About Our District

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Dr. John Stoddard
Superintendent

September 2024

Berkshire Families,

Students and staff began the 2024- 2025 school year on Wednesday, September 4th, and thus far, a tremendous sense of Badger Pride is permeating throughout the entire school district. Students and families have been extremely focused and supportive upon the completion of summer break, and our return to the school year, while staff members have begun demonstrating their dedication to our students and preparing them for their futures. Several significant milestones have either been achieved or are underway in our school district right now.

Berkshire Demonstrates Notable Growth on State Report Card!

The State of Ohio releases report cards for all schools annually, with results based on data from the previous school year. You can access the State Report Card for any school in Ohio by using this link. We are pleased to announce that Berkshire has demonstrated notable growth on the most recent State Report Card. Our rating has improved from 3.5 stars in the 2022-2023 school year to 4 stars in 2023-2024, exceeding state standards.

Districts and schools receive an overall rating of 1 to 5 stars in half-star increments. We are also proud to share that our Performance Index score—which reflects the achievement levels of every student—has increased for the fourth consecutive year. We are excited to announce that our recent State Report Card highlights significant progress and growth, a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire community. While we celebrate this success, we remain focused on our ongoing journey toward excellence. We are dedicated to consistently elevating our efforts and aspiring to achieve even greater success. Together, we will continue to push the limits of what’s possible, ensuring that each step brings us closer to realizing our vision of excellence.

Berkshire Awarded $951,000 Grant to Expand Programs

One such milestone that the Berkshire Local Schools is excited to share is the awarding of a $951,000 grant from the State of Ohio recently, to continue expanding our diesel tech and agricultural education programs. This news comes as the result of the efforts of many individuals working together for securing supplemental funding, and as a result of the deliberate efforts put forth by the Berkshire Local Schools to prepare our students with career-ready skills in fields of industry which are in-demand. Berkshire’s intention is to expand these programs at the former Ohio Department of Transportation’s site on Route 87 in Burton Village. The district will keep the community informed of the progress of implementing this funding for our students’ use.

State of the Schools Monday October 7^th at 6 p.m.

The Berkshire Local Schools will host a State of the Schools presentation on Monday, October 7th during the New Business portion of the Board of Education meeting in our auditorium, which will feature the recently completed Strategic Plan for our district. The Board of Education received a preview during this month’s meeting, as I shared the new mission statement, vision statement, goals, and core values. The meeting begins at 6 p.m., so please plan to attend. The strategic plan will then be posted to our website for all to view. Thank you once again to the committee members who had met monthly to offer their feedback, guidance, and input on this community-based plan throughout the second half of last year and into the early summer.

New Makerspace Serves as an Example for Future Ready Skill Training

In addition to the news regarding our grant for workforce preparation above, another example that the Berkshire Local Schools is helping to equip students of all ages with the future-ready skills and attributes required for today’s competitive workforce is through the district’s Makerspace classroom. Overseen by Mr. Chris Kostiha, the Makerspace provides students in grades PK-12 with opportunities to apply their creativity and classroom knowledge in a student-driven, hands-on environment to produce finished products. Students have at their disposal an assortment of machines including 3-D printers and carving machines, a laser engraver, and vinyl printers. Additional hardware, materials, and related programs are used in conjunction with the machines to create an assortment of professional grade, final products including posters, decals, plaques, and other items. Our Makerspace also provides opportunities to help community partners and local businesses. Students engage in real-world learning by fulfilling a variety of project requests. Kent State Geauga Campus has enlisted the help of students to create a variety of printed items, including a Pledge Card for the School of Nursing’s White Coat Ceremony and a vinyl poster displaying the faculty for each academic department.

The Berkshire Local Schools will remain on-the-move with various initiatives that will ultimately prepare students for future skills, opportunities, and work-related training to positively impact the future.

Thank you for your continued support.

John Stoddard
Superintendent 
Berkshire Local Schools