As we enter the month of November, our students and staff have settled into daily routines and procedures associated with attending school and advancing learning opportunities. With the daily routines established, it is an appropriate time to share some of the demographics associated with our school. There are currently 704 students in grades PK-12. Our pre-school class includes 60 students. Our largest K-12 class is the tenth-grade class with 62 students. Our smallest class is the third-grade class with 38 students. We have 42 students (Juniors and Seniors) attending Vantage Career Center in Van Wert, Ohio. Our school district also has five students attending the Opportunity Center in Paulding and six students participating in an internship/work study.
Our school bus and van fleet transport an average of 366 students to school and home each day logging an average of 519 miles per day. The district’s yearly expense for diesel fuel is $50,079 and $11,018 for gasoline. Our cafeteria staff serves an average of 32 breakfasts and 278 regular lunches per day. Approximately 36% of our students are designated as Free/Reduced Meal recipients. On the academic side, 15% of our students receive special education services. The school district’s average monthly electric bill is $16,582.21 and our gas bill is approximately $4,753.45 per month.
Veteran’s Day is an opportunity to educate our students about the important role our Veterans have played in the history of our nation. Antwerp Local Schools will honor our Veterans with a Veterans Day Assembly Monday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. in the main gymnasium. To Veteran’s: We thank you for your dedicated service to secure our freedoms. We are free because of the brave.
November 18-22, 2024 has been designated as American Education Week. This is the 103rd observance of the event, which began in 1921 as a joint venture between the National Education Association and the American Legion. This event presents all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. The employees of Antwerp Local Schools are proud to be part of a quality public school system and appreciate the partnership with the community. Together we can accomplish great things for our students.
On November 5, 2024, Antwerp Local School District will ask the Antwerp community to vote on a Renewal Income Tax Levy. The .75% income tax levy generates approximately $580,000 per year, which equates to nearly 10 percent of the district’s budget. This five-year levy was first approved in 2005. The funds from the levy are used to pay the day-to-day operating expenses of the school. Passage of the Renewal Income Tax Levy will not increase taxes. Passage of the levy is necessary in order to maintain the district’s current services and programs for our students. During the past few school years, funds from the levy have been utilized for a variety of needs including the offering of full day every day Kindergarten, the purchase of exterior and interior security cameras, providing for a full-time on-site School Resource Officer, and providing professional development opportunities for our staff.
Speaking of funding, Antwerp Local Schools has received several donations and grants recently. A $15,562 Tree Assistance grant was awarded by the Paulding County Soil and Water Conservation. The funds will be utilized to plant Arborvitae trees near our baseball/softball complex. Additionally, the Antwerp VFW and Antwerp Community Development Corporation donated $6,000 and $1,000 respectively for the purchase of a vending machine that distributes books in exchange for tokens students receive as part of a reward for demonstrating positive behaviors and character traits.
A reminder for parents, students, and community members to download our school App! Go to the App or Play Store, search “Antwerp Schools,” and install the free Antwerp Local Schools App. The App has numerous features that will keep you updated on news, events, school delays and closings, and more. You can also choose what notifications and alerts you receive through the MY ALERTS title.
~ Dr. Martin A. Miller, Superintendent