July 7, 2017
Dear Parents, Students and Community Members,
What a difference the passage of another year can make. Your generosity and investment in our students and this school community through last November’s levy passage is already having tremendous stabilizing effects throughout most aspects, if not all, of our educational environment.
As you may recall, we lost approximately 16-18 teachers each summer in 2014 and 2015 due to the District’s financial instability. We cut that number in half last summer and I am ecstatic for our children’s sake to announce that only three teaching staff members have departed this summer to date. The Board hired quality candidates to fill our vacancies including the re-established Elementary Art and Music positions as well as an additional Special Education position. We also welcome new Junior/Senior High teachers in Art, Phys Ed and two Special Education positions. Our students are going to have such a great year that I can hardly wait to get it started. I know. I know. It’s a little early to start talking about the first day of school, but you need to know that I’ve been ready for the first day of school since the last day of school ended!
At the risk of being repetitive from my last letter posted on our District website, here a couple more highlights that occurring as a result of levy passage:
-elimination of pay-to-participate fees;
- negotiated with our teachers and on March 7th approved a new three-year contract;
-significant investments in updating/upgrading our instructional materials;
-investing in a part-time school resource officer (SRO) on site for the
2017-2018 school year;
-partnering with eSchool View to establish the availability to fill out forms online.
In other newsworthy areas, the Administration is busy upgrading our technology infrastructure including our phone system. Our school grounds will begin to look just a little different this summer as we put in place a gravel parking lot on what is now our football practice field. This should greatly reduce the struggle for anyone with mobility issues getting up the hill to watch track, baseball and softball events. It will also provide much better parking opportunities for football games and other events occurring on campus.
That’s the news for now. I hope you have a great remainder of your summer!
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb
Superintendent of Schools
24 May 2017
Greetings!
It is somewhat difficult for me to wrap my mind around the fact that this is the last week of school for our students. It has been a whirlwind school year! There are so many positive things happening that I’m not sure I can even begin to do it justice in the form of this letter. Our students, staff and indeed this entire community are reinvigorated thanks to passage of our school levy last November. Our school board soon afterwards passed a resolution doing away with pay-to-participate fees as they said they would do. Promise made. Promise kept. The Board recently negotiated with our teachers and on March 7th approved a new three-year contract in which our staff received the first base salary increases in seven years. Another promise made to this community. Another promise kept. On May 11th, our school board hired Elementary art and music teachers for the start of the coming school year. Promise made….
In the hot off the press category, I spoke with Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer late last week. We are discussing the possibility of a part-time school resource officer (SRO) for the coming school year. The funds would come from county sales tax receipts with no cost to our school district. I remain confident that our school campus is a safe environment especially with the number of tools and procedures put in place since my arrival in 2012. Some examples include, but are not limited to: improved camera security, better lighting, implemented a phone notification system, wrote/updated school security plans, coordinate emergency procedures with local law enforcement officials and other appropriate agencies and practice evacuation drills with students and staff. Adding an SRO will certainly benefit our students and staff.
One final note of interest..I don’t know about you, but those stacks of forms parents fill out at the start of every school year seem to take more time as the years roll on. We are partnering with eSchool View to establish the availability to fill out forms online. Once they are in the system, you should only need to make changes as needed rather than start from scratch each year. Our goal is to have it in place on or before August 1st and definitely no later than August 14th.
That’s the bulk of the news for now. I hope you have a great summer and that our staff and students return safely to us in mid August.
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
23 January 2017
Greetings!
As second semester is well under way, the Board and Administration are looking towards next school year and beyond. East Knox and surrounding Knox and Morrow school districts have formed the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference which replaces our membership in the Blue Division of the MOAC while including Danville as part of our group. Part of our EK focus is to align ourselves within the conference to offer athletic programs that will maximize students' opportunity to participate and compete within the league in sports that a number of schools offer.
In an attempt to make that league alignment and offer students opportunities to participate, soccer will no longer be part of our athletic offerings as only one other school offers that activity. Our plan is to offer golf and/or bowling in its place depending upon interest levels.
Students in Grades 6-11 are asked to come to their respective school office this week and sign up if they are interested in either or both opportunities. The Administration is actively working to make this a reality if there is enough interest especially since those sports are in line with the KMAC league.
