Welcome to February! We hope you enjoy a permanent addition to our newsletter, titled “Parents’ Corner.” The idea of “Parents’ Corner” is to provide parents with tips and resources to begin discussions with your child on the effects of underage drinking. Parents will be able to access additional resources from our website once the details have been finalized. We will send a notification when this link is available. Another addition for our February , March and April newsletters involves information concern-ing arming staff. Such information will include frequently asked questions, details about the FASTER Program and recent media articles. Information in its entirety can be located on our website @ www.mlsd.us. If you have any questions regarding our initiative to arming staff, please do not hesitate to contact me. Brian Rau, Superintendent

February 2019

Manchester Elementary Earns the Momentum Award (3 Years in a Row)

MLSD 130 Wayne Frye Drive

Manchester, OH 45144 937-549-4777

On December 12th, 2018, we were notified by the Ohio Department of Education that we earned the Momentum Award for the third year in a row.

From State Board of Education President Tess Elshoff: “I’m pleased to let you know Ohio’s State Board of Education has granted

your school (Manchester Elementary) a 2017-2018 Momentum Award. Now in its fourth year, the Momentum Award is the State Board’s way of

recognizing schools that received A’s on every Value-Added measure Included on the Ohio School Report Cards.

As a Momentum Award winner, your school’s report card shows your school is committed to its students’ success by ensuring students exceeded the growth expectations in English language arts and mathematics. I also

congratulate you on recruiting and motivating the high-quality leaders and staff needed to make this happen.

Ohio’s strategic plan for education, Each Child, Our Future, is the state’s plan to ensure each student is challenged, prepared and empowered for his or

her future by way of an excellent prekindergarten through grade 12 education. Our mission is to prepare students for a future that has yet to be

written. Many consider this to be a daunting endeavor. Your education team, however, has clearly embraced this challenge.

I want you to know how much we appreciate your leadership and the dedication your team has to providing a high-quality experience for all

students. Please share our gratitude with all of those who contributed to this accomplishment.”

Manchester Elementary students, staff and community have done a tremendous job! - Nick Roberts

Important Dates: Feb 1: HS Boys Basketball, Senior Recognition

(Parent Escorts) Feb 2: HS Boys Basketball @ Home vs Piketon

Feb 4: HS Girls Basketball @ Peebles Feb 5: District Spelling Bee 6:00

Feb 5: HS Basketball @ Home vs Whiteoak Feb 6: HS Girls Basketball @ Adena

Feb 7: Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7p Feb 8: HS Boys Basketball @ Peebles

Feb 9: HS Boys Basketball @ Home vs Portsmouth West Feb 13: Board of Education Meeting 6:30p

Feb 14-15: Senior Beta Club Convention Trip Feb 18: President’s Day, No School

Feb 20: ACT for all Juniors

MLSD would like to thank SOMC for the wonderful posters and binders for our schools regarding

the dangers of Tobacco/Electronic Cigarette use & promotion

of Healthy Living for our Students.

Accepting New Patients Walk-Ins Welcome Located Between Manchester Elementary & High

School Buildings Phone: 937-549-1270 Lori Rumfield, Nurse Practitioner

It may sound scary, but talking

regularly with youth about the dangers

of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs reduces their risk

of using. Here are a few tips on how to “Talk it Out”

We will include monthly tips & advice for parents on how to talk with your

children about harmful substances.

The truth is kids are drinking, smoking and using drugs—not other peoples kid’s;

our kids. And, they’re starting younger than ever, especially between the ages of 11 and

13. While most kids do live healthy lives, our kids are exposed to drinking, smoking and

drugs. Furthermore, they may not be aware of the risks these behaviors pose to their

health, their safety and their future.

Youth’s #1 drug of choice remains alcohol, with harmful and sometimes deadly

consequences. Underage alcohol use is linked to brain damage, car accidents, suicides,

homicides and a host of other negative outcomes.

Successful communication should start with you as a parent talking with your child.

*Ask questions about what they already know. They likely know more than you think they do.

