Read more: http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/local/greene_county/hunks-in-heels-unleash-their-inner-diva

Read more: http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/local/greene_county/temple-renovations-now-complete

“The school funding picture remains uncertain, as the education budget offered by Governor Kasich in early February is being reshaped in the legislature,” said Beavercreek Board of Education Vice President Rob Dotson. “The one thing we CAN say is that Beavercreek Schools cannot continue to draw from its cash reserves to pay for operations.”

In the 10 years since Beavercreek School District voters last approved an operating levy for additional funds, the cost of daily operations—including but not limited to healthcare, insurance, fuel and instructional materials—has continued to rise, while state aid revenue has been cut.

“Shrinking means and increased expenses over time have put us in a very difficult situation—one where we are forced to draw from our reserves. This is NOT a sustainable strategy,” Dotson said.

School districts that exhaust their cash reserves face state fiscal oversight, as is the case locally with the Fairborn and Huber Heights school districts. When this occurs, the state forces the district to borrow funds for operations until voters pass a levy.

Dotson pointed to $13 million in cuts and cost saving measures over the last two years that have included reducing salary and wage expenses by 12.5 percent, from $46.3 million to $40.5 million. The district has also reduced teaching staff by 10 percent, administrative staff by 12 percent, and support staff by 8 percent. In addition, some educational programs have been cut, and pay-to-participate fees for sports and extracurricular activities have increased district-wide. Busing has been eliminated for all high school students, and reduced for middle school students as well.

Dotson indicated that if the state funding picture changes, and Beavercreek receives more state funding than expected, the Board may be able to make adjustments to services that have been eliminated. He cautions, however, that the proceeds from an August levy cannot be used to restore all of the services that have been cut.

“Our first priority, if the levy passes, is to address the district’s deficit spending situation and ensure that we have sufficient cash reserves to avoid state oversight. Beyond that, the Board and administration will assess the budget and work with the community to identify priority services that can be restored within the district’s means,” he said.

At the County level, the FEC Index divides communities into micro-, small-, mid-, and large-sized counties. Fourth Economy then evaluates five areas; Investment, talent, sustainability, place, and diversity. A county’s strength in each of these areas indicates its ability to support growth and innovation.

In the mid-sized communities category, Greene County, Ohio was ranked 6th in the nation for its capacity to grow and sustain this new economy. Greene County attracts businesses looking to expand with its educated, talented and diverse labor force, its proximity to major highways, and its balance of traditional downtown areas, business parks, and suburban/rural space.

Source: Greene County Ohio Department of Development

Recipients of the 2013 award include:

1. Lorie Lamb, a first grade teacher at Fairbrook Elementary
2. Lauren Meyer, a special education teacher for first through fifth grade students at Valley Elementary
3. Adam Wojtowicz, who teaches seventh grade language arts at Ankeney Middle School
4. Brian Busch, who teaches eighth grade mathematics at Ankeney Middle School

All four teachers were recognized by the Beavercreek Board of Education at its April 25 meeting, and received a special plaque to commemorate their accomplishment.

Teachers may be nominated for the Outstanding Classroom Teacher Award by parents, students, colleagues or members of the community. Representatives of the Curriculum Department scour each nomination in advance and remove names, gender, subject and grade-level references to ensure an unbiased selection process. A committee of volunteers then evaluates recipients using criteria established by Phi Beta Kappa, an international professional fraternity for men and women in education.

“Beavercreek Schools is proud to recognize these teachers for their excellence and commitment to students,” said Amy Baldridge, the District’s Curriculum Director. “Our families are fortunate to have access to their talents.”

“In 2012, it was just under 12 weeks for the 10K to close out,” said Rob Aguiar, race director. “This year, we rearranged the individual race quotas to add 500 more runners to the 10K and it still sold out in 12 weeks.”

Mr. Aguiar went on to say the event is 75 percent full, nearly 10 percentage points higher at the same time in 2012.

“We typically experience a huge surge in registrations just prior to a price increase, so this last week was very busy for us,” he added.

The Air Force Marathon organizers strongly urge runners to register as early as possible to make sure they have a spot in the race. Mr. Aguiar says that all race could sell out in April.

“We always get phone calls from people who want into our race after we close-out,” said Mr. Aguiar, “I always advise people to register early.”

Prices for the full and half marathons are currently $95 and $80, while the 5K is $35. All race prices except the 5K will rise by $10 on June 2, if there are any spots left.

