Good game with all-out efforts by both teams. Congratulations Lady CARDS. Hats off to West Branch for displaying class all afternoon, on off the court.
It appears the comment referred to above about the softball players and their parents needing the medicine they received referred to them receiving frank and unbiased evaluations by the coaching staff of the players' abilities following try-outs. Sounds fair to me,...
Good athlete, nice young man; he represents Poland Seminary H/S well in all regards and is a competitor. Wish him the best at KSU; they got a good one,...
Despite all the negativism rampant on this site by what appears to be a minority disaffected but overly-vocal few, the VINDICATOR recently reported that Canfield is ranked 51st out of 611 “Traditional Public School Districts.” Canfield ranks first in Mahoning County (South Range is next 79/611 and Poland is next as 83/611) and second in Trumbull and Mahoning Counties (Maplewood Local ranks 39/611).
The average per pupil cost of this top group of 51 is $11,481. Canfield spends only $8,905 per pupil– a total of $2,576 less per pupil compared to the average spent by the top ranked 51 school districts and contradicts claims of financial mismangement. With the ranking of 51/611 districts, Canfield is in the top 8% of districts in the state.
“This is proof that the citizens of the Canfield Local School District receive an outstanding return on their educational investment. We are proud to provide a high quality education for all of our students. These data prove that we are doing what our district is supposed to do,” said Superintendent Zambrini.
Canfield's individual building rankings were impressive as well. Canfield High School ranked 58/736 high schools; Canfield Village Middle School ranked 75/643 middle schools; CH Campbell ranked 84/1,745 elementary schools; and Hilltop ranked 115/1,745 elementary schools.
Superintendent Dante Zambrini stated that, “Our teachers teach with rigor, our students study very hard, and (my addition: "most") parents are supportive of students being challenged in classes with rigor and homework. We believe that we are doing what any high performing district ought to do.”
I predict the Hydes will get their requested records (likely a big bundle of e-mail messages and other documents) in a few days. They are probably going to reveal that the coach in question has had her share of critics. The records are also likely to show that these critics allowed their dissatisfaction with the coach's coaching decisions to cause them to look for ways to get at the coach even though her style and disciplinary standards, although not "warm and huggy", were not unusual. The School System will probably be shown to have reviewed all allegations properly and given them the attention they warranted. Those who are most strident in complaining are likely those parents who felt their kids were better than others or who expected special treatment and couldn't accept that the school's coaching staff had a different professional opinion. The coach has been the subject of harassment, to include vandalism for several years
Glad to be able to provide some details in response to the number of coaches hired: The wrestling coaches coach the high school varsity and JV teams plus the middle school team. The hockey program is self-supporting; no school money pays for their coaches. The 3 cross country coaches coach the boys' and girls' varsity team plus the middle school boys' and girls' teams. Of the 2 boys' tennis coaches, one is a booster organization-supported position (no school money). Of the girls' tennis coaches, one is a booster organization-supported position (again, no school money involved) and the other is an unpaid volunteer slot. The school system actually cut the number of coaches a few years back (along with several other positions) but the booster groups were willing to help restore them by paying for them.
Canfield, just like all other public school systems, has to deal with high expectations, rising costs and the almost certainty of reduced state funding. That situation alone makes a superintendent's job difficult. Throw in on top of that, the current economy and people's "anti-taxes" mood and even a saint from heaven coming down to take over will be hard-pressed not to make enemies. Unfortunately, many (some whose comments are above) have specific, personal agendas/desire/wishes that are now unsupportable by the school system in general and end up making accusations that are exaggerated or not actually supported by the facts. Some are patently incorrect (one of which is the claim that "boatloads of cash (was shifted) to the athletic departments. (sic)". Just for the record, it was Poland that spent $2 million on a new stadium, Canfield's athletic improvements five years ago were privately funded in a campaign set up by concerned Canfield residents.
I can't speak for him but Dr. Zorn seemed to be saying that as many as 2/3rds of the Poland High School students don't regularly use the provided busing to get to/from school. Running the buses to the high school with so few riders isn't cost-effective and looks to be "low-hanging" fruit when it comes to finding ways to save money. It's a fact of life that nowdays many high school students drive to school or ride with someone who does. Others get dropped off and a very few walk.
