Change is Inevitable
While the title I have selected for this message, Change is Inevitable, may read a bit cliché, especially as we start a new school year, I ask that you bear with me as I explain my reasoning. Reason one, preK-12 education involves children and few of these children will resemble the photos taken in the early fall, thus–change. Next reason– already, the school calendar approved in late spring by the board of education has been amended. Spring break will be extended by one day (through April 8, 2024) to accommodate the expected impact of the once in our lifetimes total solar eclipse of the sun. It also was to have included an August 23 start date for our senior class, but that changed when the work on the high school’s new cafeteria required us to dismiss high school students early on August 24 and 25. That information and all the details associated with the schedule have been shared with families and students. Yes, another change.
With the retirement of several staff members, we also will see new faces throughout the district–including Dudley, our high school’s new facility dog. The new teachers and staff members hired since last May be viewed at docs. google.com/presentation/d/16 kv7myMqYv6G8ku91-FOK WgETIXKH-9cWgtWiU4 olrU/edit?usp=sharing. We welcome them and look forward to all the ways that they will contribute to the richness of this school district. We have dedicated a new administrative/ educational building that will house many new exciting learning opportunities for both staff and students. Yes, more changes.
To close this message, I would like to congratulate a few school leaders whose impact on our students and staff has been significant. First, Taryn Miley, who in July received the title of assistant superintendent of academic affairs. She has spent a lifetime in this district as a student, teacher and administrator and has one of the most creative educational minds I have seen. She, Dana Falkenberg, assistant superintendent of operations, and Paulette Baz, director of federal programs, comprise the dynamic team that manages every change, nuance and challenge that arrives on our doorstep. On August 31, we also say goodbye to longtime community liaison, Kristina White, as she, in her words, “graduates” into retirement (meaning she will still be working but outside the school district). It wasn’t lost on me that most of these changes took place before the first student arrived for the 2023-24 school year. Yep, change is inevitable.
