6/21/2012 - West Side Leader
     

Revere Local School District gets bond rating upgrade

BATH — Revere Local Schools officials announced Moody’s Investor Service has upgraded the district’s bond rating to Aa1 from Aa2.

This is the second time in 10 years that Revere’s bond rating was upgraded by Moody’s, and the Aa1 rating applies to $5.1 million in outstanding rated general obligation debt, according to district officials.

Revere’s healthy General Fund reserves, modest debt profile, 10-year levy cycle with a solid election history and stable tax base were cited as the strengths of the district warranting the upgrade, according to district officials.

“I am very pleased to report to the community that Moody’s Investor Services has for the second time in recent history increased our bond rating, which is an independent measure of our fiscal stability,” said Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Dave Forrest. “In their report, they cited both consistent voter support and effective management practices for the rating increase. Most importantly, this signals to our constituents that we are well-positioned to continue achieving high academic outcomes for our students and at the same time have been effective gate keepers of the resources they have generously provided.”

Project GRAD Akron seeking nominations for Buchtel alumni awards

FAIRLAWN — Project GRAD Akron will present its sixth Achieving Dreams Celebration Nov. 1 at St. George’s Fellowship Center, 3204 Ridgewood Road.

At the event, the organization will award Buchtel High School alumni with the following awards: Young Alumni, Distinguished Service to Humanity, Lifetime Achievement and Buchtel Alumni Memorial Award. The purpose of the awards is to recognize graduates of Buchtel whose achievements, strength of character and citizenship serve as a model to inspire and challenge today’s youth, according to Project GRAD officials.

The organization is now accepting nominations for the awards. Nomination forms are available by contacting Project GRAD Akron at 330-761-3113 or via email at info@pro jectgradakron.org. The nomination deadline is June 29.

According to Project GRAD officials, the following criteria is used for each award:

• The Young Alumni Award is designed to recognize graduates of Buchtel who have shown substantial indication of a commitment to the service of others, demonstrated the potential for leadership/distinction in the longterm and strived to establish themselves in their chosen field. A young alumnus is defined as someone who is younger then 40 years of age as of Oct. 1 of each year.

• The Distinguished Service to Humanity Award recognizes the graduate who is or has made a notable contribution to the betterment of humanity and is engaged in perpetuating or advancing knowledge. This person’s efforts should demonstrate positive influences in areas that promote volunteerism, community service, philanthropy, teaching, research, social service, ministry or world understanding.

• The Lifetime Achievement Award is intended for the more mature graduate and honors someone who has achieved notable accomplishments in his or her professional field, has been of service to others and, in doing so, has brought recognition and honor to Buchtel. This well-accomplished graduate should also be involved in community or charitable special interests. Candidates for this award should have graduated 30 or more years ago.

• The Buchtel Alumni Memorial Award recognizes a deceased graduate who made a notable contribution to the betterment of humanity or whose accomplishments in his or her professional field has been of service to others and, in doing so, has brought recognition and honor to Buchtel.

The event’s chairpersons are Iris Harvey, of Kent State University, and Bernett Williams, of Akron Children’s Hospital. The dinner program will feature a silent auction and the awards program.

Project GRAD’s mission is to increase the high school and graduation rates of the more than 2,000 students in the Buchtel Cluster of Akron Public Schools, according to Project GRAD officials.

Woodridge district to host financial focus group

CUYAHOGA FALLS — The Woodridge Local School District Finance Committee will host a public financial focus group June 28 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Natatorium, 2345 Fourth St. The purpose of the focus group is to give district residents the opportunity to provide feedback on financial information provided by the Woodridge district as well as on the dissemination of that information. All district residents are welcome.

For more information, email martycffd3958@yahoo.com.

— By Ariel Hakim

High school teachers taking engineering back to classrooms

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Eleven high school teachers from the Akron and Canton areas are teaming up with The University of Akron (UA) professors for the next three summers to conduct polymer engineering research — and they plan to take their discoveries back to their classrooms. The program also is designed to bring to students a clear idea of engineering career possibilities. Participating teachers this summer in the West Side Leader coverage area include Rebecca Butler, from Buchtel High School, and John Guidubaldi and Nadia Niknafs, from Firestone High School.

“The program is going to give teachers an opportunity to participate in real-world research in order to connect what they teach in their classrooms to what future careers students might have,” said program co-principal investigator Carin Helfer, assistant director of science education outreach for UA’s Akron Global Polymer Academy.

Teachers will work on independent research projects to translate their newfound engineering knowledge, experience and enthusiasm into lesson plans, according to UA officials.

“The big goal is to impact students so they get excited about science and engineering,” said Kevin Cavicchi, Ph.D., associate professor of polymer engineering.

The program is funded by a $390,921 National Science Foundation grant award, according to UA officials. This summer’s eight-week program began June 18, and teachers and faculty members are reviewing the basics of independent laboratory research, such as data management, notebook keeping, library resources and safety, as well as the basics of polymers, such as properties, processing, testing and characterizations. Participating teachers will get to work with UA faculty members, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and one another.

“At the end of the summer, a workshop will be held to disseminate the results of the program to a broader, K-12 teacher community,” Cavicchi added.

— By Ariel Hakim

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