Northwest Local School District

Northwest Board of Education accepted the resignation of board member Julie Barkey at their December 16^th special meeting. The Board of Education thanked her for her service and committment to our district. 

The district is currently accepting letters of interest from those individuals who are interested in filling the remaining two years of Mrs. Barkey’s term.

Letters of interest must be submitted by December 31^st at 4:00 pm

• Letters of interset should be dropped of at the Northwest Central Office or emailed to Dr. Shawn Braman at shawn.braman@nw.sparcc.org.
• Central Office Location: 2309 Locust Street S Canal Fulton Ohio from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (Northwest Central Office will be closed on December 24^th, December 25^th for Christmas.)

If you have questions please reach out to the Central Office at (330) 854-2291.

Registering your child for kindergarten is an exciting first step toward their educational journey.

Our kindergarten program is designed to create a warm, nurturing environment where young learners feel supported as they explore new concepts and skills. The registration process is simple, with friendly staff available to guide you through each step, from gathering the necessary documents to selecting the best-fit program for your child. Early registration also ensures access to a range of resources, including family orientation sessions and school readiness information. We’re eager to partner with you to make this transition smooth and welcoming, laying a strong foundation for your child’s academic success.
 

Enroll Today

Back to School Night will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025

• Northwest Primary (Grades 1 and 2 only) begins at 5:30 p.m.
  • Open House for Kindergarten will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
• W.S. Stinson Elementary begins at 6:00 p.m.
• Northwest Middle School begins at 6:30 p.m.
• Northwest High School Freshman Orientation will be held on August 13th at 6:00 p.m

First Day of School:

Kindergarten Information

Class lists will be posted in the Home Access Center on the following dates:

Supply List Information 

Northwest will once again be having a K-12 Backpack Drive this summer to ensure all students start the school year with the supplies needed for success. 

Register June 2 – 23, 2025 

Please complete the online form for each child in need of a backpack.  

Help Us Celebrate a Legend of Northwest!

Know someone who has consistently supported Northwest Local Schools and made a lasting impact in our community?
Nominate them for the Northwest Hall of Distinction – Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nomination Deadline: February 6, 2026
Induction Dinner & Ceremony: Thursday, April 30, 2026 (Senior Awards Banquet)

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE A NOMINATION!

Calamity Days and Instructional Hours – Frequently Asked Questions

Hello everyone!
Because of the crazy weather we have been experiencing, we felt compelled to send you a
message explaining calamity days for our students. Obviously, school is closed when there is a
risk for our students, faculty, and staff.
There are many facets we consider when calling off school due to the weather. Below is a brief
explanation to answer Frequently Asked Questions we have recently received.

How many calamity days are schools allowed to use?
There is no longer a specific limit on the number of school days for public schools throughout
the state of Ohio. The previous limit of five (5) days was removed with the passage of HB 59
several years ago.
That being said, Northwest Local Schools collective bargaining agreements with the teachers and
classified staff require that all employees return to work after five (5) calamity days on a two-
hour delay. Instructional staff use this time to prepare lesson plans; collaborate on activities for
our students; review data to improve instructional practices; maintain staff meetings with the
principals while classified staff use this time for safety trainings, maintenance projects and
meetings with supervisors; the opportunities for us to improve are endless as we await the return
of our students.

What did the HB 59 change for Northwest?
House Bill 59 replaced the requirement for a set number of school days with a requirement or a
minimum number of instructional hours that must be met each school year.
What are the required instructional hours?
 Grades K – 6: 910 hours
 Grades 7 – 12: 1,001 hours

Does Northwest Local Schools meet the requirements?
At the time HB 59 passed every school was mandated to follow the current number of school
days within their current calendar even while counting hours rather than days. Because of this,
Northwest is well above the minimum number of required hours the state mandates and we are
not close to needing to make-up instructional hours. The school board approved calendar exceeds
the minimum instructional hours required by law.

How are the required hours monitored?
Our school administration carefully monitors the instructional hours as calamity days are used
throughout the entirety of a calendar school year. If the need arises to make-up instructional
hours, we will clearly communicate the next steps to parents and students.

What counts towards instructional hours?
Instructional hours are defined by the Ohio Revised Code with additional guidance from the
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Hours are eligible to count as “instructional”
including time when the district, school or building is open and all students are attending
regularly scheduled classes, participating in supervised actives, and participating in co-curricular
activities during the scheduled day. Time spent during lunch periods, breakfast periods and
extracurricular activities cannot count as instructional hours.

Where can more information be found?
Additional details may be located from the ODEW website. If you have additional questions you
can always call me at 330-573-9024 anytime.
Thank you all!

Shawn Braman
Superintendent
Northwest Local Schools