Education + Learning

Pleasant Ridge Montessori School achieves LEED Silver Certification

Freedom Center sharpens focus

As the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center celebrates its fifth anniversary it is also working to trim its focus during a rough economic time that has created some unmet expectations for the museum. Since its opening on the Cincinnati riverfront in 2004, the museum has adjusted its budget and staff to adjust to the lower than expected attendance.  A cut in ticket prices this year and several traveling exhibits are credited with boosting attendance. The Freedom Center continues to draw rave reviews from educators and students visiting the museum.  Officials also expect a boost in attendance to occur following the completion of the $1 billion riverfront development surrounding the museum known as The Banks. Read full article here.

Cincinnati Museum Center receives top honor

The Museum Center at Union Terminal has been named as one of ten recipients of the prestigious 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service award for outstanding contributions to the community. The award is the nation's highest honor for museums and libraries.  The Museum Center will receive a national medal and $10,000 at a ceremony in Washington D.C. for its outstanding contributions to the community in either social, educational, environmental or economic standards used for judging. Read full article here.

Cincinnati Museum Center one of 10 recipients of National Medal for Museum and Library Services

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal has been named one of 10 recipients of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries. The annual award, made by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) since 1994, recognizes institutions for outstanding social, educational, environmental, or economic contributions to their communities. Cincinnati Museum Center will receive the National Medal at a ceremony to be held later in Washington, D.C., and a $10,000 award in recognition of their extraordinary contributions.Douglass W. McDonald, president and CEO, said "This award is a tribute to our staff, trustees, donors, members, volunteers and community partners whose unwavering dedication to our mission and innovative efforts has made us a unique asset and a vital community resource."As one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest, Cincinnati Museum Center features the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theatre and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library & Archives, the Geier Family Collections & Research Center, and the Richard & Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve - 14,000 acres of biologically diverse, privately owned and protected nature system managed jointly with The Nature Conservancy, Ohio. Recognized recently by Forbes Traveler as the 17th most visited museum in the nation, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal welcomes more than 1.3 million visitors annually and reaches out to nearly 400,000 young people through hands-on programs and learning experiences.   As a key regional and national destination, CMC brings $15 million in new money to the region and supports 1,100 jobs.  Since its 1933 opening, Union Terminal has welcomed more than 150 million visitors.  In addition to Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal other recipients of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are the: Braille Institute of America Library, Los Angeles, CAChildren’s Museum of Pittsburgh, PAGail Borden Public Library, Elgin, ILIndianapolis Museum of Art, INMultnomah County Library, Portland, ORMuseum of Science & Industry in Tampa, FL Pritzker Military Library, Chicago, ILStark County District Library, Canton, OHTennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, TNSource: Cincinnati Museum Center.

Supporters rally to save Cincinnati libraries

Supporters brought out the big names to a recent rally meant to save the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.  Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, US Congressman Steve Driehaus and wildlife expert Thane Maynard were all in attendance. The Cincinnati library system is facing a $16 million deficit for 2010, and if an upcoming levy fails they might have to close as many as 20 branches.  Issue 7 will ask voters of Hamilton County to decide on a proposed tax increase to support the library system and prevent the branch closures. Read full article here.

Pinta, Nina arrive in Newport

Replicas of the Columbus ships Pinta and Nina have arrived in Cincinnati and docked on the Northern Kentucky riverfront where tours will be available until October 5 for just $7.  The Nina was built by hand and is considered to be the most historically accurate Columbus replica ever built.  The Pinta was recently built in Brazil and is a larger version of its predecessor. The two ships will be open to the public for self-guided tours every day from 9am to 6pm on Riverboat Row in Newport.  Scheduled tours are also available for teachers looking for a guided tour with a crew member. Read full article here.

High Spirited

He's no cheerleader, but graphic designer Chad Reynolds' innovative internship-based approach to marketing high school spirit wear gets students fired up. Fanattik teaches high schoolers how to run a startup business, be their own boss and even provides them a competitive edge in the college search process. Grooming the next generation of entrepreneurs is Reynolds way of giving back to the early mentors who advised his successful design career. Already in 25 local schools, Fanattik plans on going national and hopes to be in 150 schools by years' end.

Xavier, Miami, UC, NKU make Forbes ranking

Four Cincinnati area universities made Forbes' annual ranking of "America's Best Colleges."  Xavier came in at the highest spot at number 196, but all ranked within the top 600 schools that Forbes ranks out of the more than 4,000 examined. Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity rank the schools based on several criteria including student evaluation of professors and courses; students' success after graduation; average salaries of graduates; estimated student debt; graduation rate; and the number of students and faculty who have won nationally competitive awards like Rhodes scholarships. Read full article here.

Cincinnati schools to add 55

While job news hasn't been all that rosy lately, Cincinnati Public Schools plans on hiring an additional 55 staff positions to help with the district's enrollment increases that exceeded expectations. State law and union contracts require a certain minimum staff-to-student ratio which mandates these hires to a certain degree.  Most of the new positions will be regular classroom teachers and special education teachers. Read full article here.