District News

Cindy Bruner has been employed as a Program Specialist at the WCESC Wellness Center since 2019. We are happy to announce her as the 2023 Project Excellence Award Recipient. This recognition is sponsored by Warren County Area Progress Council and on May 3rd, she along with her husband and several WCESC leaders, attended the annual banquet and program.
The Wellness Center is a school-based day treatment program and is the most intensive non-residential program that can be provided over an extended period of time. School based day treatment permits access to mental health services in conjunction with and integrated with the child’s social emotional and educational programming. School based day treatment brings together at one location, and in a coordinated manner, a broad range of services designed to strengthen individual functioning and prevent individuals from requiring more restrictive services such as home instruction or residential placement. Cindy has been an integral part of making the program a success.
CONGRATULATIONS CINDY and THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING WCESC IN SUCH A POSITIVE MANNER

POST ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUP APPRECIATION DINNER 

MAY 16, 2023 
6:00PM  

COUNTRYSIDE YMCA 1699 DEERFIELD ROAD, LEBANON, OH 45036

Please R.S.V.P by May 8, 2023, to 
Aubrie Patch at aubrie.patch@warrencountyesc.com or 
Call or text (937) 789-4108 

Click here for related opportunities and events: 

CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER OF WARREN COUNTY - Child Advocacy Center of Warren County, Ohio (cacwc.org)

The Governing Board of Warren County Educational Service Center is pleased to announce the employment of Cary Furniss as the new Treasurer/CFO of Warren County ESC.

Mr. Furniss is a recognized leader in educational accounting and financial leadership due to his 35 years of service in multiple school districts.  Mr. Furniss is the current CFO of Kettering City Schools, and also served as the Treasurer of Kings Local Schools, Reading City Schools, Lebanon City Schools, and Mason City Schools.

Mr. Furniss resides in Lebanon with his wife and three children.  He will begin working at Warren County ESC on June 1.  We look forward to having him join the team!

Warren County ESC Social Commnication Program located at the Western Row Campus is happy to welcome University of Cincinnati Practicum Students led by Dr. Christi Carnahan and Dr. Kate Doyle, BCBA, COBA. Students will be completing their practicum course within Social Communication Classrooms while receiving course instruction from these professors on site. They will have an opportunity to work and complete lessons with students within the Social Communication Program. We are very excited for this collaboration and learning opportunity for both the UC students and staff within the SCC program.

Warren County Educational Service Center applied for and received the High Performing ESC designation from the Ohio Department of Education for the seventh year in a row. A High Performing ESC has generated total cost savings of at least 5% for its client school districts for primary services secured from the ESC instead of another source. Warren County ESC far exceeded this 5% benchmark, with a total savings of $3,068,162.47 (16.84%) in 2022.

“Ohio’s educational service centers provide exceptional cost savings to their school districts in addition to all of the other services and support they offer,” says Craig Burford, Executive Director of the Ohio ESC Association (OESCA). “Over the past seven years, Ohio ESCs have averaged 35% savings to districts per year, for a total of almost $497 million in savings statewide for primary services since 2016.”

The Ohio Department of Education evaluated each application based on the total percentage of cost savings the ESC generated for its client districts calculated based on the price charged to the client by the ESC for a primary service.

St. Mary's has four students this week at Warren County Community Services that are working towards earning their Community Service graduation seal!  We have been in partnership with WCCS since the beginning of October and we are very excited that our students have an opportunity to work towards graduation seals in our community!  We have 8 students in total volunteering at WCCS that have been working on cleaning and organizational skills.  These students have shown the ability to maintain safe, responsible, respectful, mindful, and ready to learn behavior and have shown that they are ready to take that next step of going into the community.  This opportunity is directly tied to the graduation requirements for the state of Ohio, so we are very grateful to have a partnership with WCCS!  A huge shout out goes to Warren County Community Services for letting us be involved in their organization while learning valuable skills relating to workforce development!

The Warren County ESC welcomed Phoenix Academy students and families with a “meet the teacher” night!!  Seven students and their families came to meet their new teachers and see the updated classrooms!  Along with our students, we are excited to welcome new general education teachers Gabriella Mordino K-1st Teacher, Claire Wilson 2-3rd, Christopher Dillon 3-4th and Teri Bush 5-6th and Intervention Specialist Alyssa Klimo.  Have a great school year everyone!