As always, thanks for your time!
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
November 9, 2016
On November 8th, 2016 a majority of voters in the East Knox Local School District voiced their continued support of our school system. They recognized that levy passage was critical to the successes of our students and the rich adult lives that await them. The concept of paying it forward is alive and well in the East Knox community.
The District's BOE and Administration have a strong tradition as a leader in fiscal restraint and accountability in all operations of our school district while striving for academic excellence. We are especially proud of our students' achievements in all aspects of their education. We are humbled by the many professional and personal sacrifices our staff members make in their care of our students to ensure their safety, achievement and social-emotional development as students prepare for college, careers and becoming productive members of the community.
November 8th, 2016 will be a date remembered at East Knox as the day voters demonstrated that a financially and academically strong school system matters. It will be celebrated as a day that Bulldog Pride was affirmed for the sake of our students and the future of our schools. Thank you for making a very wise investment in the children of East Knox Schools. You have positively impacted our students for generations to come in ways most of us will never realize or have the privilege to know.
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb
Superintendent
October 3, 2016
Greetings:
In light of recent events around the country and an ongoing effort to keep our students, staff and public safe and secure, there shall be no masks of any kind nor face paint that is not in keeping with school spirit at extracurricular events. ANYONE wearing a mask, inappropriate face paint or student in violation of dress code at an extracurricular event may be removed immediately from the premises home or away. As always, the Administration appreciates your support for our students and staff!
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb
Superintendent
27 September 2016
Greetings:
This year's Juniors and Sophomores are at critical risk of not graduating on time because of new high school graduation requirements. What future do our students have without a high school diploma? Call our legislators and tell them to stop harming our children's futures and fix House Bill 487 NOW! Legislators have no reason to change their ways if they do not hear from us. Governor John Kasich (614) 466-3555 joe.andrews@governor.ohio.gov (Press Secretary) josie.barga@governor.ohio.gov Keith Faber, President of the Ohio Senate (614) 466-7584 faber@ohiosenate.gov Andrew Brenner, House Chair of Education (614) 644-6711 andrew.brenner@ohiohouse.gov Cliff Rosenberger, Speaker of the House (614) 466-3506
rep91@ohiohouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb
Superintendent
20 July 2016
Dear Parents, Students and Community Members:
I hope your summer has been as exciting as we have experienced at East Knox! This has been a summer of the least teaching staff turnover at the Elementary that we’ve seen in the past five summers. We have several new positions at the Jr/Sr High School (which is still below the past five years as well) including three new High School language arts teachers and a new Spanish teacher. Our Jr/Sr High Administration has changed as well. Mr. Alan Keesee is hired as our new Jr/Sr High Principal. Mr. Aaron White is our new Assistant Principal/Athletic Director (I refer to him as the AP/AD not to be confused with the iPad!). You can read more about these two within our newsletter. Another critical employment hire this summer is Guidance Counselor Ms. Stephanie Whitesel as well as two new secretaries working in the Guidance Office area. All three Guidance individuals are already working in order to ensure we start the school year as smoothly as possible.
While I’m thinking momentarily about the iPads. As you may recall, Elementary students did not take iPads home last year which meant parents saved the $50 premium. It was successful to the point that Jr/Sr High students will not take the devices home this year either thereby saving those parents the $50 premium as well.
In case you did not hear the news, all schools in Knox and Morrow County Schools that were part of the MOAC gave notice of our intent to leave and form a new athletic league. The only true difference in make-up of the former blue division is the addition of Danville and departure of Elgin. For at least this year, the East Knox football team hosts Danville as our first game of the season on August 26th at 7:00 p.m. Hopefully, we’ll be able to return in the next year or two to the tradition of playing them as our last game of the season.
Speaking of traditions, our high school graduation has occurred on the Friday evening of Memorial Day weekend for at least the last several years. This results in a scheduling conflict with OHSAA regional track finals for our students. Other dates that same week are no better because of softball and baseball tournaments. The Board looked at other dates to ensure our students are not forced to choose whether to attend graduation or participate in the event(s) they have earned. The Board voted on July 14th to move the 2016-2017 high school graduation to Tuesday, May 30th at 7:30 p.m. We will most likely make that our new tradition for following years unless there is clearly a need to make a further adjustment.