Those posters blithely pushing for 5-10% staff pay cuts and increased health-care contributions are ignoring the fact that there are negotiated contracts in effect. It seems they mostly want the school staff to accept pay reductions because they have in the private sector. It's a kind of "if I'm miserable then everyone should be miserable too" mindset. They are ignoring the fact that school staff members are their friends, family members and neighbors who are entrusted with educating the community's children.
Just declaring that anyone who makes more than $50K should take a 12% pay cut is too simplistic an approach. There are contracts that have been negotiated and that are in place under the power of law. Besides, the people making those amounts are likely licensed, background check-cleared college graduates with Master's degrees with significant years of experience and expertise. Recklessly cutting wages would lead to decimating the staff at Canfield and that's one of their strengths of the school system. Saying that the Canfield School Board overspent/mis-planned their budget by 30% doesn't take into account that their income was less than forecast due to investment returns being much lower than previous years due to the downturn in the economy. Plus, by their own admission, in the past few years they were using up what financial reserves they had, rather than go to the well unnecessarily. And, of course, the cost of things (fuel especially) has continued to go up. Parents are a notoriously hard-to- please group but the administrators and teachers with whom I've come into contact have always been fair and caring to all the students, even the troublesome ones. Rather than just present opinions and personal beliefs, I recommend folks go to www.canfieldlevy.info and see the School system's case for the levy. After careful consideration, then make your mind up and execise your right to vote "yea" or "nay" on the levy.
Canfield stuns West Branch at buzzer in Div. II final
Good game with all-out efforts by both teams. Congratulations Lady CARDS. Hats off to West Branch for displaying class all afternoon, on off the court.
March 4, 2012 at 2:26 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Canfield replaces girls softball coach
It appears the comment referred to above about the softball players and their parents needing the medicine they received referred to them receiving frank and unbiased evaluations by the coaching staff of the players' abilities following try-outs. Sounds fair to me,...
January 23, 2012 at 10:55 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Poland’s Reardon happy with switch to Kent St.
Good athlete, nice young man; he represents Poland Seminary H/S well in all regards and is a competitor. Wish him the best at KSU; they got a good one,...
January 15, 2012 at 3:34 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Canfield parent files lawsuit against school board
Despite all the negativism rampant on this site by what appears to be a minority disaffected but overly-vocal few, the VINDICATOR recently reported that Canfield is ranked 51st out of 611 “Traditional Public School Districts.” Canfield ranks first in Mahoning County (South Range is next 79/611 and Poland is next as 83/611) and second in Trumbull and Mahoning Counties (Maplewood Local ranks 39/611).
The average per pupil cost of this top group of 51 is $11,481. Canfield spends only $8,905 per pupil– a total of $2,576 less per pupil compared to the average spent by the top ranked 51 school districts and contradicts claims of financial mismangement. With the ranking of 51/611 districts, Canfield is in the top 8% of districts in the state.
“This is proof that the citizens of the Canfield Local School District receive an outstanding return on their educational investment. We are proud to provide a high quality education for all of our students. These data prove that we are doing what our district is supposed to do,” said Superintendent Zambrini.
Canfield's individual building rankings were impressive as well. Canfield High School ranked 58/736 high schools; Canfield Village Middle School ranked 75/643 middle schools; CH Campbell ranked 84/1,745 elementary schools; and Hilltop ranked 115/1,745 elementary schools.
Superintendent Dante Zambrini stated that, “Our teachers teach with rigor, our students study very hard, and (my addition: "most") parents are supportive of students being challenged in classes with rigor and homework. We believe that we are doing what any high performing district ought to do.”
