Aurora – Last Wednesday, over 160 people attended Aurora’s annual State of the City event at the Bertram Hotel & Conference Center, including area business people, law enforcement and safety officials, county commissioners, and representatives from county and state offices, as well.
That day, Aurora City School District Superintendent Pat Ciccantelli shared information about the district, which he referred to as “one of the most respected districts in the state.” Pride in the Aurora City School District is well founded, given the District’s ‘A’ grade on the latest Ohio School Report Card — something only 28 other districts in the state have earned. According to Ciccantelli, Aurora achieves this this through cultivating community partnerships with the mayor and organizations including the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as area businesses. Outstanding teachers, in collaboration with supportive families help Aurora’s students thrive. A multitude of academic opportunities combined with service-learning options and a variety of extracurricular pursuits help Aurora’s students become “future-ready.”
Ciccantelli, was proud to note that Aurora received the Momentum Award, which recognizes schools for exceeding expectations in student growth for the year. To achieve this recognition, schools must earn straight As on all value-added measures on the Report Card, which include gifted students, the lowest 20% in achievement, and students with disabilities. He noted that Aurora was one of only six districts in the state to earn this honor; something they have received for the last three years. Lastly, Ciccantelli noted that three of the district’s schools (Aurora High, Leighton Elementary, and Harmon Middle Schools) have all been named National Blue Ribbon Schools. In closing he noted, “It’s a great day to be a Greenman!”
Building on the momentum built by the Superintendent, Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin welcomed guests to her city, which she proclaimed as, “a great place to raise a family, grab a meal, explore nature, “ and a host of other endeavors. As a resident for over 30 years, Mayor Benjamin is seen as an authority on the subject.
But Benjamin isn’t alone in praising the city — Aurora is listed in the top 10 suburbs in Northeast Ohio by Cleveland Magazine, and has been ranked in the top 15 for the past 15 consecutive years.
She noted that this year Aurora celebrates its 220th birthday, and the city will continue to forge into the future by undertaking more projects to improve the lives of residents and business owners. The city is in the midst of making significant upgrades to roads and traffic lights, in part due to a $3 million grant from Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS). Road projects include widening a portion of Pioneer Trail and installation of a traffic light at State Route 43 and Treat Road. The city is actively planning for the future, replacing circa 1940s water lines and planning major upgrades to the city’s water and wastewater treatment plants. Mayor Benjamin noted that she and her team are “working hard every day to preserve the city’s charm,” while improving residents’ quality of life.
The event was hosted by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Aurora
Visit allaboutaurora.com to find out about upcoming Chamber events, including Bowling Night at RollHouse Solon on April 4th and “A Taste of the Western Reserve” on April 28th.