I saved some of the best news for last…..the Board voted in June to place a 4.4 mil property tax on the November 8th ballot. Why is this good news? The good news is that East Knox finances have improved over the last several years to the point that the Board is able to ask for 2/3 of the amount that we requested in November, 2014. Those savings have reached a finite point which means our students and staff still need additional financial support. Our levy committee is actively preparing for a successful fall campaign. The core group continues to meet over the course of this summer. The next levy meeting is August 25th at 6:00 p.m. in the Elementary. Please join us as we start our campaign for something we can all believe in….the futures of our children and grandchildren!
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb
Superintendent
22 July 2016
Greetings!
The date of the high school graduation ceremony will be Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
The East Knox School District campus will be closed to all visitors and traffic beginning Thursday, July 28th at 6:00am until 6:00am on Monday, August 1st for driveway and parking lot sealing and striping. There should be no one on campus during that period of time except custodial staff.
Thanks,
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
June 2016
Greetings:
As part of our ongoing training regarding emergency procedures, East Knox Schools will practice an emergency evacuation of our campus next Friday morning, May 6th in conjunction with our fire drill practice at approximately 9:30. The Administrative Team has coordinated this event with Howard Township, Knox County Emergency Management Agency, Knox County Sheriff's Office and the EKJCFD (fire department), Howard Church of Christ and Journey Church. During the drill, portions of side streets and State Route 36 in Howard will be blocked for a short time.
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb
Supt.
April 25, 2016
Dear Parents and Community Members:
The Board of Education is considering which type of levy to place on the November 8, 2016 ballot. Your input is vital! Please copy the following survey link between now and May 10th to have your voice heard:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sKc6ERK_0Y_BBfHv6DmdYfi8ZtAXBgbNWKXXNZRUaCI/viewform As always, thanks for your time!
Steve Larcomb,
Supt.
March 15, 2016
Dear Parents, Students and Community Members:
Caesar was told in 44 BC to beware the Ides of March! Caesar ignored the advice and the rest, as they say, is history. The Ides, fortunately, bring better news for East Knox Schools as we continue to examine the recent much-delayed release of the 2014-2015 Local Report Card. An examination of the results comparing ourselves against school districts that touch our borders shows that East Knox students lead or are tied for the lead in 6 out of the 10 major indicator areas! Our students are in second place or tied for second in the remaining four areas. Do East Knox students and staff deserve your support at the November election time? It would appear (again) that they have earned it. Congratulations and well done! Have a great rest of your day!
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
January 5, 2016
Good morning!
Thanks to law enforcement officers and their K-9 dogs from the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Danville Police Dept and Ohio State Highway Patrol. They conducted a sweep of our campus and buildings this morning. No contraband was found or turned in.
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
December 2, 2015
To All Parents and Students,
I hope you have enjoyed our beautiful fall weather as much as I have. Farmers have been especially blessed for the opportunity to harvest so much of their crops well ahead of other years on average. I do not recall a time when we have not had at least a couple snowflakes at some point during October. We may have our first trace of snow this evening if weather reports bear out to be correct.
Despite our good luck to date and forecast in mind, it is indeed that time again to consider the possibility of school delays and closings due to inclement weather. As a parent, I know all too well the disruption that occurs at home with delays or cancellations because of bad weather. Therefore, I try to minimize those disruptions as safety permits. Cancel, delay or have school on time? It’s rarely an easy decision. The bottom line is whether or not it is safe for our buses to transport students.
Parents have the ultimate decision whether it is safe for their child to travel to school. This is an especially critical decision with teenage drivers. I urge you to consider all factors (age, experience, weather, etc) when determining whether your child drives to school on any morning or rides the bus.
I try to use the phone notification system on mornings when there’s fog, snow or ice. However, you may also check our school’s website, Facebook page, listen to the radio, or watch Columbus television stations. Another way to receive messages from the school is to text the word join to 56360.
I hope each and every one of you has a great holiday season. Take care, be safe and thanks for trusting us with your child’s education!
Sincerely,
Steve Larcomb, Supt.
