Bay Village City School administrators say the district is entering the third year of its strategic plan with strong academic results, stable finances and continued community support.

Superintendent Scot Prebles said the district’s focus this year includes curriculum updates, facility planning and reinforcing connections with the community.

The work comes as the district continues preparations for its major facilities projects set to begin in 2026, following voter approval of a permanent improvement levy.

“We are going to be very focused on the continuation of our connection with our community, making sure that we have the voice of our community in all of the decisions that we make,” Prebles said.

A new addition to the district’s academics is Wit & Wisdom, a new English language arts curriculum for elementary students.

Administrators also are reviewing elective programming and preparing for potential changes to state mathematics requirements.

Robert Hoon, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Bay Village Schools, said that over the past three years, the district has reviewed three of its four core academic areas, along with electives, gifted education, STEM opportunities and the world language program.

Hoon said the review has been driven by collaboration with staff and a focus on engaging instruction.

“We generally believe in a kind of a less-is-more model,” he said. “We look for the most robust curriculum possible, and then provide the professional learning for our staff to be able to utilize those tools to the greatest degree possible.”

The approach, district leaders said, is reflected in student performance data.

Bay High School students earned the highest proficiency rate in the school’s history on Advanced Placement exams, with 84% scoring a three or higher, the district said.

All AP U.S. History students passed, an achievement for a course often taken in 10th grade, according to the district.

Based on AP test performance, Bay High students qualified for an estimated $685,000 in potential college tuition savings, the district said.

“Nearly $700,000 won’t have to be paid out by our parents in the upcoming year as their students matriculate into the collegiate level,” Prebles said.

Bay Village Schools treasurer Meghan Rohde said the district is in a stronger financial position, having saved more than $1 million in operational expenses last fiscal year.

Savings came from early bond repayment, renegotiated curriculum contracts and other efficiencies, Rohde said.

“We’re continuously looking at all of our expenses, not settling for the status quo,” she said. “This year, we’re looking forward to saving over $1 million in our health insurance benefits because we negotiated a better plan with our employee associations.”

The recently passed permanent improvement levy will allow the district to fund building upgrades without raising taxes, while allocating general operating funds for other needs, officials said.

“It’s a really unique situation for any district in Ohio,” Rohde said.

The district also is seeing gains in students’ behavior and school climate, he said.

All of the Bay Village schools received state recognition for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, with Normandy Elementary earning gold status.

District-wide, student behavior referrals fell by nearly 38% last year, Hoon said.

“We want to make sure that students feel accepted, supported and most importantly, safe and welcome in their school environment,” he said.

Prebles said the combination of community support, teacher expertise and careful planning positions the district well for the year ahead.

“We have excellent teachers in the school district who are passionate and dedicated,” he said. “That’s a pretty good recipe for quality.”

By MIKE COOK, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brooks Lee’s first career grand slam capped a six-run third inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 8-1 Sunday to avoid a four-game series sweep.

Byron Buxton had a homer among his three hits and Royce Lewis also went deep for Minnesota, which won for the second time in seven games.

Making his seventh career start, and first since Sept. 2, 2023 with Pittsburgh, Thomas Hatch (2-0) allowed three hits and struck out four in five innings.

Lee’s slam off former Twins pitcher Chris Paddack to the seats in right field — Minnesota’s first slam since Carlos Correa on July 5, 2024 at Houston —made it 7-1 and highlighted a third inning that began with Buxton’s 25th home run, a 388-foot shot that reached the second deck in left field.

Kerry Carpenter had an RBI single for the AL Central-leading Tigers, who lost for the first time in six games.

Acquired from the Twins on July 28, Paddack (4-11) allowed eight earned runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings and lost to Minnesota for the second time in three starts. The right-hander allowed four earned runs in four innings of a 6-3 loss Aug. 5. He’s allowed at least eight runs three times this season.

With two outs in the Minnesota third, Lewis fell behind 0-2. He took two balls, had a foul ball land just out of the reach of first baseman Spencer Torkelson, then took two more balls for a walk. Lee’s grand slam came four pitches later.

Detroit had just three hits and struck out 12 times, including seven straight batters against relievers Michael Tonkin, Cole Sands and Génesis Cabrera.

Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (6-12, 4.76 ERA) faces Houston RHP Spencer Arrighetti (1-3, 6.38) in Detroit.

The Twins open a home series against the Athletics on Tuesday with RHP Joe Ryan (12-5, 2.72) scheduled to face LHP Jacob Lopez (6-6, 3.30).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Alexis LafreniereThe Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

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