The Air Force Marathon, presented by Northrop Grumman, USAA and Boeing, will be held Sept. 21 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Participants start and finish at the National Air Force Museum, and spectators are welcome at the museum or in nearby downtown Fairborn.

For more information see http://www.usafmarathon.com.

Prior to being elected to the House, Perales served for 15 years in the United States Air Force commanding the 788th CES Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He later served on Beavercreek City Council, was Mayor of Beavercreek from 2002-2003, and then served a number of years as a Greene County commissioner. He has worked at the University of Dayton for 13 years, the past four as their Campus Planning and Real Estate Director.

Raised in a military family, Perales lived in a number of locations throughout his childhood. He and his four brothers all followed in their father’s footsteps and served in the United States military. He graduated from Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona, and then obtained his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Auburn University in 1982. He later earned a Masters Degree in International Relations from Troy State University.

In 1982 Perales was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant the United States Air Force and spent the next 15 years of his Air Force career serving his country throughout all corners of the world. He retired from the Air Force in 1997 after serving as the Commander of the Civil Engineer Maintenance Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

In 1998 Perales was hired as the Director of Facilities Management at the University of Dayton. In this capacity, he oversaw nearly 100 people operating and maintaining the campus, providing environmental safety and design and construction services valued at approximately $20 million annually. Perales later became the University of Dayton’s Campus Planning and Real Estate Director.

Perales has been active in numerous community organizations, including the Red Cross, St. Joseph Children’s Treatment Center, Greene County United Way, Dayton Public Schools Facility Steering Committee, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He was named one of the Dayton region’s Top 25 Most Influential People of the Decade in 2009 and was inducted into the Ohio Veteran Hall of Fame in 2010.

Perales and his wife, Becka, live in Beavercreek and have 4 children. Commenting on why he chose Beavercreek to settle down in, Perales says, “My family and I decided on Beavercreek, in Greene County, Ohio, as our new home based on its location, amenities and the family-friendly atmosphere.”

IVIC/GOVERNMENT POSITIONS:
Member, Beavercreek City Council (Mayor 2002-2003)
Member, Beavercreek Board of Zoning Appeals (2001)
Member, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
Executive Member, Regional Planning and Coordination Commission of Greene County
Member, Greene County Township Association
Council liaison to the Beavercreek Visioning Committee (2002-2003)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Executive Board Member Heart Walk (2006/2007)
Member, Victoria Theater Association
Board Member, Wright State University External Advisory Board, Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department
Board Member TCN – The Community Network
Board Member, St. Joseph Children’s Treatment Center
Red Cross Hero, 2004
Greene County United Way Campaign Cabinet Member
Advisory Member, Greene County Habitat for Humanity
Member, Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Fairborn and Xenia Chamber of Commerce
Member, Miami Valley Military Affairs Association
Member, Military Officers Association of America
Member, American Legion, Post 0763
Member, Veterans Of Foreign Wars of the U.S., Post 8312
Member, Dayton Public Schools Facility Steering Committee
Leadership Dayton, Class of 2001
Former Big Brother of America

AWARDS:
Ohio Veteran Hall Of Fame Inductee, Class of 2010
Dayton Region’s Top 25 Most Influencial People of the Decade, 2009
Ohio Jaycee’s Oustanding Mayor, 2003
Spangdahlem Air Force Base Support Group Company Grade Officer of the Year, 1992
Air Force Association’s Logistics Junior Manager of the Year, 1990
Outstanding Young Man of America, 1985

WORK HISTORY:
2005-Present, Campus Planning and Real Estate Director
1998-2005, Executive Director of Facilities Management, University of Dayton
1997-1998, Division Manager, CAD CAM, Inc.
1982-1997, United States Air Force
1994, Commander Operations and Maintenance, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
1990, Chief of Engineering, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany
1988, Program Manager, Foreign Military Sales, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
1982, Project Manager, Space Transportation System, Los Angeles AFS, CA

EDUCATION:
BS, Building Construction (a specialty program within the school of Architecture), Auburn University, 1982
MS, International Relations, Troy State University, 1992

Beavercreek Post Profiles presents monthly profiles of notable figures in Beavercreek and the surrounding area. Source: Official biography at Ohio House of Representatives website 2013, archived biography from City of Beavercreek’s website 2003, biography from Vote Perales website 2012 (edited for content).