Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools

B-C-S District Calendar

Click here for 2013-14 school year calendar.

B-C-S Board Discusses Safety and Honors Accomplishments

B-C-S Board of Education thanked and commended twelve retirees for their dedicated service to the school district at their May 28th Board meeting.

The Benton-Carroll-Salem Board of Education Regular Meeting held on May 28^th in the high school media center  opened with a discussion of the A.L.I.C.E. program.  ALICE is an acronym that stands for “Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.”  Presenting information to the Board of Education were Oak Harbor High School teacher Ron Dowling, Oak Harbor Middle School Assistant Principal Don Christie, Superintendent Guy Parmigian, and Oak Harbor Police Chief Steve Weirich.  All four presenters were trained in the ALICE program at no cost to the school district.  The ALICE training was sponsored by Materion Corporation, and hosted by Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick. The four presenters explained that the strategies and concepts of the ALICE program provide help to increase survivability and provide options and empowerment for students and staff if a school is faced with an active shooter.  Chief Weirich explained that the concepts and strategies of the ALICE program will “enhance” the current safety policies the district has in place.  The presenters explained that B-C-S District, in cooperation with St. Boniface School, will be holding town-hall meetings to educate the public about the ALICE program in the coming weeks and months.  There will also be training for students and staff at the start of next school year.

The May 28^th Board meeting then turned to items of service, accomplishment, and good cheer.  First, Benton-Carroll-Salem School District Board members commended 12 retirees for their years of service. There was a break in the meeting to hold a retirement reception for the retirees and their families who were present.  Cake and punch were served, and the entire crowd was able to enjoy the festive moment.  Each retiree was presented with a beautiful plant to remind each of them of the awesome impact on the growth of B-C-S children in their different roles with the district.  Board members thanked and congratulated each of the retirees for their service.

Next,  Mrs. Marie Wittman, principal, and Mrs. Lynette Biggert, advisor, presented commendations to the Oak Harbor Middle School Academic Challenge Team, which included: Andrew Tabbert, Ben Swartz, Rachel Rayburn, Abby Dornbusch, Ross Friar, Sarah Barney, Abby Schwarder, and Ryan Christie.  These students were Ottawa County Academic Challenge Champions!  Mrs. Wittman then presented commendations to the seventh grade FCCLA team who won at the state level, and will be moving onto national competition.  The team includes Anna Dedes and Kady Crum; they are advised by Mrs. Janel Gerwin.  Next, Oak Harbor High School Principal Mr. Keith Thorbahn presented commendations to high school concert band members for earning a II rating at the O.M.E.A. adjudicated contest, along with band director Mr. Travis Magoto.  Mr. Thorbahn then presented commendations to high school choir members for earning a I rating at the O.M.E.A. adjudicated contest, including choir director Mr. Russ Raber.

In other business, the Board accepted the resignation of several individuals and issued contracts to others.  Among the contracts issues were supplemental contracts to fall sports coaches.

The Board also approved Treasurer Tim Coffman’s five year forecast for fiscal years 2013 through 2017.  Treasurer Coffman explained that there are still several unknowns with regard to the forecast, including state funding of schools and the state’s biennial budget currently under consideration by the legislature. Mr. Coffman’s recommendation to authorize the school district to participate in the State of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program was also approved.  Additionally, the Board gratefully accepted the donation of $10,000 from the Labor Management Cooperation Committee, Inc. of Rossford, Ohio to be put toward the purchase of a new scoreboard at Rocket Stadium.  The total cost of the new scoreboard at Rocket Stadium will be paid with donations.

To conclude the meeting, the Board approved revised calendars for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school year.  The revisions were required due to the mistake of having too many days on the calendar.  To make it correct, two days were cut off of the end of the next two school years.  The revised calendars will be published in the July Sampler and will be available on the district’s website.  The first day of school for students in grades 1—12 for the coming school year will remain the same: Monday, August 26, 2013.

The next regular B-C-S Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2013 at 7:00 AM at the Board of Education Office.

B-C-S Schools are 'Excellent with Distinction'

It is with great pride that the B-C-S School District Community received official word recently that the district earned the highest possible rating on its local report card for the 2011-2012 school year!  The local report card was slated to be released in August 2012, but was held up due to a statewide audit of student data by the State Auditor.  The report card was just released in late February.

Factoring student performance on state assessments, graduation rate, and other measures, the Ohio Department of Education assigned the Benton-Carroll-Salem Local Schools with the rating of “Excellent with Distinction.”   The Benton-Carroll-Salem School District was the only district in Ottawa County to receive the “Excellent with Distinction” rating.  Only 138 out of Ohio’s 610 school districts earned the “Excellent with Distinction” rating.

B-C-S Board of Education President Heather Dewitz commented, “This achievement is a reflection of the hard work and collaboration of all the staff at B-C-S.  It is an accomplishment of which to be proud.”

Superintendent Guy Parmigian extended his congratulations to all staff and explained that the “Excellent with Distinction” rating is just one more reason to continue to innovate, and find ways to improve educational opportunities for all students.  Parmigian stressed the importance of all staff working together and with the community to be a beacon of educational excellence within our region while living within our budget.  “We have been working closely with our principals and others to implement some very new and engaging initiatives for next school year,” Parmigian stated.

The B-C-S School District has a vision of preparing its approximately 1700 students to be successful in the 21^st century global society.  The district now educates its students on three campuses: Oak Harbor High School (grades 8—12), Oak Harbor Middle School (grades 4—7), and R.C. Waters Elementary School (grades K—3).

For more information about the B-C-S School District, visit the district website at www.bcssd.com or call (419) 898-6210.

Click here for the district's report card.

Legal Notice for Bids

Click Here!

B-C-S Finance Committee Meets

B-C-S Board Approves Balanced Budget

The B-C-S Board of Education approved a 5-year financial forecast on Tuesday, October 23^rd that puts forth an end to the deficit spending that has plagued the district for the past 4 years. The task to reduce spending for the district was an arduous one and involved staff reductions, building closures, pay freezes and changes to benefit packages to combat reductions in state funding and declining enrollment.

Mr. Tim Coffman, B-C-S treasurer said, “While deficit spending has been alleviated in the short term, it goes without saying that uncertainty in state funding and property values remain one of the most difficult areas of school revenue for which to plan.”

Virtual Learning Calamity Day Plans

This year, B-C-S has been approved by the Ohio Department of Education to make up three calamity days using a “Virtual Learning” Plan. After the district has used 5 allowable calamity days, parents will be notified that the 6th calamity day will be a “Virtual Learning Day” by the district’s Instant Alert system. The same message would accompany the 7^th and 8^th calamity day announcement via the Instant Alert System.

We are B-C-S!

Best viewed using Google Chrome. Internet Explorer users click here to download the video.

District Vision / Mission