November 18, 2011 at 5:46 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Canfield parent files lawsuit against school board
I predict the Hydes will get their requested records (likely a big bundle of e-mail messages and other documents) in a few days. They are probably going to reveal that the coach in question has had her share of critics. The records are also likely to show that these critics allowed their dissatisfaction with the coach's coaching decisions to cause them to look for ways to get at the coach even though her style and disciplinary standards, although not "warm and huggy", were not unusual. The School System will probably be shown to have reviewed all allegations properly and given them the attention they warranted. Those who are most strident in complaining are likely those parents who felt their kids were better than others or who expected special treatment and couldn't accept that the school's coaching staff had a different professional opinion. The coach has been the subject of harassment, to include vandalism for several years
November 6, 2011 at 2:58 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Canfield Superintendent Dante Zambrini retires
Glad to be able to provide some details in response to the number of coaches hired: The wrestling coaches coach the high school varsity and JV teams plus the middle school team. The hockey program is self-supporting; no school money pays for their coaches. The 3 cross country coaches coach the boys' and girls' varsity team plus the middle school boys' and girls' teams. Of the 2 boys' tennis coaches, one is a booster organization-supported position (no school money). Of the girls' tennis coaches, one is a booster organization-supported position (again, no school money involved) and the other is an unpaid volunteer slot. The school system actually cut the number of coaches a few years back (along with several other positions) but the booster groups were willing to help restore them by paying for them.
November 1, 2011 at 10:23 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Canfield Superintendent Dante Zambrini retires
Canfield, just like all other public school systems, has to deal with high expectations, rising costs and the almost certainty of reduced state funding. That situation alone makes a superintendent's job difficult. Throw in on top of that, the current economy and people's "anti-taxes" mood and even a saint from heaven coming down to take over will be hard-pressed not to make enemies. Unfortunately, many (some whose comments are above) have specific, personal agendas/desire/wishes that are now unsupportable by the school system in general and end up making accusations that are exaggerated or not actually supported by the facts. Some are patently incorrect (one of which is the claim that "boatloads of cash (was shifted) to the athletic departments. (sic)". Just for the record, it was Poland that spent $2 million on a new stadium, Canfield's athletic improvements five years ago were privately funded in a campaign set up by concerned Canfield residents.
October 29, 2011 at 10:58 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Poland weighs options with no busing
I can't speak for him but Dr. Zorn seemed to be saying that as many as 2/3rds of the Poland High School students don't regularly use the provided busing to get to/from school. Running the buses to the high school with so few riders isn't cost-effective and looks to be "low-hanging" fruit when it comes to finding ways to save money. It's a fact of life that nowdays many high school students drive to school or ride with someone who does. Others get dropped off and a very few walk.
July 11, 2011 at 2:03 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Poland votes to rescind school levies
Those posters blithely pushing for 5-10% staff pay cuts and increased health-care contributions are ignoring the fact that there are negotiated contracts in effect. It seems they mostly want the school staff to accept pay reductions because they have in the private sector. It's a kind of "if I'm miserable then everyone should be miserable too" mindset. They are ignoring the fact that school staff members are their friends, family members and neighbors who are entrusted with educating the community's children.
May 24, 2011 at 9:37 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Dems endorse Canfield levy
Just declaring that anyone who makes more than $50K should take a 12% pay cut is too simplistic an approach. There are contracts that have been negotiated and that are in place under the power of law. Besides, the people making those amounts are likely licensed, background check-cleared college graduates with Master's degrees with significant years of experience and expertise. Recklessly cutting wages would lead to decimating the staff at Canfield and that's one of their strengths of the school system.
Saying that the Canfield School Board overspent/mis-planned their budget by 30% doesn't take into account that their income was less than forecast due to investment returns being much lower than previous years due to the downturn in the economy. Plus, by their own admission, in the past few years they were using up what financial reserves they had, rather than go to the well unnecessarily. And, of course, the cost of things (fuel especially) has continued to go up.
Parents are a notoriously hard-to- please group but the administrators and teachers with whom I've come into contact have always been fair and caring to all the students, even the troublesome ones.
Rather than just present opinions and personal beliefs, I recommend folks go to www.canfieldlevy.info and see the School system's case for the levy. After careful consideration, then make your mind up and execise your right to vote "yea" or "nay" on the levy.
March 28, 2011 at 2:14 p.m. permalink suggest removal