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Board Meeting Preview: December 1, 2020
Columbus City Schools
Board of Education Meeting Preview
Meeting Time: Tuesday, December 1, at 5:30 pm
The Columbus Board of Education (BOE) will hold its regular business meeting virtually on Tuesday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be streamed on Facebook Live and on the Columbus City Schools’ YouTube Channel, which allows the public to attend virtually. For more information on meeting dates and times, click here to view the meeting agenda. To view past Board meetings, click the Columbus City Schools Board of Education YouTube Channel.
New “World Language Middle School”
Board Members will be asked to approve a resolution to rename the former Dominion Middle School, 330 East Dominion Boulevard, as the new “World Language Middle School.” Scheduled to open the 2021-22 school year, this new middle school will be home to the District’s new dual-language, immersion, and English Learner middle school.
Waiving Certain Graduation Requirements
Following section 3313.603 of the Ohio Revised Code, Columbus Board of Education Policy 5460 requires that each student complete one credit of internship and one credit of technology to graduate. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulty of students meeting this requirement, Board Members will be asked to waive this requirement for students graduating in the Class of 2021.
Creating Two Literacy Sites
After receiving a Comprehensive Literacy Grant through the Department of Education, plans are moving forward to create literacy sites at two Columbus City Schools’ buildings that will serve as models for the region. Board members will be asked to approve just over $73,000 in grant money to purchase classroom materials and phonics programs for Windsor STEM Academy, 1219 E. 12th Avenue, and Easthaven Elementary School, 2360 Garnet Place. These literacy materials will provide resources to support students, teachers, and families.
Face Masks
Using money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Fund, Columbus City Schools will ask Board Members to approve the purchase of 1.5 million disposable face masks for $44,000. These masks will ensure the District is providing a safe environment for students and staff.
New School Buses
Board Members will be asked to approve $2.7 million to purchase twenty-six (26) new school buses. These buses include several safety features.
- Built-in child safety seats in the first two rows of each bus
- Advanced collision mitigation system provides lane departure warning and active braking when onboard radar detects an imminent crash.
- An onboard video system with internal and external cameras to aid in the backing, record bus warning light violations, and monitor driver and student behavior.
Community Donations
The Division of Unified Arts will ask Board members to officially accept 686 musical instruments, instrument cases, music stands, and accessories valued at just over $111,000. The donation came from The Gift of Music Instrument Drive, an initiative by the Columbus Music Commission that conducted its annual music drive for CCS last August. This year’s music drive was record-setting in terms of the large number of musical instruments donated to CCS students.
The second donation is from Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. The church wants to donate ten (10) trees and supplies valued at approximately $2,000 for the newly relocated Dominion Middle School, 100 E. Arcadia Avenue. The trees will restore a canopy at the site and provide shade for teachers and students.
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 2: Board of Education Special Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (purpose of the Special Meeting is to discuss current school culture, climate, and safety topics, including identifying future needs and alignment to the district’s strategic plan)
December 9: Public Engagement Committee, 3:30 p.m.; Finance and Appropriations Committee, 4:00 p.m.
December 10: Neighborhood School Development Partnership (NSDP) Committee, 8:00 a.m.; Policy Review Committee, 8:30 a.m.