"Our teachers have my support"

-Ramona Reyes

SUCCESSES

It takes a village!! In the past few years I have worked with other to have a restored faith in our schools resulting in partnerships in the public, non-profit, and private sectors growing stronger each year. ​District currently owns and maintains 113 educational buildings and experienced an increased of enrollment of .76%.

Here are some highlights:

Expanded Pre-Kindergarten early learning for 4 year olds 

• Over the past four years, CCS increased the number of Pre-K seats by 22%
• We have the highest rated Pre-K classrooms rated Five ***** Star Step Up to quality
• Currently moving to have “Ready for Pre-K” in 53 sites

 
Increased participation in career tech by offering 37 programs offered to students.

College Credit through higher education and corporate partnership 

• Increased enrollment by 52% and expanded $5 million credit count partnerships
• Continue to offer dual enrollment in high school with college partnership allowing students to graduate with at least 12 college credits in STEM related fields.  Saving our students time and money.

 
Our  2016 students were awarded $57 million in scholarships and grants to more than 150 different Colleges and Universities 

• We had 6 Gates Millennium scholars recognized for this nationally prestigious award

 
Opened district’s first Gifted Academy and tripled services provided by Gifted Specialists ensuring cultural unbiased assessments to address identification of underrepresented student groups.

Support largest limited English Proficient Student population – the most of any district in the Midwest (7600 students).

Model for Special Education in Ohio by the Ohio Dept of Education for urban schools on how they should identify and serve students with special needs, a total of nearly 8500 students.

Staffing and Staff Development – More than 70% of our teachers hold at least a master’s degree and an average of 13 years of experience and we support professional development to maintain high levels of excellence. 

We’ve opened series of Care Connection on-site offices with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, with nurse practitioners and behavioral health professionals serving the needs of the “whole child” by bringing these services directly to students and families. 

21st Century Digital Capacity for teaching & learning providing full wireless access in all school buildings. 

We’ve worked to move the district to have increased accountability and transparency.  

• I have supported a focus on programs that are measured by student impact, measurable effectiveness, and scalability. 
• I advocated for and voted for the creation of a finance and appropriations committee that meets monthly to review our finances. 
• I supported the creation of a financial dashboard that allows users to see where every dollar is spent.  

 
 Practice responsible budgeting. 

• Having a proactive expense management focus, in 2015 I supported $50MM in expenditure reductions from trimming existing programs and reducing forecasted projections.
• I supported $15MM in additional savings from building consolidation, i.e. closed under-utilized schools, sold unneeded properties, and leased space to outside organizations. 
• Additionally, I intend to support revisions which will have an approximate gain of $30MM from potential consolidations of additional properties.
• Professionally I manage a small non-profit agency. Every dollar is precious and I hold the same high fiscal management expectations as it relates to Columbus City Schools.