"Middletown grad rates lowest in Butler County", reads the headline from a story in a local newspaper.

Further along the story states:

"Even Hamilton, a similar sized “urban” district, has made significant gains while Middletown has remained mostly stagnant. Hamilton has seen its graduation rate rocket from 67 percent in 1998-99 to 92 percent in 2009-2010, according to state data."

Help seems to be on the way, though, in the form of additional funds.  But will the funds be used for remedial instruction or additional academics of any sort???  Sadly, no!!!  Instead the funds will be used for...are you ready for this, VietVet???...more administration:

"Middletown schools will receive $1.4 million over the next four years, and will use it primarily on a new data tracking system which will allow educators to review student data in multiple formats within seconds."

You can access the entire story here:  http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/middletown-grad-rates-lowest-in-butler-county-1182925.html

THIS IS SOME MORE AMMUNITION FOR THE ARGUMENTS MADE AGAINST THIS LOUSY SCHOOL SYSTEM WE HAVE IN THIS TOWN. GONNA ASK FOR ANOTHER LEVY? DON'T THINK SO FOLKS. NOT WITH THIS NEWS.

JOURNAL- 6/12/11

Stories such as Chapman’s have been all too familiar in the halls of MHS during the past decade. Middletown City Schools had the lowest graduation rate — 82 percent — among public schools in Butler County in 2009-10, according to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Education.


While 82 percent is the highest rate Middletown has attained in the past 10 years, it still pales in comparison to the achievement of other area suburban and rural districts, most of which have graduation rates of 95 percent or better.
Even Hamilton, a similar sized “urban” district, has made significant gains while Middletown has remained mostly stagnant.

Over the past five years, Middletown’s graduation rates have consistently been below 80 percent. Preliminary data from the state shows Middletown’s graduation rate during the 2009-10 school year will top 80 percent for only the second time in the past decade.

Alberico said the district’s graduation numbers have increased, though not at the rate school officials had hoped.

NO ALBERICO, THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH STATED....IT SAYS "OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, MIDDLETOWN'S GRADUATION RATES HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN BELOW 80 PERCENT". WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT HAS INCREASED? THAT IS AN OUT AND OUT LIE.

HERE IS WHAT HAMILTON DID TO IMPROVE....

Malone said it’s impossible to pinpoint a single factor that’s contributed to Hamilton City Schools’ graduation rate climbing 20 percentage points — from 70 percent to more than 90 percent — since 2005. But he said the district has made a concerted effort in recent years to keep better records on and better track of its students.

HERE IS WHAT MIDDLETOWN IS DOING.......TO STAY THE SAME


Alberico said the district does not track the number of dropout rates nor the reasons students give for leaving high school.
“It’s data we need to have,” she admitted, adding that it may be as simple as personally asking students or parents why they are dropping out.

I REALLY DON'T THINK MIDDLETOWN SCHOOLS GIVES A CRAP ABOUT ANY OF THEIR STUDENTS EXCEPT THEIR GIFTED AND TALENTED ONES. THEY SEEM TO WANT TO PUSH THE AVERAGE/PROBLEM STUDENTS ALONG JUST TO GET THEM THROUGH AND OUT OF THE WAY. NO TIME FOR THE ONES THAT ARE NOT GIFTED AND THOSE WE ARE NOT PROUD OF TYPE OF MOTTO.

Middletown schools will receive $1.4 million over the next four years, and will use it primarily on a new data tracking system which will allow educators to review student data in multiple formats within seconds.
The system, Software Answers’ Data Map, is preferred over current methods, where student assessment is stored in capacities ranging from hard copy pages to online storage programs.
Alberico said the new technology purchased with RTTT grant money will help teachers hone in on academic weaknesses that may present themselves through the data.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE SUPER, THE ADMIN. NOR THE TEACHERS HAVE "HONED IN" (LAUGHABLE) ON ANYTHING FOR MANY YEARS CAUSING ACADEMIC WATCH AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT TO CONTINUE FOR DECADES. A "NEW SYSTEM" THAT WILL "ALLOW EDUCATORS TO REVIEW STUDENT DATA IN MULTIPLE FORMATS WITHIN SECONDS". AND THIS WILL DO WHAT TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE POSITIVE, MEASURABLE CHANGE? NOTHING BUT ANOTHER TAX-WASTING, COSTLY ADMINISTRATIVE TOOL TAKING THIS SITUATION NOWHERE. HERE'S AN IDEA....TRY VISITING THOSE DISTRICTS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ON HOW THEY DO THINGS, TAKE SOME NOTES, APPLY WHAT IS FEASIBLE TO MIDDLETOWN'S SITUATION.....YA MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING IF YOU EMULATE SUCCESS. MERCY!

The\re you have folks, straight from the All Knowing OZ (VET). Lets see 70% free and reduced lunch, 1700 section vouchers, parents that dont give a s%^$! Hamiltons grad rate went up when the city leaders got rid of section 8. Guess what OZ, ours went down because they all came here!!! I'll give you nods, could the schools do better, sure. But its an up hill battle when city leaders do not help. Get rid of section 8 and you will see a change. Students are products just like in busniess ans manufacturing. Your product is only as good as the raw material you have to work with!!

