LIMA — Not all success can be measured in school report cards.
Lima schools Superintendent Jill Ackerman believes that philosophy, and she gave another measurement after scores seemed yet again among the lowest in the state when the Ohio Department of Education report cards were released in September. A recent report conducted by the Cleveland Plain Dealer showed that Lima is among the top five schools in the state as far as measures of improvement from year to year. Ackerman discussed the rating with school board members during Thursday’s regular meeting.
“You can see that every year, we are making big gains in closing that gap,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman said she expects the gains will keep coming due to a dedicated staff that takes on extensive challenges faced by the school district when compared to other districts. She discussed just one example in detail that she feels in yielding results. Special education supervisors began a state program where staff meet weekly and discuss goals for each school building. The first meetings were held in June and the program culminates in November. Changes can be made as needed.
“It has been a lot of work,” Ackerman said, “but the staff feel the training will be valuable.”
Ackerman also announced the plans to highlight the new Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Chair of Honor to Spartan Stadium during the last home game Oct. 28. The Lima Senior alumni band will perform and veterans get in free to the game.
