LaBrae Local School District

LaBrae Local Schools is reducing the tax rate on the bond levy passed by the community to build the LaBrae Complex.  For more information follow this link: 2017 Bond Rate Reduced.

The Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District held its 2016 Junior Envirothon competition.  A group of students from LaBrae Middle School, advised by teacher Mr. Cory Hinzman, won the competition.  Team members include Brycen Klotzbach, Anna MacKenzie, Breeanna Bucci, Cierra Burchett and Cole Faler.

Attention LHS students and families (grades 9-12):  Sign up for the LHS student Remind App to receive automated text updates concerning events, deadlines, and other important information from the LaBrae High School main office, athletic office, and school counseling office. 

The mission of the North American Envirothon competition is to foster knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who have an understanding of natural resources, and develop citizens who are willing and prepared to work towards achieving and maintaining a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.  This mission is accomplished by engaging young people in a competitive process that fosters their understanding of the principles and practices associated with the management of natural resource and ecology.  Students are challenged to apply their knowledge in a competitive process as they are presented with complex ecological dilemmas.  One particular group of LaBrae students for the last two years has been the best the State of Ohio has to offer.  The LaBrae Envirothon Team, coached by biology teacher Craig Klotzbach, won their second state championship in June. At the state competition, team finished in first place in Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, and the presentation on Invasive Species.  They finished second place in Soils.  

The team's victory earned them the opportunity to compete in the national competition held in Ontario, Canada from July 24th to July 29th.  This year's competition was titled Invasive Species: A Challenge to the Environment, Economy and Society.  More information on the particular aspects of the competition can be found by following this link: 2016 National Envirothon.  The LaBrae team improved upon their 19th place finish in 2015 by finishing 8th in this year's national competition.  Congratulations are in order for Mr. Klotzbach and team members Tessa Smith, Alexis Nubani, Maddie Cope, Joe Jaros, and Caleb Hineman.

Reference: www.envirothon.org/aboutus

LaBrae residents who have a child that turns five years old after August 1st but before December 31, 2016 may apply for screening to be considered for early entrance into kindergarten.  The needed forms can be found below or in the Bascom Elementary School office.  The completed referral form, early entrance surveys, and proof of residency should be turned in to the Bascom office or the Superintendent’s office.  Please refer any questions to the Bascom Principal, margaret [dot] kowachlabrae [dot] school (subject: Re%3A%20Early%20Entrance%20Into%20Kindergarten) (Maggie Kowach), at 330-898-3041.

The charter school industry siphons approximately $1 billion a year from the traditional public schools across the State of Ohio; traditional public schools that are far superior in their academic performance on Ohio's School Report Card.  Do you value the public education your children receive?  Do you expect your tax dollars to be used prudently?  Should LaBrae taxpayers continue to subsidize the poorly performing charter industry?  Want to become more informed on this issue?  Review the attachment below and visit the following link for more information:  Charter Schools: A Failed Experiment!

The 2015-2016 school year marks the implementation of LaBrae's student drug testing program.  Throughout the previous school year, the LaBrae Board of Education engaged in ongoing discussion about the value of a student drug testing program for LaBrae Local Schools.  Once the Board committed to moving forward with passing a policy permitting the drug testing of students, the administration was charged with developing a testing program.  Research on drug testing programs included analyzing programs currently implemented in other schools throughout the Mahoning Valley.  Additionally, the administration evaluated drug testing vendors, and Great Lakes BioMedical was approved recently by the Board of Education as the authorized provider of drug testing services.  

LaBrae's drug testing program is designed to support students and encourage good decision making.  Students who participate on an athletic team in grades 7-12, and student drivers comprise the portion of the student body that will be subject to drug testing.  Student-athletes will be required to take one baseline test each year.  This test is conducted in the pre-season of the sport in which they first participate in the year.  Random tests will be conducted multiple times during the year.  Moreover, when the random drug screenings are administered, student drivers are added to the pool of students who are subject to testing.  Parents of students who are not participating in a sport, or who do not drive to school, can choose to have their child opt into the random pool.  When a parent chooses to opt-in their child, the parent bears the cost of the test if their child is selected for testing.  All students and parents are required to complete consent forms for testing. 

See the PDF attachment below for greater detail regarding LaBrae's student drug testing program.  Should you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Mr. Jeff Starkey, High School Principal, or Mr. Todd Rowe, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director.

The Envirothon is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students. The Envirothon tests students' knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on an Envirothon team is challenged to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of an Envirothon is the team score. It is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Natural resource and environmental specialists from many agencies, organizations, colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the Envirothon questions and staff the various test stations.

In May, both LaBrae teams, A and B, won the Envirothon Region 2 competition earning the opportunity to compete at the state level.  On June 9^th the LaBrae Team A made up of Maddie Cope, Caleb Hineman, Joey Jaros, Alexus Nubani and Tessa Smith placed 1st in the State of Ohio at the State Envirothon Competition at Mohican State Park.  Winning the State Championship qualifies LaBrae Team A for the national competition in Springfield, Missouri.  LaBrae's A Team will be competing July 27^th- August 2^nd at the National Conservation Foundation - Envirothon Competition.

Also qualifying for the state competition was LaBrae Team B made up of Casey Dean, Emily Engler, Donald Fenstermaker, Allison Middleton and Alexis Wilson, which placed 12th in the state. LaBrae High School science teacher Mr. Craig Klotzbach serves as the advisor to our Envirothon teams. Congratulations to both teams on perpetuating the legacy of LaBrae's strong performances at the Envirothon competitions.  Moreover, LaBrae Local Schools congratulates Team A and Mr. Klotzbach for bringing home their first Envirothon state championship!

The LaBrae Local Schools are accepting donations of used band instruments. With the increase of interest among the elementary students and state funding cuts looming, the district has grave concern as to its ability to sustain the current level of funding for band instruments. Donations are tax deductable. For further information, please contact the Superintendent's Office at 330-898-1393.

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