March 22, 2024 Press Release from Lima City Schools: The Lima City Schools will once again recognize “Celebrate Public Schools: Experience the Spartan Pride” Week, including with its District-Wide Open House.
Superintendent Jill Ackerman gathered Friday with staff and community supporters to talk about the open house and about the importance of the week.
After citing a long list of school and student accomplishments that have occurred over the past year, Ackerman said the district has to keep recognizing Public School Week and talking about these successes because of those naysayers who continue to only speak negatives.
“Most frustrating about the naysayers is they don’t really know us,” she said. “They haven’t walked our hallways, yet claim they are unsafe. They haven’t seen our staff in action or observed a classroom, yet claim we have nothing to offer. They don’t know our students, yet claim they are headed to unemployment or the criminal justice system.”
“They haven’t seen our students on stage, behind the easel or microscope, at state and national competitions, or out working in industry while still going to school,” Ackerman continued, adding that many don’t want to hear the truth about public education or the Lima City Schools.
At the center of the never-ending attack on public education is the push for the continued expansion of the state voucher program without accountability.
Ackerman refuted proponents’ claim that the voucher program is about families having choice, saying if that were true, private schools would not be able to pick and choose who comes and stays. And it is also no longer about its supposed original intent to assist low-income families attending poorly performing school.
“Not now when virtually any student in the state regardless of income or the public school they attend, can get a voucher,” she said. “Not when so many existing private school families are now lining up to get those vouchers too.”
Even if someone supports the idea of vouchers being available for all students, Ackerman questions how anyone can support those private schools not being held to the same accountability standards as public schools.
“We are held accountable for academics, staff certifications, finances and more. We encounter and meet endless mandates from both the state and federal government,” she said. “Why would the same not be true for private schools using tax dollars to educate students? That is only fair, and frankly is what’s best for all students.”
Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith also presented a proclamation at the press conference, and two Lima Senior students talked about their experiences.
District-Wide Open House
The highlight of “Celebrate Public Schools: Experience the Spartan Pride” will be a District-Wide Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at Lima Senior High School.
While held at the high school, every school and program will be represented. Below are just a few of the evening’s highlights.
*Free Meal by Spartan Inn culinary students
*Tour the Building
*Visit Career Tech labs and academic classrooms
*Student music groups performing in the gym
*Student art exhibit in the auditorium
*Visit Kids Zone with games, activities, and information on preschool and kindergarten
*Face painting
*Meet our School Resource Officers and K-9s
*Fun activities in the library
*Tech activities
*Blood pressure checks in Patient Care classroom
*Woodworking project in Construction classroom
*Makerspace and STEM activities, classroom displays and projects
*Visit the Spartan Ride
*Win prizes – Nearly 100 to give away, plus several grand prizes upon completion of punch card
A special thank you to Cotterman and Company and Ley Insurance for donating those grand prizes. And thanks to the following for donating items for the meal and prizes that will be given out throughout the evening: Alter Ego Comics, ArtSpace/Lima, Brown Supply, Cenovus Lima Refinery, Fox Supplies, Good Food Restaurants, Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce, Lima Senior Athletics, Lima Senior DECA, Lima Senior Spartan Inn, Lima Senior Automotive Program, Lima Sporting Goods, The Met, Pepsi, Rightway Food Service, Rush Truck, Sara’s Sweets, Signs Ohio, Smith Boughan, Sullivan Insurance, Veterans Memorial Civic Center, Westgate Entertainment and West Ohio Food Bank.
Also, the first 200 children to come to the open house will get a coupon for a free kid’s meal at Texas Roadhouse.