Wellness Center students and staff have a lot to look back on and be proud of as the 21-22’ school year comes to a close. Students were shining examples of resiliency and perseverance as they weathered every challenge that arose throughout the academic term. The students were able to grow socially and emotionally through their engagement with peers, learning from classroom teachers/supports, engaging with their therapists, and most importantly integrating their learning with their families. They focused on their academics with great effort to achieve high school graduation and to start the next step in their life journey.

The Wellness Center is grateful for the opportunity to not only work with these students but to also share in their celebration of personal and academic success. We had the opportunity to have two graduation ceremonies including the graduates’ fellow students, family, and Wellness Center team members. Each event was a remarkable representation of the resiliency and drive that our youth possess.  The road to this point wasn’t easy for them however they persevered, overcoming their own unique challenges. They found ways to succeed, to overcome barriers, and are thriving moving into the future. Our students have been instilled with the truth that they are not defined by things of the past but by how they choose to move forward in pursuit of their dreams and goals. The Wellness Center team and the entire WCESC community is proud of their accomplishments and wish them the best of success!

The Warren County ESC Phoenix Academy students have been learning about animal adaptations.  As a follow up to their Animal Adaptations science unit and classroom projects Ms. Rose's class went to the Cincinnati Zoo yesterday 5/19/22.  They had a great day sharing their knowledge about animals with each other, learning from the amazing zoo staff and seeing the sights!  

Did you know?? 

The group learned that giraffe tongues are dark colored because of the amount of time they spend in the sun eating leaves in the wild.  The darker color skin on their tongues protects it from sun burn.  That was one of many fun facts the group learned yesterday!

As TLC winds down their school year, many of our business partners wished a fond farewell to their interns for the summer.  Groceryland in Waynesville, Pdi in Springboro, Crossview Church in Waynesville, Ohio Living/Quaker Heights in Waynesville, and Stonehouse Tavern in Waynesville recognized their interns with small parting gifts on the interns’ last day of work.  The partnerships between TLC and these organizations is invaluable.  The interns have learned so many employability skills through their unpaid internships with these businesses.  Thank you for supporting TLC!!!  You are appreciated!!!

Thank you to Cartridge Brewing for partnering with the Warren County ESC’s Learning Center!  Gavin, a junior in high school, completed an unpaid internship at the Brewing Company.  Gavin worked in the kitchen unloading deliveries, preparing meat for smoking, and preparing other food for customers.  Some of Gavin’s team surprised him at work today with a balloon drop.  Gavin was also the recipient of the Prestigious Employee based “Hot Shot of the Month” award. The Cartridge employees voted to present Gavin this award.  Gavin stated that this has been a great experience and that he is looking forward to using his skills on jobs in the near future.  Anthony Cook, Cartridge Brewing owner, stated that having Gavin as part of the team has been a wonderful experience for him and his staff.  Cartridge Brewing looks forward to continuing the partnership with WCESC and working with more of our students.  Way to go Gavin!!! 

Congratulations to Chad Bridgman, who was selected to fill the remaining term of office of Warren County ESC Board member Jimmy Allen, who recently passed away. Mr. Bridgman is the Director of Workforce Development for Sinclair College and has actively supported the workforce initiatives at John K. Lazares Alternative School for the past four years, and he is also active with the Warren County ESC Business Advisory Council. Chad holds a Master’s degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Dayton. He and his family reside in Waynesville, Ohio where he currently serves on the Planning Commission for the Village of Waynesville. In addition to Mr. Bridgman the other members of the Governing Board are President Fred Anness, Vice President Jiles Farley, Nona Cress, and Sally Williams. Governing Board members serve four-year terms, and they must be residents of one of Warren County’s local school districts, which include Carlisle, Kings, Little Miami, and Wayne. Chad’s creative and energetic leadership skills will be a great compliment to the existing members of the Governing Board as they carry out the mission of Warren County ESC.

WCESC, along with Ohio School Boards Association, recognize Nona Cress for 20 years of service as a school board member.  Nona has been a tremendous support to WCESC overall, our programming, our staff, and especially our students.  As a retired teacher and member of Warren County Retired Teachers’ Association, she continues her dedication and commitment to quality education.  Her leadership, support, and knowledge are of incredible value as a board member.

NONA, WE SINCERELY THANK YOU!