WWW.RRCS.ORG ROCKY RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CULTIVATING EXCELLENCE AND REGIONAL SUCCESS
ROCKY RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AT A GLANCE ROCKY RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT: A Premier School District focusing on innovative curriculum development, community partnerships, and student well-being. WHERE: C uyahoga County, Ohio, United States WEBSITE: www.rrcs.org CULTIVATING EXC AND REGIONAL S Innovation and collaboration create strong academic foundations for students in Ohio 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07
CELLENCE SUCCESS Located in Cuyahoga County, the Rocky River School District provides a dynamic learning hub for its students and is meeting the future headon.The school district has continued to expand and succeed through a strategy that addresses high-level strategic initiatives and foundational operational actions. In an act of visionary planning, district leaders have shifted focus onto innovative curriculum development, 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07
and establishing critical community partnerships to support this. By engaging community stakeholders like parents, businesses, and local organizations, the district has built a strong support network and gained valuable insights that inform its policy and program development. Regular updates on initiatives, achievements, and challenges have fostered trust and collaboration between the district and its stakeholders Additionally, embracing a forward-thinking curriculum that integrates technology, critical thinking, and creativity is a core goal of this approach and aims to prepare students for an ever-evolving world. Ultimately, the success of the Rocky River School District is marked by its academic excellence, well-rounded student development, and cohesive, supportive community. By excelling in strategic planning and day-to-day operations, the district has created a nurturing and dynamic educational environment where every student can reach their full potential. A DISTRICT WITH A HISTORY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT The Rocky River City School District has long benefited from robust support from its business and school communities, ensuring critical funding essential for the district’s operations. This unwavering support has allowed the district to develop a comprehensive academic program for all students, build and maintain state-of-the-art facilities, and offer exceptional opportunities. From preschool through College Credit Plus, the district provides a rich array of academic courses alongside 90 different activities and athletic programs. These foundational elements—academics, facilities, and opportunities—are the bedrock of the district’s success. 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 ROCKY RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Recognizing the importance of early learning, the district operates a 5-star Step Up to Quality preschool program. “We’re committed to making sure that we do everything we can to support our students with their formative years in reading,” says Superintendent Dr. Michael Shoaf. Over the past 15 years, the program has grown significantly, expanding from 16 students to over 70, and district leadership has taken the initiative to expand the scope and impact of its programs in as many areas as possible. This growth is a result of the district providing its students with a robust academic environment by remodeling part of a school specifically for preschool students, further enhancing the program’s appeal and impact. This growth has also allowed the district to focus on program expansions for higher grade levels. “Our kindergarten program is focused on reading, mathematics, science, and social studies, and we have developed a structure within our school system, especially in the K-5 years,” Dr. Shoaf explains. The district uses programs like Wilson Reading and Heggerty and is in the process of updating its English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum to ensure the most effective instructional tools are available. Additionally, support is provided for students struggling with reading, ensuring they are wellprepared for the third-grade reading test, a key factor for promotion to fourth grade. The early emphasis on literacy and the core range of curriculum subjects has equipped students with the foundational knowledge they need to solve problems creatively HOLISTIC PLANNING FOR AN ACADEMIC VISION Rocky River City School District maintains an everevolving strategy to guide its development. 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 01
District leadership is currently collaborating with the Board of Education to work on refining its strategy, building on the success of the previous one. By leveraging a Quality Profile that offers a comprehensive view of the school community, highlighting various areas beyond test scores, the district can identify the key areas it needs to focus on growing. This holistic approach ensures that decisions align with community expectations and support the district’s strategic goals. Recently, district leaders identified a need to offer more full-day sections within its kindergarten programs, which has already taken action to achieve and is on pace to have 8 out of 9 of its kindergarten sections offered as a full-day service by next year. The district adopts a holistic approach to education, incorporating emotional and cognitive support alongside academics. Guidance counselors are available from K-12, and an external organization provides additional mental health support for students, staff, and families. Programs like the Safe School Helpline offer 24/7 counseling services, and the district also provides summer support services at the high school level. This comprehensive support system ensures that students’ mental health needs are met, contributing to their overall well-being. The district is also implementing robust support systems for students, such as tutoring and extracurricular activities to enhance their overall educational experience. Leaders like Dr. Shoaf understand that academics are a single aspect of a child’s well-being and preparation for the real world. So, the district has expanded its strategic focus to include career readiness, which it achieves via its higher education partnerships. 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 ROCKY RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Preparing students for the future economy is a key focus for the district. Starting in middle school, students take career readiness courses to explore their interests and potential career paths. High school students can earn college credit through partnerships with institutions like Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), Lorain Community College, and Cleveland State University. The district also collaborates with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to provide internships and real-world experiences, helping students make informed decisions about their future careers. “We have done a nice job of expanding our senior project program… before they go off to college students have a safe opportunity to take a look at a career, hands-on, that they may or may not want to follow,” Dr. Shoaf says, explaining that those kinds of authentic experiences are what drive early career decisions and life aspirations. To further enhance the student experience, technology is integral to the district’s educational approach. Starting in the early elementary grades, students use Chromebooks and other tools in their daily learning. Advanced courses in programming and robotics are available at the high school level, and the district’s partnership with the West Shore Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Lakewood provides additional opportunities in cybersecurity and other tech fields. By reinforcing safe technology usage early on, students will carry those skills and practices into their careers and execute them at the highest level. HONORING FINE ARTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FUTURE STRATEGIES Rocky River’s fine arts and athletic programs are the final components of its well-rounded educational offerings. “Our vocal and instrumental music programs are outstanding. We start in the early grades, and our 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 01
participation is very high with our students.They go to performances and always perform at a superior level,” Dr. Shoafs proudly states. In addition to the vocal and instrumental music programs’ results, the district’s drama department has received multiple accolades from the Dazzle Awards program. These fine arts programs are many of the things that preserve the community spirit and inspire new and different paths in the student’s minds. These co-curricular activities enrich students’ educational experiences and personal development. Lastly, investing in infrastructure and security is a top priority for the district. “We continually go through 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 ROCKY RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
to expand food service offerings for K-5 students. In this case, it will require the physical expansion of the district’s high school kitchen. Additionally, the district is collaborating with Tri-C on the renovation of an area within its high school that is intended to host more College Credit Plus courses. This partnership seeks to bring more curricular variety to the district by literally building the very infrastructure that would support it all. This is just one of many ways the district is aligning its infrastructural goals with its larger objections These improvements demonstrate the district’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment. In the next 18 months, the Rocky River City School District aims to continue strengthening its partnership with Tri-C to flesh out its curricular offerings. assessments and audits of our security,” Dr. Shoaf confirms, explaining how these assessments make it clear what kind of investment is needed to fill any identified security gaps. These ongoing assessments and audits ensure that school buildings are secure and will certainly be needed as the district moves forward with its plans 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 01
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Apart from that, it will continue to support staff and students with an updated ELA curriculum and focus on enhancing education in mathematics and science. Prioritizing the whole child’s education, including emotional and cognitive support, also remains central to the district’s mission. By fostering collaboration, embracing innovation, and maintaining a commitment to excellence, Rocky River City School District looks forward to a bright and successful future where students and all stakeholders benefit immensely from the keen oversight of its leadership. PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Wraparound Experts LLC www.wraparoundexperts.com Wraparound Experts empowers children to thrive mentally, emotionally, and academically through a true “wrap-around” approach. Our comprehensive services and staffing solutions blend seamlessly across environments so that children, families, and schools can succeed together. Join our dedicated Experts in creating a lasting change that goes beyond education. 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 01
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