*Tell them how you feel about alcohol, tobacco and drug use in a gentle but serious voice.

Do not deter them from later conversations by scolding, yelling or threatening punishments.

*Let your child know the major health issues associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and

drugs. The more they know, the less likely they are to partake.

*Set a good example for your child. Remember, the best way to a good line of communication

is to start the conversation, talk it out, ask and answer questions and talk often.

MLSD will provide helpful information each month.

Learn More at www.adamscountyoh.gov & preventionactionalliance.org

Parents’

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Raffle Basket Please support the MHS Music Theater Dept. by purchasing raffle tickets for a Valentine’s Day Gift Bas-ket valued at $200. Please contact a Music Theater student or Mrs. Kinhalt marye.kinhalt@mlsd.us for tickets. $1 each or 6 for $5. All proceeds will

go toward the purchase of costumes and props for this year’s production of

James & the Giant Peach The Musical Rescheduled for

May 10, 11, 12

The MES Traveling Attendance Trophy Is awarded monthly to the homeroom class (one trophy for grades K-3 and one trophy for grades 4-6) with the highest over-all attendance percentage for the month. This month's winners (December) are Mrs. Easter's class and Mrs. Grooms class. They will get to keep this trophy in their classroom for one month.

MES 3rd Grade Students recognized by MLSD Board of Education Some of our 3rd graders were recognized by the Board of Education at the January meeting

for doing extremely well on the fall state Reading AIR exams! All six students scored an 'Advanced' on the exam! Fantastic job, students!

Pictured (Left to Right)

Mason Swango, Caralyne Reed, Colton Arnett, Marshall Poole, Colton McChesney, and Braxton Wagner.

Manchester JH/HS

Drew Kennedy 7th Grant McClanahan 7th

Thomas Trimble 7th Ryan Wagner 7th

Briana Cummings 8th Ashleigh Dunn 8th Autumn Harris 8th Dylan Pringle 8th

Natalie Skaggs 9th Devon Ward 9th

Brayden Young 9th Nicholas Haag 9th

Gage Kinhalt 10th Braxlynn McClanahan 10th

Mackenzie Leadingham 11th Alexandra Osman 11th

Daryan Rigsby 11th Melanie Thatcher 11th

Josie Campbell 12th Nicholas Keoler 12th Kearston Wright 12th

Introducing the Cast of James and the Giant Peach the Musical Presented by Manchester High School May 10,11, 12 James Henry Trotter: Matthew Swearingen, Freshman Spiker: Maegan Stamm, Sophomore Sponge: Emma Grooms, Sophomore Ladybug/Production Assistant: Ariana Alexander, Sophomore Grasshopper: Aaron Rowland, Sophomore Centipede: Alex Merrill-Jackson, Sophomore Spider: Tiffany Montiza, Freshman Earthworm: Jonas Irmer, Junior Matron Nurse/Bitsy Botana: Taylor Ogden, Junior Mysterious Ladahlord 1/Captain: Mason Dunn, Sophomore Mysterious Ladahlord 2/Servant: Grace Hackney, Freshman Mysterious Ladahlord 3/Deckhand: Landon Leonard, Junior Jake/Hollywood Agent/Rhino: Kris Walters, Junior Mr. Trotter/Shark-Seagull/Stage Crew: Gage Kinhalt, Sophomore Mrs. Trotter/Shark-Seagull: Brooke Trumbo, 2018 MHS Alumni Willy Wonka/Buzz: Brian Rau, Superintendent Oompa Loompas: TBD Reporter 1/ Bobby Bobby Cop/New Yorker/Stage Crew: Kenlea Kattine, Freshman Reporter 2/Billie Bobby Cop/New Yorker/Stage Crew: Lilly Rutledge, Freshman Stage Manager/Stage Crew: Braxlynn McClanahan, Sophomore Stage Crew/Shark-Seagull: Aaron Fanning, Sophomore

~MHS Homecoming 2019~ A Medieval (K)Night

On January 25th, by order of proclamation of the Kingdom of Manchester, all in attendance were cordially invited to preside at the forty seventh annual coronation of the King and queen in the year of our Lord, 2019.

