District Newsletter: 10/23/2025

Reminder!

Tuesday, Nov. 4 – No Classes for Students; Teacher/Staff Professional Development Day

Championing Our Progress!

Independent Community Survey on Facilities Launches Soon

To ensure Bexley City Schools are developing priorities that the broader community can align with, the district has commissioned a confidential public opinion survey of Bexley residents about education and the district facilities plan. The telephone survey will begin during the week of Oct. 27th. 

On the heels of completing a two-year facilities-planning process, we believe transparency and listening to our community are essential to recommending a district facilities plan Bexley residents themselves can champion. 

The telephone survey will be conducted by an independent research firm and will include a random selection of residents. The survey phone call, which will take only a few minutes, is designed to gather a representative understanding of community perspectives.

If you are contacted, please know this is an official district effort, and your participation will help ensure decisions reflect the values and priorities of our community. Once the data is analyzed, results will be shared publicly. Learn more about the District Facilities Plan on our website.

Celebrating Bexley Principals!

It’s National Principals Month and we are eager to celebrate the hard-working leaders of our schools! Follow along this month as we spotlight one Bexley principal each Thursday, in a fun Q&A.

Jerome Price Sr.

Bexley Middle School

What Is Your Hometown or Where Did You Spend Most of Your Childhood?

New Jersey - born and raised!

Number of Years You Have Worked in Education

14

Number of Years You Have Been a Bexley Principal

2 years as an assistant principal in Bexley; 1st year as principal in Bexley

What Is Your Favorite Part of Your Job?

The students! They are resilient, always make me smile and have a way of putting everything into perspective!

What Did You Want to Be When You Were a Child?

For many years, I wanted to be a journalist or legislator on Capitol Hill. As a high school student, I I had a chance to meet the late Ed Bradley from 60 Minutes at the CBS News studio. I also met Brian Williams on the set of NBC Nightly News! During my last year of teaching, I arranged for my students to meet with the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis. We spent nearly two hours in his office asking questions and listening to him tell stories on Capitol Hill! What a day! 

Who Was Your Favorite Teacher? Explain Why and How This Teacher Impacted You.

Mr. John Sclafani, my first-grade teacher, remains my all-time favorite teacher! He had a baby grand piano in his classroom and had a way of bringing out the very best in all of his students. He knew my family very well, always asked about them, and also taught my brothers. To this day, we continue to keep in touch. Mr. Sclafani meant so much to me that my wife and I invited him and his wife to our wedding in 2017. I’ll never forget standing outside the Ohio Statehouse, watching the 

Sclafanis walk into our wedding venue. They flew directly into Columbus from their trip to Portugal to be at our special day. It meant the world to me. That’s the kind of impact we have as educators.

What Was Your Favorite or Easiest Subject in School?

I loved studying history as a student. I equally loved teaching middle and high school courses ranging from 6th grade world studies and African American History to Advanced Placement United States and World History!

What Was Your Least Favorite or Hardest Subject in School?

High School calculus was really tough. My teacher was no-nonsense but offered to help me before school hours and I took her up on the offer, often getting to school before she did! Shout out to Mrs. Dodger!

What Activities Were You Involved in During High School? (i.e., Sports, Music, Clubs, Class/Club Officer.)

Elected senior class president; served as editor-in-chief of my high school’s newspaper and yearbook; ran track & field and played tennis; I can also play piano and the Hammond B-3 organ – some Bexley staff members have heard me play outside of school!

What Is Your Personal Motto?

“Make it a great day or not – the choice is yours!”

What Else Do You Want Your Students to Know about You?

I am the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college. I’ll also be the first person in my family to earn a doctorate degree in 2027! Life is no easy journey. Simply put, have fun but also stay focused. There’s nothing you cannot do or achieve!

Digital Wellness: New Website Reporting Form Available to Families and Students

This week the Bexley Technology Department released a new online form that gives families, students, and staff the ability to report a specific website for which they believe content filter adjustments should be made. For example, a parent/guardian, staff member or student may suggest, via the form, that a website should be blocked or unblocked for students. 

The responses to this form will be sent to district leadership for review. While form suggestions may not always lead to the unblocking or blocking of content, it is important for district leadership to get feedback from anyone who feels an item should be reviewed. 

