"I'm getting up for that dunk tank." Craig Caroff
The principal’s office is normally the domain of Newbury Elementary School Principal Craig Caroff.
But, on May 23, a dunk tank will take precedence for the first-year principal, who will be present in that exhibit at the annual PTO carnival fundraiser.
“I’m getting up for that dunk tank,” he told a laughing school board at Monday’s monthly board meeting.
The carnival will run from 6-9 p.m. at the Newbury High School gym and proceeds — including those from Caroff being dunked — will help defray costs from purchasing 30 Nooks, electronic readers from Barnes & Noble that enable users to read books on a tablet-based computer screen, Caroff said.
Caroff told the board the Nooks would fund “at least one class,” although details on which grades would receive the Nooks were still being hammered out.
He said normally a Nook retails at $109 for an individual tablet, but education-based bulk purchasing reduces the price by $15 per Nook.
“We’d love to get 30,” he said, adding one electronic book download could be sent to up to six Nook devices.
Even if the Nook itself lasts three to four years, downloaded electronic books stay with the user’s account forever, the principal said.
The event will also help fund day-to-day PTO operations and events such as the Columbus Center Of Science and Industry presentations at the school as well as charity fundraisers, PTO Treasurer and carnival event organizer Jocelyn Sanders said after the meeting.
“We’re able to fund purchases of various items with our carnival money, including field trips,” she said.
One of the most important events is Holiday Shop, in which children in grades kindergarten through six shop for their relatives for gifts $5 and below during the holiday season.
As far as Caroff’s role as dunkee …
“He’s generously donated himself to be dunked,” Sanders joked.
She said a new feature in this year’s carnival is that of $15 wristbands for children, in addition to traditional ticketing procedures.
“That way, the kids can play at the bounce house and inflatables all night,” Sanders said, adding it was a more affordable way for parents and their children to spend time at the event.
On Tuesday, PTO President Jamie Weber said the carnival has been a fixture of the community for years.
“It’s gone at least 25 years, as far back as I remember. The carnival was big when I was in school,” Weber said.
Board member Susan Arnold said she hoped the carnival would be a success and encouraged the community to come out.
“We’re hoping that children can encourage their parents to come as well,” Arnold said. “We’re hoping that this carnival will also help fund additional PTO events this summer.”
In other news, the school district is conducting minor repairs to buildings caused by water damage last week, Superintendent Dick Wagner said.
“We’ve prepared a report for (Hess & Associates, Inc.) Engineer (George) Chip Hess and we’re going to get it fixed,” Wagner said. “When there’s rainfall, that tends to happen.”
The board voted to continue membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for both Newbury Senior and Newbury Junior high schools for the 2014-2015 school year.
“We’ll follow rules that OHSAA sets up,” the superintendent said.
Board members also approved a $3,128 contract with the Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation for 68 hours of financial aid advisory services for the 2014-15 school year, Wagner said.
The board noted the Ohio School Boards Association commended board member Ken Blair for his 40 years of service to the district.
