Fairfield Union highlights report-card gains, approves student access to New Lexington workforce center
Summary
Superintendent and district staff presented state report-card results showing a four-star district rating, building-level 4.5-star recognitions, and a weakness in early literacy; board approved an agreement allowing seniors to attend New Lexington's workforce center for one-year pathways.
Fairfield Union Local School District on Nov. 17 celebrated student and staff achievements and approved an interdistrict agreement with New Lexington that will let a limited number of seniors take one-year workforce pathways while remaining Fairfield Union students.
Superintendent Mr. Bellville presented certificates to National Honor Society officers after announcing the board would consider an agreement to send Fairfield Union seniors to New Lexington's workforce development center. He said the initial arrangement would guarantee three seats in a phlebotomy pathway and clinical placements at Genesis HealthCare's Somerset hospital. "We anticipate having 3 students that would go to New Lexington to attend in the second semester for phlebotomy," Bellville said.
Why it matters: The district also received its 2024-25 state report card results during a data presentation by Mr. DiStadio. Fairfield Union was rated an overall four-star district for the year. Two buildings—Bremen Elementary and Fairfield Union High School—received 4.5-star building ratings, and the high school led the county on the college/career/military/workforce readiness indicator (about 81%). DiStadio emphasized the collective effort behind the numbers: "Everything that we do in this district, it really is a team effort," he said.
Details: The presentation reported that the district scored above the state average on 17 of 20 state tests and tied or ranked first or second in most county comparisons. DiStadio highlighted that early literacy remains the district's largest concern, with a two-star early literacy rating that reflects the first-year effects of Ohio's newly required "science of reading" curriculum. He said the dip was small enough that, if corrected by fractions of a percentage point, the district would return to a three-star rating on that measure. The district will continue targeted professional development and interventions to address early literacy and writing supports.
Partnership terms and next steps: Under the approved agreement, Fairfield Union students will remain enrolled at Fairfield Union, complete their academic courses there and graduate from Fairfield Union while participating in specific workforce programs at New Lexington. The board approved the superintendent agreement by unanimous vote. Board members and administrators emphasized the arrangement is meant as an additional pathway, not a replacement for existing programs.
Other recognition: The board also presented certificates to National Honor Society leaders for a chapter-level service recognition and photos were taken after the presentations.
The board moved later in the meeting into executive session; no further public action was taken at that time.