Pages-in-waiting:

Squire Luke Applegate

Squire Parker Hayslip

Wee Prince & Wee Princess:

Master Bentley Stricklett

Miss Lidia Cracraft

Announcer:

Sir Brian Rau

Congratulations to the winners:

King: Jacob Calvert & Queen: Josie Campbell (Seniors)

1st Lady-in-Waiting: Princess, Cassidy Pribble & Prince, Dylan Colvin (Seniors)

2nd Lady-in-Waiting: Princess, Darrington White & Prince, Brady Flack (Seniors)

Above: L to R

Prince, Declan Huron & Princess, Lady Sophia Paul Prince, Trey Spears & Princess, Lady Emily Sweeney

Prince, Daulton McDonald & Princess, Lady Autumn Parker Prince, Dylan Adams & Princess, Madison Payne Prince, Jacob Calvert & Princess, Josie Campbell

Prince, Brady Flack & Princess, Darrington White Prince, Dylan Colvin & Princess, Cassidy Pribble

Front: Master Bentley Stricklett & Miss Lidia Cracraft

Recently parents, students and community members have asked questions about the proposal to arm MLSD staff. We have included answers to

some of your questions below. Please click on the Manchester Local School District link above to read the full list of Q & A’s . Q: Who will provide the firearm training? What is the criteria? What standards are the trainers, trainees, and weapons held to?

The training will be completed by Tactical Defense Institute (TDI) using the FASTER Program, in West Union. Their website is https://www.tdiohio.com/

home_page/ and www.fastersaveslives.org. and www.fastersaveslives.org.

The program is strictly voluntary. Once the district determines the interested staff, our SRO, a sheriff’s deputy, and I will strategically select the specific

individuals to send to the TDI training. Those individuals will train for several hours over the course of several days, and must pass this course. Not every-

one passes this course. The training is extremely rigorous and is mentally and physical difficult.

The standards of the trainers, trainees, and weapons will be identical to law enforcement. Please review TDI’s website.

Q: The administration would be putting deadly weapons in the hands of non-professionals, and then expecting them to use said weapon in a building full of panicked

child, on – what will more than likely be – a child using a gun to kill other children. Not even soldiers and police officers are trained for this type of scenario; we are ex-

pecting that teachers should be? Will the teacher receive training on not only the use of the weapon, but the psychology of killing a child in an active shooter situation? Do

we want a teacher to have that training in the first place? The idea of them vs us in a classroom setting, where they’re now expected to adequately teach the very children

they might have to turn a deadly weapon upon? Do we want teachers to regard each student as a potential threat; a potential target?

Research has shown that in nearly every school shooting incident, at least one staff member has attempted to counter the assailant.

The staff member will be trained to mentally handle these stressful situations through the TDI training.

I would say yes, I do want to have teachers to have the training. However, only the staff members who will be armed will receive this intense training at TDI.

Unfortunately, you make a great, but sad, point. Yes, the assailant could very well be the child in your classroom. This is where the vetting process will be

utilized to determine those who will be able to handle these situations are those who cannot.

Currently, we teach our staff to be cognizant of signs of any potentially dangerous situation. This is part of the ALICE training our district implemented last

school year with students and staff. ALICE is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown/Locate, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.

Q: Who pays for this training? How often will a refresher course be needed/mandated? Who does that training? What about background checks? Who does the psy-

chological screening?

The training is free.

Staff will recertify annually.

There are options for recertification. I will work with the Sheriff’s Department for recertification, which could lead back to TDI.

All staff members are required by law to maintain BCII and FBI background checks while employed with the district. Background checks are good for five

years.

TDI will conduct the psychological screening. They may or may not use those semantics, but TDI embeds the psychological aspect into their training.

Q: Who determines who can and cannot carry a loaded deadly weapon in a school? If a teacher wants to be armed but it judged (again, by who?) to be unfit (again, by

what standards?), what are the legal repercussions? Can they sue the school? Who pays for that legal dispute?

