Amherst News-Times, 2000-01-05

              Swimmers eye run at state contest — Page 6 I Comets win a nailbiter — Page 6
Amherst News-Time
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Wednesday, January 5, 2000
Amherst, Ohio
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Golden afternoon
At right, a man decides whether to keep his     Golden Acres retirement community. And at      for their snow boards are Jack and Eric Smith of    Jackson Street,
eyes open during his ride down the hill behing     right, enjoying the first real snow fall of the year
Amherst schools tops, according to state
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
The state has released an
unofficial grade card for all
school districts in Ohio, and
Amherst has once again
placed near the top.
There are a possible 27
points a school system can
score, and acquiring those
points is directly linked to individual student scores on the
state's proficiency tests. Amherst school district scored 22
out of 27 points (81.5
percent).
The proficiency tests are taken by fourth, sixth, eighth
graders, tenth graders and
seniors.
Those in grades 4, 6, 8
and 10, must achieve a score
of 75 percent to pass. Seniors, who seem to find it
difficult to take the multipart
test seriously, must achieve
only 60 percent to pass.
Seniors have such a low
score averages because, by
this point in a senior's life,
they already possess the required credits to graduate, and
if college is next, they have
already been accepted.
Senior proficiency tests are
also not die same as the
ninth grade jroficiCHCX., tests
which must Be" 'piisSNi in order to graduate. Senior tests
are used to acquire an honors
diploma.
One point is also awarded
for the number of graduating
students who passed from
grade nine through grade 12,
taking only the standard four
years to accomplish it
Another point is awarded for
school systems that maintain
good student attendance.
The proficiency tests are
comprised of five individual
tests worth one point each.
The individual tests are under
the categories of citizenship,
math, reading, writing, and
science.
Each grade level proficiency test is worth five
points, then the state adds the
scores from the five grade
levels taking the test batter),
and the perfect school system
gets 25 points. Add in attendance and seniors graduating
on time and the perfect
school system has earned 27
points.
An attendance policy in
place at all Amherst schools,
is the reason they have a
96.9 percent attendance rate,
according to superintendent
Bob Boynton.
Students may only miss
five days during a grading
period. A seriously ill student
is reclassified and given home
instruction via a tutor, and
CONTINUED on page 3
h
Grants to allow training
of character re-enactors
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
Tune continues to move backward very nicely for the Sandstone
Museum Center.
A blacksmith shop is up and
functional, the Greek Revival house
is under roof, windows in place and
doors not too far from installation.
Hie walls of an old sandstone
smoke house are being reassembled,
and it should be under roof in about
a week.
The smoke house was donated in
memory of John and Helen Big. of
South Amherst, by their son John
Big Jr.
To aid in the construction work
an entire 1800s woodworking shop
has been completed, and will eventually be used to construct furniture
of the period.
During construction of the Greek
Revival building they tut a spring,
and water freely runs through the
grounds. It would add a fine touch
to the village, if they can work it in.
The historical society board of
trustees has recenUy approved a
grant award of $50,000 to the museum center, for the hiring of an office assistant and a docent/re-
enactor trainer. The Sandstone Museum Center has collected $216350
in grants so far this year, enabling
them to move forward on nearly all
of the projects.
J The grant was awarded from the
Greater Community Foundation of
Lorain County, and is comprised of
a number of family foundations, including the Joseph A. and Mary N.
Ignat Fund, the Evan and Cindy
Nord Fund and the Jane and Eric
Nord Fund.
Ken Hammontree as he portrays General George Washington.
Hammontree will train local residents who would like to portray a
favorite character in history.
. A decent is someone who will
lead guided tours of the facilities
and wear dress of the period uni-
(brms. That program will be headed
up by Vivienne Bickley. The living
History character portrayal program
will be headed by Ken Hammontree
and the training is free.
Scott Kodger, the executive director of the Sandstone Museum Center
complex, has visions the center to
be the "Williamsburg" of Lorain
County.
To bring the Sandstone Museum
Center up to speed on the horse and
buggy pace of early America, Hammontree, of Living History Productions in Mansfield, has been employed to train volunteers lo be liv-
CONTINUED on
Dennis Walters
Downed in council contest,
Walters eyes a bigger fish
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
Firelantis School principal
Dennis Walters is determined
to enter politics.
Undaunted by his defeat at
the bands of the Democrats
in the Amherst city council
race. Walters has started
stumping for the seat of retiring 63rd district state representative Bill Taylor.
After his defeat in last
November's elections, Walters
had originally decided to regroup and establish some contacts for another run at Amherst city council in two
years. The unexpected an
nouncement that Taylor would
not seek another term was a
window of opportunity Walters has been looking for and
could not pass up.
For Walters, the decision to
enter politics was simply an
extension of his desire to
serve people, the way he has
served them for nearly 30
years, as an educator. His actual retirement is scheduled
for next November, but to
start a political career, one
must begin at the start of the
political cycle, and for a shot
at the state house seat, Walton bad to step up boa his
game plan and time frame.
1 have always been interested « helping people," said
Wallers, "that's why I entered
education. The taxpayers have
invested a lot of money in
me, and I see this (politics)
as a way of continuing my
service helping people."
"I had no idea Taylor was
going to retire, he didn't announce it until around
Thanksgiving, but it is a window of opportunity," Wallers
said.
His first hurdle is to receive the party endorsement,
by diminating rival Republicans during the primaries in
Match.
Dennis Wallers is a 1964
graduate of Riverside High
CONTINUED or.