Education

JA compiles financial snapshot of district for residents
Education, News, Plain City
JA compiles financial snapshot of district for residents
By Michael Williamson 
March 14, 2025
Residents in the Jonathan Alder school district can now get a full picture of the school’s finances. At the March board of education meeting, Treasurer Mark Ingles told members that, like many treasur...
Marysville superintendent candidates trimmed to six
Education, Local News, Marysville School Board
Marysville superintendent candidates trimmed to six
MHS Principal Ken Chaffin makes the cut
By Chad Williamson 
March 7, 2025
While the number of candidates applying to be Marysville’s next superintendent may appear low, it is not out of line with what the board of education was told to expect. Only 11 individuals applied fo...
Green reflects on MHS scholarship process
Education, News
Green reflects on MHS scholarship process
Stepped down as president, will continue to remain involved in scholarship process
By Jack Christian 
March 7, 2025
Judi Green has always called it "rich." Not in the sense of wealth, but in history, dedication and the deep-rooted belief in education that runs through the alumni of Marysville High School. The schol...
Fairbanks facility upgrades to begin soon
Education, News
Fairbanks facility upgrades to begin soon
By Michael Williamson 
March 3, 2025
Renovations to several athletic facilities at Fairbanks will be starting soon, beginning with the football stadium in late May. The board of education recently passed a series of measures at the regul...
Panther Pause…Fairbanks High School
Education
Panther Pause…Fairbanks High School
March 1, 2025
Senior of the Month: Kadence Kise By Dayne Madison Kadence Kise was chosen by the Fairbanks Staff as a senior of the month. She was nominated by Mrs. Alexis Phipps for installing a communication board...
New Bunsold principal named
Education, News
New Bunsold principal named
By From JT Staff Reports 
February 28, 2025
The current assistant principal will be taking over the top job at Bunsold Middle School before the start of school next year. The Marysville school district announced that Heidi LoParo has been named...
Schirg leaving
Education, News
Schirg leaving
Fairbanks superintendent heading to Rocky River
By Mike Williamson 
February 28, 2025
Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version. Fairbanks Superintendent Adham Schirg is leaving the district. After six years leading the school, Schirg announced Friday that he h...
Amazon funds third JA “educational incubator”
Education, News
A Jonathan Alder Junior High School student demonstrates a STEM project during the grand opening of the Amazon Think Big Space at the school Wednesday. The Think Big Space, the second collaboration between Amazon Web Services and Jonathan Alder Local Schools, is designed to “foster creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills through hands-on learning in design, coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.” (Photo submitted)
Amazon funds third JA “educational incubator”
By From JT Staff Reports 
February 21, 2025
In a partnership with Amazon Web Services, Jonathan Alder has added a third Think Big Space to its campus. On Wednesday, the district held the grand opening to its new room in the junior high building...
New state budget may result in NU losing $1.3M
Education, News
New state budget may result in NU losing $1.3M
By Kyle Meddles 
February 18, 2025
North Union is bracing for negative impacts stemming from lack of support for school funding in the state, including projections that the district may lose nearly $1.3 million in funding. Ohio Gov. Mi...
Alder works to stay ahead of career readiness mandate
Education, News
Alder works to stay ahead of career readiness mandate
By Michael Williamson 
February 14, 2025
Jonathan Alder is working on ways to stay ahead of changes coming to the state report card next year. At the regular February board of education meeting, officials discussed how the State of Ohio is p...
In The Halls…Marysville High School
Education
In The Halls…Marysville High School
February 8, 2025
Marysville featured seniors of the month Austin Bennett By Wesley Paul Austin Bennett is the son of Jason and Pam Bennett. Austin has been a trailblazer in the MHS agricultural department for all 4 ye...
JA selects new junior high site
Education, News
Jonathan Alder officials take a break during their special board of education meeting Tuesday afternoon to watch the high school parking lot empty out at the end of the school day. Traffic issues during pick-up and drop-off times were part of the board’s larger discussion around two site options for facility planning. Pictured from left: board member Bruce Hooley, superintendent Jim Miller, board member Erica Detweiler, board member Sonia Walker and board member Bill McCartney. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
JA selects new junior high site
High school property appears to have enough space; final design still up in the air
By Michael Williamson 
January 31, 2025
With two facility options on the table, Jonathan Alder had one question to answer this week: if the district is going to build a new junior high, where should it be located? The answer: on the current...
Panther Pause…Fairbanks High School
Education
Panther Pause…Fairbanks High School
January 25, 2025
Senior of the Month: Jenna Dee By Macy Kise Jenna Dee was selected by the Fairbanks Staff for senior of the month! She was nominated by Mr. Patrick Cotter, who said “Jenna worked very hard last semest...
Marysville accelerates superintendent search timeline
Education, News
Marysville accelerates superintendent search timeline
By Chad Williamson 
January 17, 2025
The Marysville Board of Education has accelerated the timeline for its superintendent search. At Thursday’s meeting, President Bill Keck laid out a schedule in which the board hopes to name a replacem...
