Good morning, Vinton County. Planning ahead just got easier for Athens City Schools families with the release of their comprehensive 90-page handbook for the upcoming school year. This digital and physical resource outlines everything from the academic calendar (mark those breaks: Thanksgiving Nov. 26-Dec. 1, winter Dec. 22-Jan. 5) to technology policies and procedures that parents and students need to navigate the 2025-26 school year successfully.
Meanwhile, the courthouse drama intensifies as Brian Keith Hart's murder trial begins Tuesday with unusual complications after recorded jail calls between Hart and his defense team were discovered, leading to the appointment of a special prosecutor. In educational news beyond handbooks, Alexander Schools faces challenges with gifted student services temporarily suspended amid a coordinator vacancy – though the district emphasizes that while identification of gifted students remains mandatory under Ohio law, actual service provision remains optional.
🌤 Sky Skoop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
0%☕️ What's Brewing Locally
📚 Athens City Schools unveils comprehensive parent information guide for 2025-26. The district's 90-page student handbook is available online and in physical copies at each school building, containing essential information about calendars, policies, and procedures. Parents can access the handbook through the district website's "Quick Links" menu or under "Forms and Links," while high school students can find their course guide on the school website under "School Resources." Key dates include Thanksgiving break (Nov. 26-Dec. 1), winter break (Dec. 22-Jan. 5), spring break (March 9-13), and the last day of school on May 22. The handbook also outlines technology policies, including rules about personal communication devices and potential fines for damaged school-issued equipment.
⚖️ Murder trial begins for son who claims self-defense against father. Brian Keith Hart faces charges including murder and aggravated murder in the 2022 death of his father in Athens County, Ohio. The four-day trial starts Tuesday with unique complications after recorded jail phone calls between Hart and his defense counsel were discovered on two hard drives. Judge McCarthy disqualified the Athens County Prosecutor's Office, appointing a special prosecutor from Columbus instead. Hart claims he shot his father in self-defense when the older man allegedly attacked him with a knife during an altercation.
📚 Alexander Schools cuts gifted student services amid coordinator vacancy. The Ohio district announced that formal support for talented and gifted (TAG) students will be unavailable until the position is filled, though students' gifted status will remain on file. While some services like honors courses and early high school credit options continue, elementary-level enrichment programs appear affected. The district's website emphasizes its commitment to providing intellectually stimulating environments for gifted learners with unique needs. Though Ohio law requires schools to identify gifted students, providing actual services remains optional under state regulations.
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Rural paradise awaits horse lovers: For $240,000, this rural haven offers nearly 3 acres with a 3-bed, 2-bath home, 2-car garage, and horse barn with stalls. The electric-fenced property provides ample space for livestock, farming, or outdoor activities.
Remote woodland cabin paradise: This charming $350,000 log cabin retreat offers 10.6 acres of natural beauty with a stocked pond, hiking trails, and four bedrooms, just 19 miles from Hocking Hills' popular hiking destinations.
Woodland escape near state forest: Rustic tranquility awaits at this $160,000 woodland retreat, offering 2 bedrooms on 2 private acres adjacent to 31,000 acres of state forest with direct access to hiking, hunting, and endless outdoor recreation.🗓️ Happenings & Hoopla
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
-Galatians 6:9
|
|