Ok oh Great and Powerful OZ. Lets cut the crap. If you really want change, both in schools and the city, then get the balls to come out from behind the curtain with you smoke and mirrors, ( I understand you situation at home) and lets go together to council and MSCD and make a difference. All this crap on here makes me crazy. Everyone has the answer and wants to bitch, but no one does anything. I know Randy and Tony B have been at council. I applaude their effiorts. You seem to be the one that has all the answers and complains the most. If you have the balls I will go with you to both groups. Stop bitching and complaining on a blog and lets do something if you dare!!!!!!

Mercy Smartman......don't lose it. Alot of pent up anger in your post. You open with "Ok oh Great and Powerful OZ" and follow with "let's cut the crap"??? No one wants to "cut the crap" more than I do when it comes to the bull the school board and council is slinging at the citizens. Some believe it, some don't, most just don't care in this town.

You also state, "if you really want change".......let's go to council and the MCSD and make a difference". Now, as Mike has stated, I have made several attempts to speak in front of council in the past. I have attended and spoken at a few school board meetings in the past. I have attended "conversations with council/Tony Marconi sessions". I have run for school board years ago and lost after the powers to be found out through my interview with the Journal what I intended to do once elected. I have been there, you just didn't know who I was. I would like to be more active now. Working a full time job and coming home to caregive through the evening and nightime hours doesn't allow me to do that anymore. In essence, I have two jobs and, sorry to say, they are slowly wearing me down. This is my only outlet to voice my opinions concerning my hometown. Allow me that much.

You state, "you seem to be the one with all the answers and complain the most". I certainly do my fair share of complaining, no doubt about that. It is a by-product of my frustration with the condition of this town as compared to what it once was. Since the 70's, the people running this town have ruined it. Incompetence has run rampant with the members of the school board and council since that time. No city leaders elected that had the best interest of the city were on board.

"If you have the balls, I will go with you to both groups". Been there, done that on several occasions. You and I would be wasting our time. Neither entity will listen to the average citizen. Many on this forum have supported that fact within these pages. You should know by now that no one, except the chosen few, has any clout with their message when talking to either group. Look what happened with PAC that night in council chambers......the arts people packed the chamber. A few spoke in opposition to PAC and it was a clean sweep to allow PAC to have their way downtown. Council has pals in the arts community and those pals override the wants of the majority of citizens. Look at the opposition to the money that has been wasted downtown over the years. You see what we have gotten for all that money spent......still a deserted, in-active, desolate area of town, isn't it? They don't care about what the average joe wants here. The friends of council and the school board always get their way. Those with different views to each always get ignored. Been that way for decades. Neither is open-minded to different viewpoints.

You also state, "all this crap on here makes me crazy". Then why are you a participant if you are prone to being "made crazy"? It is therapy for me. I like to argue and to read others viewpoints. I like to launch verbal assaults on the city leaders anonymously. Lord knows, they all deserve it. I learn alot about the town from reading posts from people that know. There are some smart people on this forum. Some alot smarter than the people running the city and the schools.

Nice discussing things with you. I learn different perspectives by reading your thoughts as well as others. I certainly don't have all the answers here and I certainly don't know all that is occuring in this town as others here do. I merely spout my viewpoints and wait for responses, pro and con. As I said in the other post, there are alot of smart, well researched, in-the-know people on here. It is a shame we can't kick all the problem children out and have some of the folks who blog here in their place. I believe we would see some positive direction for a change. As has been said many times, it probably won't change in the frustration level for any of us until we start putting logical, well versed, city-at-heart, no special agenda people in place to replace the MMF sponsored puppets that are there now.

Have a good one!

By the way, on occassion I have made it all the way to Emerald City using stealth tactics, and I can unequivocally state that no one there has any brains, heart, or courage to spare!!!    

Article doesn't say whether it is open to the public or not. If so, kind of an important thing for the community to know for those who want to attend. Wonder what is so "special" about this session? Do the same rules apply for the school board that apply to council.....ie......if it involves personnel matters, they retire out of view of the public to spend the public's money making decisions on public servants who provide a public service?

I believe that the special board meeting concerns interviews for a treasurer.

chmoore wrote: I believe that the special board meeting concerns interviews for a treasurer.

Gee...one would think that the local newspaper could have mentioned that!!!  That means it will be an executive session, so attending would likely be a waste of time.

Middletown my not be the best in Butler county but their gad rate is not bad at all. Hamilton county doesn't even come close to that number. Instead of acknowledging their mishaps why not help them help themselves to improve where it is most need. It's very easy to ridicule another persons situation, it's much harder to help them fix their situation. Spread some love and light where they shine, talk about what they are doing right and than you can help them strengthen where they are weak. You can't complain if your not going to help, all your doing is making noise about someone else's business.