Logan Elm District Superintendent Tim Williams is pleased with the successful transition from six standalone buildings to the new campus of two buildings on Tarlton Road.
“I could not be happier with the progress we are making and the opportunities we can now provide for our students,” said Williams.
Upon entering the new buildings, the amount of light in the classrooms is a huge upgrade.
“The windows are very large and produce lots of natural light compared to the older buildings,” Williams said. “Also, for example, the middle and high school library is in an area when the light makes a huge impact.”
Logan Elm enrollment has been up and down historically but seems to be on the rise.
“Over the past decade, we have seen a reduction in students enrolled at Logan Elm. With that being said over the past two years our enrollment numbers have remained steady and begun to increase. I foresee this trend continuing over the next decade. The local housing market is thriving and Pickaway County seems to be a popular destination,” explained Williams.
The district has an open enrollment policy that provides guidelines for the administration. To be considered for open enrollment, an individual must live in an adjacent District. If a student meets that requirement they may complete an application.
“The Board of Education has established class size limits and, if a particular grade exceeds the limit, then open enrollment will not be permitted at that grade level. The numbers will ultimately drive those decisions,” explained Williams.
The new campus was designed with the requirements established by the Ohio Design Manual and, since it was an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission project, the building was built with the most up-to-date technology. Technology in the classrooms includes Chromebooks for students, a SmartBoard display, and amplifiers for teachers.
Williams has seen many technology changes during his 12 years leading the Braves district, and incorporating technology at an appropriate level can be a challenge.
“During the ‘Covid years’ we got very used to using technology and now I am really trying to push more direct instruction with our staff. I think there needs to be a good mix, and I believe we do that here at Logan Elm.”
Even though the campus buildings are new, there are always projects to be done. Some ongoing projects that were outside the scope of the bond issue are being worked on, and Williams reports that the majority of that work will be completed this summer.
• a parking lot to the east of the new building
• a walking path
• siding on the re-modeled athletic facility
• additional baseball and softball fields
• work on the playing surface at the stadium
The Braves administration is dedicated to being good stewards of their new campus.
“At the April board meeting, the Board approved a contract to replace the roof on McDowell. We need to keep McDowell in good shape for District Offices, ancillary programs, and potential growth,” said Williams.
The earthwork at the former elementary schools should be completed by mid-Summer, as well as the transfer of the properties to the townships and village of Laurelville so those sites may continue to serve a public purpose.
“Ball diamonds are being used at Pickaway and Washington, and at Laurelville they are looking for ways to provides services to the community,” Williams said. “It’s bittersweet but we hope there will be great things happening at those sites.”
Additionally, a greenhouse for students in Ag classes is being planned, due to an exciting partnership with Pickaway Ross Vocational School.
“We will be offering Junior High Ag class, and this is a credit to Pickaway Ross Vocational School. We give them the space and they pay the salary for the teacher. We have good FFA and Ag classes and I’m glad we are able to offer this next year. I talk to lots of schools and they are very impressed that we are able to offer all of those programs,” explained Williams.
When asked about awards received by Braves this year, Williams replied that he is amazed by the talents and accomplishments of the students and staff.
“From extracurriculars to academics, we often have students recognized on the local, regional and state levels. This is a credit to their dedication and the support they receive from their parents, our staff, and the community.”
Support from families is critical to success for Logan Elm students, and effective communication is a key component of that success.
“We use X (formerly Twitter) and LE apps that can be downloaded and will send push notifications directly to an individual’s phone, so that our families know what is happening within the district.”
“It takes a lot of planning when you bring together almost 1,700 students and 250 adults. My main goal this year was to build a sense of community, and I think that’s happened,” said Williams. “I believe the building administrators have and will continue to look at unique ways to enhance the teaching and learning for our students,” continued Williams. “This will only continue to improve as we move into the 2024-25 school year.”
By the Numbers
Student Enrollment: 1,617
Attendance Rate: 93.3%
4-year Graduation Rate: 90.2%
Number of schools: 2 (a PK-5 building and a 6-12 building)
Teacher average years of experience: 17
(Source: reportcard.education.ohio.gov and confirmed by Williams)
ODE overall rating: 3.5 stars
(Source: Ohio Department of Education)
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