Reception in Oakwood for WSU French students

Sixteen WSU French students are headed abroad this fall.

On Tuesday, March 19, French professors Pascale Abadie, Kirsten Halling and Marie Hertzler held a reception for Wright State students preparing to leave for an extended stay in France this fall. The reception was held at Dr. Halling’s house in Oakwood, where French refreshments were provided and students were given the opportunity to share ideas for traveling abroad and ask questions of experienced travelers – in French, of course! Julie Kubicki, a graduate of the French program and a former ESSCA student (Business school in Angers, France) shared some of her travel adventures and assured the students that her study abroad experience was the best experience she had ever had.

Despite the strong euro, twelve current WSU students and four graduate students will be studying in France this fall. Six undergraduates have chosen to spend four months in Pau, in the Pyrenees Mountains; three will be in Paris this fall and three will be in Angers, in the Loire Valley. Three of the graduate students will be spending the entire year in Tours, also in the Loire Valley, on the Bowling Green French MA program, and one will be participating in a Fulbright teacher training program in Paris, sponsored by the School of Education at WSU. Bon voyage!

More children need CASA volunteers

By Jim Uphoff, Ed. D.

In 2007 there were 247 families and 436 children who benefited by the services of trained Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) who work with the county’s Juvenile Court system.  Just over 100 citizen volunteers have been trained (36 clock hours) and become an “Officer of the Court” assigned to work with one or two cases at a time.  Children who have been abused or neglected are given very special attention by the CASA helpers who are also known as Guardian ad Litem (GAL). MORE are needed now!

The CASA-GALs come from all walks of life.  Each must have at least a high school degree and continue to engage in professional development events. The next “class” for new volunteers will take place Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 pm and Saturdays from 9-noon from Oct. 13 through Nov. 5.  Each volunteer must be fully vetted by Children’s Services and a FBI background check prior to being trained so that the public can be sure that each one is not a danger to children.

This well-planned training has been partially funded through a contract with Ohio CASA, the state organization, and Ohio’s Department of Job and Family Services. I have personally benefited from such training and have been a CASA-GAL since March 2004.  I have worked with children placed in foster care and also with some placed with a family member.  Our goal is always the welfare of the child and reunification with family if at all possible.

Applications for this next “class” need to be completed very soon.  Call 225-5491 for more information and necessary materials.  The need is especially urgent
since the downturn of our economy is putting many more families in difficult situations.  This problem is growing in all socio-economic areas.

Two local university chapters of Phi Delta Kappa International  (WSU and UD) have received a small grant from their educational organization and are working with Montgomery County’s CASA program for all of 2008 and 2009.  These educational leaders of our area recognize that the goals of CASA and of educators are the same—helping children reach their maximum potential. About 25 percent of all CASA volunteers attending a recent regional in-service were retired educators!

I am urging my fellow Oakwood citizens to give strong consideration to becoming a CASA-GAL Officer of the Court by becoming trained and working with children and families of our county.  Feel free to call me if you want to hear more of my experiences.  (937) 775-3651.  Apply for the next class right away!

Oakwood school’s summer projects completed

By Kevin Philo
Oakwood Schools Treasurer

The Oakwood Schools recently completed major summer projects in preparation for the opening of school on Aug. 20th. These improvements were completed in a timely manner and under budget with some projects more typically contracted out completed by school employees resulting in cost savings for the Oakwood taxpayers.  Projects included new bleachers at the high school stadium, roof replacements at the high school and Smith Elementary, asphalt work at all of the buildings, renovation of a storage area into a classroom at Harman Elementary, installation of additional security cameras at the high school, and electrical upgrades at the junior high school.  Three new Chevrolet Suburbans were also purchased.

School board member and Facilities Committee Board Liaison Sam Davis (center) thanks Diane Scott, 2008-09 Oakwood Athletic Booster president (left) and Lisa Garner, 2007-08 Oakwood Athletic Booster president (right) for the donation of new baseball and softball bleachers.

The most recognizable upgrade was the replacement of the visitor football, softball, and baseball bleachers at the high school stadium, which was completed within budget.  The new football visitor bleachers can seat 1,000, are handicapped accessible, and cost $172,000 to complete.  These bleachers were replaced because of their age and for safety reasons. The cost of the new baseball and softball bleachers was $28,000, which was generously donated by the Oakwood Athletic Boosters. This project included an improvement to our baseball facility with the installation of a new (and higher!) centerfield fence.

The fact that stadium renovations were completed on time and within budget is a direct result of several district partnerships of which we are very appreciative. Members of our district Facilities Committee, comprised of community volunteers, took field trips to other school sites, reviewed design components, and helped monitor progress during construction.  Local architects Mark Wiseman and Tom Thickel of Levin and Porter assisted with the project. The Oakwood Athletic Boosters helped to complete the bleacher projects by funding 100 percent of the new baseball and softball bleachers.

Two school roofs were replaced this summer – one over the Smith gymnasium and the other over the middle wing of the high school.  

These roofs were completed on time and under budget at a cost of $172,700 for both.  All roofs on all buildings were inspected and evaluated in accordance with a new state law and deficiencies were corrected.  Permanent improvement levy funds were used for both the roofing and the bleacher projects.

Asphalt work was completed at Harman, Smith, and Lange elementaries, but instead of contracting with an outside company to do the work, the Oakwood Schools utilized summer workers (current and former students hired by the district) to complete the jobs at a substantial cost savings to the district.  These workers were trained and supervised by school staff and worked very hard in the hot summer sun to complete this work.  Building custodians re-striped the necessary lines.  Harman Elementary custodians also renovated a previous storage space into a very nice instructional space for students. Custodians, who are also the district’s trained maintenance staff, completed additional electrical upgrades at the Junior High at a cost less than outside contractors. In addition, every classroom and space throughout the district was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected during the summer, with carpets cleaned, desks scrubbed, etc. to make Oakwood classrooms the cleanest possible.

For additional safety and security reasons, twelve new video security cameras were installed at the high school in the hallways adjacent to the “Pit” (East gymnasium).  Local contractor Digital Video Security was used for that project. These cameras are used to monitor hallway activity twenty-four hours a day and have proven to be a useful component of our security plan.  

After a competitive bidding process, we purchased three 2008 Chevrolet Suburbans from White-Allen Chevrolet. The state required bidding process ensured the lowest possible price and our new vehicles were purchased at 21 percent below list price.  These vehicles, delivered in mid August, are now in use and replaced 1993 models that were at the end of their useful life (averaging 172,000 miles each).

In conclusion, the major summer building projects for the Oakwood Schools were completed in a timely manner and under budget resulting in cost savings for the taxpayers.  It is challenging to maintain buildings that range in age from 50 to 100 years. We are committed to meeting our community’s expectation that we have facilities that support the important work of our teachers, coaches, and students and to do so in the most cost effective manner.

Hola! Fiesta!

A bueno time was had by all at the closing party of Camp Fiesta, a summer Spanish language school taught by Molly Achbach. Two one-week classes were taught by Achbach this past summer, who also got OHS Spanish Honor Society members to join in the fun. Achbach teaches Spanish grades first through sixth at Edwin D. Smith Elementary School during the school year.

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