OHS Principal Joseph Boyle announces retirement

By Lance Winkler

Oakwood High School Principal Joseph Boyle has announced his retirement and will be making the 2008-09 school year the last chapter of a 35-year career. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Boyle came to Oakwood in August of 1998. His 11-year tenure has been marked by great strides in student-principal-teacher rapport and overseeing improvements and additions to the infrastructure at OHS. He was also instrumental in adding seven Advanced Placement courses to the curriculum and increased AP enrollment by 400 percent.

Boyle graduated from Ohio State University in 1968 with a dual degree: a BA in Economics and a BSC in Education.He then followed that up with an M.Ed. degree in Secondary Administration from Xavier University.

He then spent three years in the U.S. Army, with postings in Germany and Thailand, followed by an administrative job with the Ohio Department of Health.

He always wanted a career in education and when a teaching position opened up at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, he took it and spent two years there, teaching American History, American Government, Sociology, Psychology and Economics as well as being vice principal for three years. He then moved over to Bishop Hartley High School, and was principal, serving there for a total of 11 years. Next came a position at Grandview Heights High School where he was principal for eight years as well as serving as interim superintendent for four months.

In August of 1998, he was hired by the Oakwood Schools as principal of Oakwood High School, a position he has enjoyed throughout his tenure here. When asked what plans he has for the future, he replied, “We hope to move back to Columbus this summer, that is, if we can get our house sold. I plan to do some substitute teaching and spend a lot more time with our four children and two grandchildren,” he said.

“I really have loved my years at Oakwood,” Boyle said. “It is a really incredible place for a child to get an education. I am honored to have served here and been a part of it.”

Hunt for new principal ongoing until Feb. 2, 2009

The Oakwood School District has established a timeline for the Oakwood High School (OHS) Principal Search. The position was posted on Jan. 6, 2009, and applications will be accepted through Feb. 2, 2009. Candidates will be screened through a multi-phase process beginning in February and concluding by mid-April.  At the May Board of Education meeting, members anticipate approval of the new OHS principal’s contract effective Aug. 1, 2009.

There will be several opportunities for faculty, parents, students, and community members to provide input about their expectations for the next Oakwood High School Principal:

• On Jan. 13 and 14, Dr. Scalzo will meet with faculty from 12-12:40 p.m. in the OHS Library.

• Interested community members are invited to attend one of two meetings scheduled for Jan. 22 – either 2-3 p.m. at the Board of Education Office or 7-8 p.m. at the Oakwood High School Library.

• Interested OJH and OHS students are invited to meet with Dr. Scalzo on Jan. 30 from 12-12:40 p.m. in the OHS auditorium.

Faculty, students, parents, and community members can also volunteer to serve on an interview team. Members will work with district administrators to formulate interview questions prior to meeting with candidates on dates to be determined in March and, if necessary, in April (after Spring Break). Participants will be expected to attend 3-4 evening meetings over a 4-week period in March and April. Dates of these meetings should be finalized by the end of February.

To volunteer to serve on an interview team or to provide written input about expectations for the next OHS Principal, please email Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo at scalzo.maryjo@oakwood.k12.oh.us by Feb. 2.

School Board___________________________

Vanderburgh, Reger elected ‘09 BOE officers

By Dawn Beigel

Oakwood Board of Education opened 2009 organizational meeting last night with the reappointment of Dr. Paul Vanderburgh and appointment of Elizabeth Reger as president and vice-president, respectively.

“Your board is committed to ensuring that we begin the next centennial with the same dedication to excellence Oakwood has always enjoyed,” said Vanderburgh in his president’s comments. “Be assured that we will be proactive in contingency planning so that we continue to do what’s best for students. 2009 will also be the year of our district’s strategic plan, a plan that will not only articulate where we want to be in the future but will serve as our rudder for key decisions that must be made along the way…Let’s have a productive and joyous 2009!”

Among board member assignments were:

Kevin Philo - public records training designee, OSHA safety director, prevailing wage coordinator and toxic hazard preparedness officer

Debra Hershey - Ohio School Boards Assoc. student achievement liaison/ communication officer and OSBA annual conference delegate

Elizabeth Reger - OSBA annual conference alternate delegate

Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo - anti-harassment complaint coordinater

During their regular meeting that followed, the board was recognized for exemplary leadership and service to the community on behalf of January’s School Board Appreciation Month.

“We’re very, very grateful for all you do everyday for us and our students,” said Dr. Scalzo. “You have to be held accountable, and that’s no easy task.”

In other commendations was a congratulations to all the students who participated in “Implementing the Dream,” Kettering and Oakwood’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School & Community Group Contest. Those to receive awards at the breakfast on MLK Day Jan. 19 will be Sophia Cantrel (Oakwood JHS), first place in performing arts; Lily Eifert (Smith Elementary), first place K-2 for written expression; Ellie Randall (Harman Elementary), second place grades 6-8 for written expression; and Ally Moran (Smith Elementary), second place K-2 for visual art. A thanks also went to committee member Shawn Fry for organizing the contest.

Highlighting the curricular showcase at the meeting was a first-time dual enrollment course program between the high school and the University of Dayton. The arrangement focuses on UD’s Global Politics course being taught to 16 participating OHS students at their school during first semester, which wraps up this week. The students are receiving both high school and college credit for the course.

Conducting the class is OHS social studies teacher Mitch Miller, who has experience teaching college undergraduates.

“It’s been real fun. It’s my hope that UD wants to do (this) again—I’d love to continue teaching this,” said Miller, who is the adjunct professor in conjunction with Dr. Jaro Bilocerkowycz, UD’s co-op professor. “My working relationship with him has been really great.”

Miller reviewed the course topics the students have been covering—such as geopolitics, democratization and international law—and how these tie in with recent global events.

OHS seniors Carol Harper and Barak Austin shared their experience with the co-op program at the board meeting.

“I’ve really enjoyed the class. It got me to really think about global issues beyond just reading about them in newspaper articles. It also got me to thinking about doing research writing (as a career field),” said Harper.

Austin agreed about the course benefits. “It’s been a really good experience for me. It allowed me to really understand the topics, unlike before,” he said.

Both said the writing assignments were at a completely different level than what they’re used to from a regular high school class. They also said they referred to international articles online rather than blogs when it came to getting information for class assignments.

Miller said he would like to examine ways of getting more students enrolled in the program in the future. “We’ll try to do a little more recruiting of our students, maybe get parents involved with that,” he said.

Among legislation at the meeting, the board approved the following:

*The resignation/retirement of Cathy Finn, OJHS English teacher, effective this Aug. 20. She has been with the district since 1991.

*The resignation of Kevin Melling, assistant softball coach, effective immediately.

*Notifying the public of a hearing on March 9, 7 p.m. at the central office to consider the potential rehiring of recently retired administrator Kathy Bartalo as a substitute for curriculum director Kim Kappler who will go on maternity leave near the end of the school year.

*Joining the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund for 2009.

*Accepting the donations of $500 to the Dr. Uphoff Collaboration Fund from former board member Dr. James Uphoff; and of a 1945 oil painting by former OHS art teacher Lou Weber from Tom Stephens.

The board will hold its next regular meeting Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. at the Board office.