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The district has, however,
generated enthusiasm for several significant improvements in
certain categories on the report card and for other
significant achievements. This year the district received
high marks for adding value for students and it appears that
a 20-year decline in student population has ended.
In addition, there are
various bright spots and offerings such as Toledo Early
College High School, Toledo Technology Academy, the
single-gender academies – MLK for Boys and Stewart for
Girls, the commitment to early childhood education, for
example.
This year’s successful
campaign can also be attributed, at least in part, to the
enthusiasm generated by Superintendent Romules Durant, Ed.D
and his staff.
“A superintendent
shouldn’t just campaign during election season,” says
Durant. “They should campaign every day.” Which, of course,
he does … tirelessly. The hardest working man in education
is everywhere, all the time, in his TPS Proud campaign.
The levy victory is
expected to bring approximately $13.3 million into TPS
coffers to cover operational costs. The district estimates
that $4.4 million will go to restoring transportation to
2010 levels when TPS stopped busing high school students and
reduced elementary student busing.
As Durant explains, the
money will not only aid students and their families but will
also produce additional jobs. “We need 55 drivers between us
and TARTA so we are developing a program to find and educate
drivers thereby generating capacity,” says Durant.
About $5.5 million will go
towards technology and the recruitment and retention of
teachers and principals. “We are moving away from textbooks
and more into handheld technology,” says Durant. “That will
be more effective in the long run. We want online access for
everyone which will broaden our scope and enable us to
produce college and career-ready graduates.”
Durant notes that, of the
eight Ohio metropolitan areas, Toledo currently offers the
seventh lowest salary and benefit package to teachers and
principals. The levy dollars will help to address that
disparity and enable the district to become more competitive
in its recruitment efforts, he says.
It seems as if the Toledo
district is just completing its school building program and
all decked out with sparkling, brand-new facilities. As
Durant points out, however, that program began 14 years ago
and there are already facilities built before iPhones, and
other innovative technologies, were introduced to the world.
In addition to the need to
modernize certain facilities, there is also a need to make
as many as possible community friendly, says Durant, so that
neighborhood residents can maximize their use. Approximately
$3 million will go to such capital expenses.
TPS now enters an era in
which the administration, staff and teachers will focus on
improving Ohio report card results, increasing student
population, enhancing early childhood education and offering
a variety of educational products and choices. The
additional funds will be put to good use, says Durant. |
