I would like to wish all of our Raider Community a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!  Whatever you celebrate, enjoy your time with family and friends!  Relax, be safe and enjoy your time off of work and school.   Our winter break will start on December 21 and run through January 5.  School will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025.

CLSD’s next edition of the Raider Reflections is an insert in this week’s Rural Urban Record.   Please take a moment to read the highlights of the first three months of the school year.  There are also important announcements.  We hope that you find this information useful.  As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to me.

Winter sports and activities are full go.  We welcome you to attend the many activities at our buildings.  Best of luck to all of our students, student athletes, advisors and coaches!  For a full list of activities, go to our website at clsdraiders.org

Go Raiders!

Graig Bansek

Superintendent 

Citizens for Schools will host a community meeting to learn more about the Bond Issue for additions and renovations to our buildings on Thursday, October 24^th at 6:00 pm at CHS in the gymnasium.  Please stop in and learn about the project and have your questions answered.  If you are interested in a yard sign, please stop by one of the district buildings and grab one.  We are approaching 300 signs throughout the community.  This is the most we have ever placed in yards in my 16 years as superintendent.  I THANK YOU for your support of CLSD!

On November 5^th, CLSD will have a 2-mill RENEWAL PI levy, Issue #18, and a 4.88 Bond Issue, Issue #17, on the ballot.  To provide you with as much information as possible, I will highlight a different aspect of the bond issue in my articles, until the election.   This week, I will share how the district arrived at the millage for the bond issue.

We welcome our community and alumni back to CHS for Homecoming 2024.  It will take place on Friday, October 4^th.  The announcement of the court will begin at 6:30 pm.  The game will start at 7:00 pm vs. the Wellington Dukes.  The Homecoming dance is at 7:30 on Saturday, October 5th.   We would love to have you in attendance at the game to see our team, the mighty Raider Marching Band/Flag Corps, and Cheerleaders!  Go Raiders!!!!

There will be two upcoming events to learn more about the Bond Issue for additions and renovations to our buildings.  Sunday, September 29^th at 1:00 pm at CHS in the gymnasium and Thursday, October 24^th at 6:00 pm at CHS in the gymnasium.  Please stop in and learn about the project and have your questions answered.

On November 5^th, CLSD will have a 2-mill RENEWAL PI levy, Issue #18, and a 4.88 Bond Issue, Issue #17, on the ballot.  To provide you with as much information as possible, I will highlight a different aspect of the bond issue in my articles, until the election.   This week, I will list the financing portion of the levy:

It has been a great start to the school year!  I want to thank our staff, students and parents for working together to provide the best experience possible for our young learners.  

Columbia High School is proud to announce a special Military Recognition Night during the football game on September 13, 2024.  The event, which will take place at Columbia High School’s Southwest General Stadium, aims to honor and celebrate the service and sacrifices of local military veterans and active-duty service members.  Starting at 6:30 pm, the evening will kick off with a pre-game ceremony featuring a color guard presentation, a moment of silence, and a special tribute to veterans in attendance.  The game, which sees Columbia High School's football team go head-to-head against Firelands, will begin at 7:00 pm. Veterans and active-duty personnel will be recognized throughout the game with special acknowledgments and commemorative gifts.

There will be two upcoming events to learn more about the Bond Issue for additions and renovations to our buildings.  Sunday, September 29^th at 1:00 pm at CHS in the gymnasium and Thursday, October 24^th at 6:00 pm at CHS in the gymnasium.  Please stop in and learn about the project and have your questions answered.  

On November 5^th, CLSD will have a 2-mill RENEWAL PI levy, Issue #18, and a 4.88 Bond Issue, Issue #17, on the ballot.  To provide you with as much information as possible, I will highlight a different aspect of the bond issue in my articles, until the election.   This week, I will list the educational benefits of the new and renovated buildings: 

Each year, CLSD provides our school community with a District Profile.  This profile is a snapshot of what took place during the 23/24 school year.  It includes:   financials, accomplishments, building information, arts and athletic accomplishments, plus a whole lot more.  If you are interested in what we do, all of the information is here for your viewing.  It is available on our website.  Click on “Our District” and then on the left side click District Profile.     

As the school years begins, I ask that our community pays special attention to our buses.   Please do not tailgate, make sure that you are stopping for the reds on all roads and be aware of our students at all times.  Some of our buses are now equipped with cameras, where it records all vehicles that drive past our stopped buses.  If you decide to put our students or drivers in danger or at risk, we will involve the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department.  We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

The 2024-2025 school year is right around the corner.  The first day of school for grades 1-12 is on Wednesday, August 28^th.  First day of preschool and kindergarten is on September 5^th.  We can’t wait to see everyone’s bright and shiny smiles!

Columbia Local Schools will have two issues on the November 5^th ballot.  The first is a RENEWAL Permanent Improvement levy, for 2 mills.  This was passed in 2010 and has been renewed every five years since.  The second ballot issue is for a 4.88 bond levy.  This bond includes upgrades and renovations to all CLSD Buildings making it a safer environment for students, staff and the community.  These upgrades will also allow for larger fine arts and athletic facilities.  More information can be found on our website at clsdraiders.org  We will be hosting a community meeting providing more information on these issues, on Wednesday, August 14^th at Columbia High School at 7:00 pm.  We would love for you to be in attendance to hear the exciting news about this project.