On Nov. 13, the West Geauga Schools hosted the second of two open community meetings to discuss upgrading the facilities of the district.
Facility Master Planning
On Nov. 13, the West Geauga Schools hosted the second of two open community meetings to discuss upgrading the facilities of the district.
During the meeting, architects offered construction options and provided the survey results from the previous community meeting. Attendees then had an opportunity to select the option that they felt was the most beneficial for the schools.
The data collected at the meeting will be used in determining the final option to be presented to the West Geauga Board of Education at an upcoming meeting.
According to Superintendent Rich Markwardt, “This is an exciting time for West Geauga as the district explores options that will affect its present and future building needs.”
Rotary Donates Dictionaries
The Chesterland Rotary visited Westwood’s third-grade classes to distribute dictionaries to entire grade. The yearly program gives students the opportunity to utilize the dictionaries in the classroom for work in their language arts classes as well as other subjects.
The students look forward to this program each and every year.
Students Assist With Restoration Project
Davey Resource Group recently won a bid to conduct a stream restoration project along Griswold Creek at Geauga Park District’s Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park. As part of the project, West Geauga High School environmental studies students gathered baseline data and assisted in survey work with field research technicians from Davey Tree.
Griswold Creek is a coldwater habitat stream that flows through Chester and Russell Townships and enters the Chagrin River in Hunting Valley. Unfortunately, removal of native plants in the watershed and stormwater runoff from roads, driveways and rooftops has led to impairment of the stream. Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc. (CRWP) assisted the Geauga Park District with a grant application to obtain funding for the restoration project.
As part of the project, West Geauga High School students gathered baseline data and assisted in survey work with biologists from Davey Resource Group.
Paul Pira, a biologist from the Geauga Park District said, “I always encourage students and teachers from our local schools to use Geauga Park District as a hands-on laboratory for learning about environmental science and natural history. This current project is a great example.”
During their time with the biologists, students studied stream and wetland functions, and collected data for the completion of a Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and the Ohio Rapid Assessment Method (ORAM). Students also identified fish species collected from the creek in order to determine the overall health and biodiversity of the stream.
Judith Mitchell, the Davey Resource Group project manager for this project, is pleased for this opportunity to partner with the students. “Engaging the students in data collection has a dual benefit: the park is able to generate pre- and post- restoration data and facilitate data collection in the future; and the students are able to learn and participate in real-world data collection.”
The stream and riparian restoration work will be implemented this year. In the spring of 2019, Davey Resource Group will again meet with the West Geauga students to collect post-restoration data from the site. This data will be compared to the pre-restoration data and used to evaluate changes at the restoration site. West Geauga students will continue to return to collect data each fall and spring for the next several years to document changes to the site.
