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Northridge students, coaches honored as board highlights academic, athletic gains
Summary
Middlebury Community Schools honored Northridge High School’s first-year Unified Track team and heard administrators describe expanded AP and dual-credit offerings, state-level competition results and partnerships that administrators say saved families an estimated $3.2 million in college tuition cost this year.
NORTHRIDGE — The Middlebury Community Schools board on June 2 recognized Northridge High School’s first Unified Track team and heard administrators summarize a year of academic and extracurricular gains at the high school.
Dr. Snyder, superintendent of Middlebury Community Schools, opened the board’s “Middlebury moment” by calling the Unified Track program an “IHSAA-sanctioned sport” that brings “students of all abilities” together for competition and leadership development and invited coaches and athletes forward for certificates and a team photo. Coaches Melanie Yoder and Bethany Rudd accepted the recognition and described the inaugural season as a learning curve that was “a lot of fun.”
Principal Whitehead gave a year-in-review presentation that highlighted academic achievements, expanded course offerings and competitive successes. She noted a National Merit Scholar and multiple state- and regional-level placements in Science Olympiad, robotics and performing arts. Whitehead said the school added AP government, AP Physics 2, pre-calculus and U.S. history this year and reported SAT English and math scores above the state average.
On college-credit programs, administrators said more than 80 students earned more than 30 college credits this year through dual-credit and AP programs. Dr. Snyder told the board that, on a conservative calculation, those credits translated to roughly $3.2 million in tuition savings for families by reducing the amount of college students must pay.
The presentation also described partnerships and career-pathway initiatives. Administrators introduced a two-year pathway with the Middlebury Fire Department and named two seniors, Jonas Space and Logan Reedsecer, who had been sworn in as firefighters as part of the program. The district’s work-based learning program currently enrolls 239 students and is expected to grow next year, with administrators citing plans for additional apprenticeships and greater coordination with the fire department and local employers. The board also heard about an entrepreneurship program, Startup Moxy, that supports student-run businesses.
Board members praised the school’s efforts to increase student engagement; one member noted that participation in activities appeared tied to academic gains. The board also reiterated logistical items including an upcoming graduation ceremony and field trips (including an art trip to Chicago and a planned trip to Puerto Rico).
The board recognized the Unified Track award recipients and coaches and closed the item by inviting the public to the district commencement and remaining end-of-year events.