Submissions will be followed up with communication to the submitter on the status or any plans of action upon the completion of the review. Any changes will be reflected at the district or building level; reporting is not intended for any changes to individual student access. 

You can access the form at https://bex.fyi/SiteReport or you can find a link on the Technology Department homepage under resources.

BE A CHAMPION

Montrose Staff Member Recognized as ‘Champion’

This week we recognize our newest champion, Tim Connett, custodian at Montrose Elementary!

“Mr. Tim” was recognized for Empathy, one of the district’s seven core values, after he went the extra mile to help a young student find a cherished item that was lost. The student’s mother made sure the school staff were aware of how meaningful Mr. Connett’s assistance was to her young child.

Way to BE Mr. Connett!

Pictured, from left: Katie Langolf, Cassingham instructional coach; Katie Appel, Maryland instructional coach; 2nd grader Maeve T.; Tim Connett; Simina Albaiu, Montrose instructional coach; Laura Battisti, Montrose 2nd-grade teacher; and Nyesha Clayton, Montrose Elementary principal.

Bexley Education Foundation’s Drive to Support Annual Fund for Excellence Is Underway

The Bexley Education Foundation’s drive to support its Annual Fund for Excellence is underway. Your generous support helps make great things happen for Bexley students throughout the school district.

Join others in their generous giving to support our faculty and students. You may make a gift to the Annual Fund for Excellence online.

Private dollars contributed annually to the Bexley Education Foundation fund teacher mini-grants, classroom grants, and district-wide Impact Grants. The Foundation’s grants enhance all areas of the curriculum and benefit students in grades K-12.

First Cassingham Mascot Race Brings PBIS Fun to Students

On a beautiful afternoon in the Carlton Smith Stadium last week, all Cassingham students who met their recent PBIS goal during recess attended the school’s exciting – not to mention colorful – mascot race.

With students cheering and applauding wildly, Cassingham faculty members – dressed in colorful, silly costumes – raced their colleagues on the track in four-member relay teams.

PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. Most schools today, including Bexley, utilize PBIS to create a positive learning environment by teaching and reinforcing good behavior.

From the City of Bexley: Don’t Be Full of Hot Air

Bexley, let’s warm up efficiently! We’re not letting October idle away. Instead, we’re asking you to join us in being idle free!

A modern vehicle’s car engine will reach its correct operating temperature faster from driving than from idling, and many car manufacturers suggest running a vehicle and driving off gently while heating their car, instead of idling. Multiple vehicles idling at the same time produce an idling “hot spot” — let’s work to avoid these. 

Stopping and restarting your engine produces fewer emissions than idling for 10 seconds, so please, turn your vehicle off instead of idling for 10 seconds or more. Idling is fuelish; don’t be a fossil fool. Learn more about the Idle Free Bexley campaign at bexley.org/idlefree. 

Important Dates

Tonight! Oct. 23 (Thurs.) – Middle School/High School Fall Band Concert, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre

Oct. 25 (Sat.) – Vocal Ensemble Halloween Cabaret, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m., Cassingham Complex Cafeteria

Oct. 26 (Sun.) – Vocal Ensemble Halloween Cabaret, 1 p.m., Cassingham Complex Cafeteria

Oct. 28 (Tues.) – High School Jazz Band Fall Concert, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre

Note New Time! Oct. 31 (Fri.) – Middle School Musical 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse The Musical, 6:30 p.m., Cassingham Theatre

Oct. 31 (Fri.) – Middle School Halloween Bash, sponsored by Bexley Parks & Rec, 7:30 p.m., Jeffrey Mansion; register at bexleyrec.com

Nov. 1 (Sat.) – Middle School Musical 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse The Musical, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Cassingham Theatre

Nov. 2 (Sun.) – Middle School Musical 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse The Musical, 2 p.m., Cassingham Theatre

Nov. 4 (Tues.) – No Classes for Students; Teacher/Staff Professional Development Day

Nov. 4 (Tues.) – Election Day; Polls are open 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 4 (Tues.) – Election Day Bake Sale, Montrose Gym, 6 a.m. - Noon; hosted by the Montrose PTO

Nov. 5 (Wed.) – Middle School PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School Library