Walker named president of Jonathan Alder School Board
Education, News
Walker named president of Jonathan Alder School Board
By Jack Christian 
January 17, 2025
The Jonathan Alder School Board began the 2025 year by electing a new vice president and retaining their current president during Monday night’s meeting. Sonia Walker will continue the role of preside...
Fairbanks facing pushback from ODOT on new access road
Education, News
Fairbanks facing pushback from ODOT on new access road
By Jack Christian 
January 17, 2025
Fairbanks is hitting a roadblock with its newly planned campus access road, a project designed to alleviate traffic congestion on Route 38. With ongoing problems now, and an expected growing student b...
NU seeks to improve behavioral health support
Education, News
NU seeks to improve behavioral health support
By Kyle Meddles 
January 15, 2025
North Union officials discussed methods to improve support for behavioral health issues at the North Union Elementary School. During a work session at the board of education’s organizational and regul...
Triad looks to revamp preschool program
Education, News
Triad looks to revamp preschool program
By Kyle Meddles 
January 13, 2025
Triad is looking at improving on the current pre-school system. At the organizational and regular meeting of Triad’s Board of Education on Thursday, Lee Claypool, Director of Student Services, said th...
Cyberattack hits Marysville’s PowerSchool
Education, News
Cyberattack hits Marysville’s PowerSchool
By From JT Staff Reports 
January 10, 2025
Another cybersecurity hit the Marysville school district. In an email to families this week, Superintendent Diane Allen said the district is aware of the data breach regarding the school’s PowerSchool...
Fairbanks continues planning for future growth
Education, News
Fairbanks continues planning for future growth
By Jack Christian 
December 23, 2024
One future project in preliminary discussions at Fairbanks is the development of a campus access road designed to separate bus traffic from parent pick-up lines. Pending approval, this road could incl...
Triad will bring back levy renewal
Education, News
Triad will bring back levy renewal
By Kyle Meddles 
December 20, 2024
For the second time, Triad officials are set to place a renewal of the district’s existing levy on the ballot on May 6, 2025. At the board of education meeting Thursday, members voted unanimously to r...
ESC tapped to lead supt. search
Education, News
ESC tapped to lead supt. search
By Chad Williamson 
December 13, 2024
The search to replace its superintendent will not cost the Marysville school district any money. The board of education voted unanimously to allow the Education Service Center (ESC) of Central Ohio to...
Levy formalized; new retirement incentive set for teachers
Education, News
Levy formalized; new retirement incentive set for teachers
By Chad Williamson 
December 13, 2024
The Marysville Board of Education finalized its plan to move forward with a property tax levy in May at a meeting Thursday night, while also making a move that could save some operational dollars with...
JA Board settles on facility costs, levy millage
Education, News
JA Board settles on facility costs, levy millage
By Michael Williamson 
December 11, 2024
Jonathan Alder has narrowed its master facilities plan down to two similar options but did not yet vote on a decision for the final plan. At the regular meeting on Monday night, the board of education...
Schools opt for property tax levy
Education, News
Schools opt for property tax levy
Committee opinion may have factored into decision
By Chad Williamson 
December 10, 2024
The concerns of the Marysville Schools Levy Committee may have played a role in the board of education’s decision to return to the ballot with another property tax measure. The board voted 3-2 Monday ...
LifeWise set to open program for Fairbanks students
Education, News
LifeWise set to open program for Fairbanks students
By From JT Staff Reports 
December 5, 2024
LifeWise Academy held its first classes at Fairbanks Elementary School on Tuesday, Sept. 5, which enrolls students in grades 1-5. LifeWise Academy, which is based in Hilliard, is a released time relig...
JA students meet inspiring athlete
Education, News
JA students meet inspiring athlete
By From JT Staff Reports 
December 5, 2024
Athlete and speaker, Chris Nikic, greets Jonathan Alder students during his visit to the school district ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete a ful...
Next school levy could be property, income or combo tax
Education, News
Next school levy could be property, income or combo tax
Board resolved to be on the ballot in May
By Chad Williamson 
December 4, 2024
The Marysville Board of Education agrees on one thing – the district needs to be on the ballot again in May after two prior defeats. The shape of that next levy try, however, is completely up in the a...
Marysville pay-to-play changes again
Education, News
Marysville pay-to-play changes again
Fear of divisive reaction prompts reduction in fee
By Chad Williamson 
November 29, 2024
Parents of athletes in the Marysville schools will need to start filling out checks to the district in pencil. For the sixth time in the last month, the pay-to-play fee for sports has changed, after t...
Triad officials reflect on failed levy
Education, News
Triad officials reflect on failed levy
By Kyle Meddles 
November 26, 2024
The Triad Board of Education reflected on the failed levy renewal while the district prioritizes funds toward classroom improvements. Triad’s 0.5%, five-year income tax, which was a renewal of the lev...