The Berkshire Local Schools recently received the news that it will save taxpayers approximately $5.7 million over the next 30-plus years due to the district’s refinancing of the bond related to the new preK-12 facility...
Refinancing Saves District Millions
The Berkshire Local Schools recently received the news that it will save taxpayers approximately $5.7 million over the next 30-plus years due to the district’s refinancing of the bond related to the new preK-12 facility. The substantial savings comes as a result of the Berkshire Schools’ leadership proactively taking advantage of lower interest rates presently in the market, along with its financial strength as a public institution.
With the refinancing of the debt, the Berkshire Local Schools will reduce its current interest rate on the bond of 3.5 percent to 2.56 percent. In the process, the Berkshire Local Schools earned an improved and very strong A1 rating from the national ratings firm Moody’s, which accompanies a “High Quality” designation for investors. The district views this is as a win-win-win scenario, with taxpayer savings, the district’s reduction in total bond retirement exposure and the students, who will begin their formal education in a new school during the 2021-22 school year. The district thanks residents for their continued support of the Berkshire Local Schools.
Earth Day Parade
Burton Elementary School students celebrated Earth Day on April 23 with a meaningful Parade for the Planet, culminating a project based learning unit about the day’s significance. The parade featured the Berkshire youngsters carrying posters about Earth Day and singing songs as they passed Century Village, downtown Burton businesses and concluded in the circle, where they enjoyed lunch.
Egg Drop Challenge
Third-grade students at Burton Elementary School recently completed an Egg Drop Challenge, a creative learning opportunity that blends instructional material with hands-on experiences. Using the Next Generation Science Standards, students were able to generate and compare multiple solutions to an open-ended problem based on how well each is likely to produce a favorable outcome.
The STEM activity began with a list of materials, whereupon students designed a mechanism to protect an egg. The students then paired and refined their designs to create a single device. As a culminating event, the devices were dropped from a 10-foot height. Congratulations to the students and their teachers for designing creative and instructional learning experiences.
