PAVING THE ROAD TO IMPROVEMENT
School continues to make upgrades in AND out of the classroom
by Addison Themer

For most schools, summer means three months devoted to maintenance, improvements and upgrades.

For Dover Public Schools, this summer was no different, but maybe multiplied a few degrees.

While routine tasks such as waxing the floors and painting the walls were completed, the school went above and beyond the typical summer improvements to ensure the students returned to school to find an upgraded learning environment, according to high school principal Kyle Karns and elementary principal Trilla Cranford.

The school bought new library books for the elementary school, made improvements to the weight room, purchased new buses, installed a sensory path for the elementary students and much more.

Several of the improvements began prior to the start of summer.

At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, Lisa Storm began teaching art at the elementary school and music, taught by Molly Neuman, was added in the spring.

“The alumni and the teachers are so happy to see these programs brought back,” said Cranford. “They really make a big difference in the lives of students.”

Each week the students attend music and art twice and go to P.E. for three hours.

“We are trying our best to make everything more student friendly,” said Cranford. “Sometimes bringing in new things can help and we did a lot of that this past year.”

Also, Dana Cheap was hired as the elementary librarian halfway through the year.

“Mrs. Cheap came in and really made it look like an elementary library,” said Cranford. “We went through and got rid of books the kids either didn’t read or that needed replaced.”

This summer, $12,000 worth of books have been purchased and added to the library shelves, ready to be checked out by students upon their return.

Several of the other additions made to the elementary school encourage students to get up and move.

“Even as adults we get tired of sitting all day and it can be nice to get up and walk around. The kids feel that way too,” said Cranford.

Flexible seating has been bought to place at the students’ desks or at the teacher’s work table.

Dani Wood, the physical education teacher, also applied for a $15,000 T-SET grant for an action based lab (ABL).

The lab includes stations with equipment that encourages movement while learning.

There is a paddle desk, similar to a stationary bike with a table top in front of it, that has two seats.

This allows the teacher to instruct a child while both can be active.

“The goal is for students to use the ABL twice a week for 20 minutes each time,” said Cranford. “Studies have shown that if students are moving around while learning they retain the information better.”

A sensory path has also been added to the floor of the elementary.

Colored shapes and strategically-placed tiles serve as a tool that teachers can use for students who need to get up and move or let off steam.

“We placed the tiles strategically. There are some outside of the bathrooms because it can be hard to keep kids quiet and still while they are waiting to go back to class,” Cranford said.

“We also placed part of the path outside of the computer lab. Sometimes, students are having a hard day and need to go out and give off energy before coming back into the classroom and sitting at their computer.”

Other additions to DPS include an upgraded weight room.

“We added three full racks,” said Karns. “It was over $10,000 worth of equipment.”

The room also has new flooring.

Thanks to a bond issue passed by voters earlier this year, the school has also purchased a new ag truck and several new buses.

The new activity bus is equipped with seatbelts, outlets and USB ports at each seat, a DVD player and cameras.

“We also added new cement from the building to the blacktop in the front,” said Karns.

This not only adds to the curb appeal of the building, but will also help with a drainage issue that occurred when it rained.

“It’s the little things that make a big difference,” Cranford said.

“It’s not about us,” said Karns. “We are enjoying giving the kids the things that they deserve.”

“We have had so much support from the community,” Cranford added. “They have been there cheering us on throughout the entire process.”

* * *
Dover School staff for 2019-20

Junior High/High School

Andrea Becker - English Latricia Crane - Math *Lori Burns - Science and Leadership *Dylan Blundell- Social Studies Patrick Driskill - Vo-Ag and FFA advisor *Aaron Norton - Social Studies Alejandra Chayres - Bilingual Liaison

* New teachers

Administration and Support Staff

Max Thomas - Superintendent Trilla Cranford - Elementary Principal Kyle Karns - Junior High and High School Principal Rondi Andrews - Student Services Janice Andrews - Business Manager Brenda Maschino - Administrative Assistant and Child Nutrition Glenda Payne - Deputy Treasurer and Activity Fund Custodian

Elementary

Casey Trammel - Pre-K *Tiffany Blundell - Kindergarten *Amy Trout- 1st grade Carole Liles - 2nd grade *Caitlyn Stucki - 3rd grade Kelly Lane - 4th, 5th and 6th grade ELA