to Tweet contest rules page.

Hat tip to Community Media Lab blogger Lenore Collins (Keep It Out of the Landfill), who shared this information about a photo contest for area students ages 6 to 18.

From the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District's contest page:

Take a digital photo of anything related to the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle.  It could be a spontaneous recycling shot or a planned photo shoot.  You might take a photo of a pile of home recyclables, a person swapping a toy or game with a friend, or even a cute pet recycling the daily news.  Add a clever caption that will encourage others to reduce, reuse or recycle.

Find more information at Lenore's blog post Cuyahoga County student photo contest: show the world how you reduce, reuse, recycle, and on the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District's website and the page for the contest.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Munson Township is offering two scholarships for graduating seniors. To be eligible, the student must be a Munson resident; have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0; have a 22 ACT or 1000 SAT score; and plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or career or technical education institution in the fall of 2013. For details, call the township hall at 440-286-9255.