The law specifies that no one may carry a loaded deadly weapon into a school, unless the Board adopts a resolution allowing staff to be armed. The current

law does permit individuals with conceal carry permits to have their weapon in their vehicle on school property. Our SRO, Sheriff’s Deputy, and I will de-

termine which individuals will be sent to the TDI training. If the aforementioned individuals determine that certain individuals are not mentally competent

to carry a weapon, we will not allow them to so. The training at TDI is so intense and rigorous that not everyone makes it through the program, because of

the mental or physical aspect. TDI are experts, so their judgement is highly respected around the world.

I am unsure of what you are asking when you say sue the district. This program is voluntary and very selective. A staff member cannot sue (although we

know anyone can sue anyone at any given time) the district for not allowing him or her to carry a weapon. In this case, the monetary responsibility for any

legal dispute would be the burden of the staff member. We (the district) will also contact our insurance before this initiative is fully implemented regarding

liability insurance.

Q: Who do the armed teachers answer to in an active-shooter situation? Is the principal supposed to take the place of a general? Or is the local police department part of

this chain of command? What kind of training do these people in charge of the armed teachers receive?

The chain of command will not change during a situation. I, as superintendent, will act as the incident commander and collaborate with law enforcement

once they arrive on the scene. However, the TDI training will allow those individuals to do what is necessary to act appropriately during a situation.

No, the principal will not take the place of a general. Only four individuals will know who is carrying a weapon (superintendent, SRO, sheriff’s deputy, and

the armed staff member).

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department is very much a large part of every situation we do here at Manchester and will take over as incident commanders

once they arrive on scene.

Very few individuals will know who is carrying. Since we do not know who will carry a weapon, a detailed chain of command has not been established.

Q: If an armed teacher shoots an innocent kid, if they kill an innocent kid, who is liable? The teacher? The school? Is the armed teacher responsible for the failure to stop

an active shooter?

All very good questions. Since I am not an attorney, I will say it depends. A court may find for the school, whereas another may find for the staff member. I

will share a statistic with you: the percentage of trained law enforcement hit their target 22-23 percent of the time. An untrained assailant hits his or her

target over 70 percent. So, there is a chance it could happen, albeit very slim.

Again, this could be a court’s decision. TDI emphasizes these points during their training.

Please look for the latest information in our monthly newsletters and on our website: www.mlsd.us

Arming Staff FAQ’s & Answers Brian Rau, Superintendent

http://www.mlsd.us/

P. A. W. S. , Pep, and

a few Hungry

Hippos...

Manchester Jr. & Sr. High School held a Hungry, Hungry Hippo Tournament between staff and students. Students who participated were randomly drawn from a pool of Junior High and High school students. The tournament was held to recognize students who are following the PAWS rules which are located and posted throughout the campus. PAWS is an acronym meaning P= Be Prepared, A=Achieve, W= Wise Choices, & S= Show Respect. The MHS band played pep band songs for the student body.

Congratulations to the winners, the Student Green Team: Chase McDonald, Blake Lawrence and Jonas Irmer.

After all the hippos got their bellies full, the Homecoming Court was recognized and Senior Jacob Calvert addressed the student body on behalf of the Greyhound basketball team. A big thanks to our volunteered staff, and students who participated.

Participants: Junior High & High School Student Teams: Emily Sweeney and Taylor Morrison (Team Yellow) Chase McDonald, Jonas Irmer and Blake Lawrence (Team Green) Dominick Raines and Aaron Lucas (Team Blue) Zoey Fuchs and Emma Farley (Team Red)

Pit Crew: Grace Hackney Caleb Fryman Briana Cummings Dakota Francis

Teachers & Staff Teams: Mr. Brian Rau and Mrs. Ma’ry’e Kinhalt (Team Yellow) Ms. Megan Parthemore and Mrs. Leah Wilkins (Team Green) Mr. Tony Sparks and Mr. Matthias Applegate (Team Blue) Mr. Ethan Stricklett and Mr. Dustin Cook (Team Orange)

Photos By: Mrs. Crystal Roberts