The days are getting a bit shorter, the nights a bit cooler, some trees are showing hints of orange and red, and the stores are decorated for Halloween—some have already begun gearing up for Christmas!
The summer has brought many changes to our schools and to education. Our comprehensive building renovations and additions are finally complete and we open our buildings without contractors, construction trucks and the noise and inconvenience that come with a project of this size (for the most part). After four long years, I am confident that the sacrifices we have made have been worth it. Both Watervliet Elementary and Watervliet Junior-Senior High School are now buildings that are more conducive learning environments for our students and facilities the entire school community can be proud of.
The changes in bricks and mortar in our buildings pale in comparison to the changes that are happening within public education.
We face many new challenges this year—from the new evaluation process for teachers and principals to the implementation of the common core learning standards and an ever-increasing level of accountability. New York has enacted a new property tax cap and we anticipate less financial support from the state. This means that we must use our resources wisely and do more with less.
None of these changes alter our mission: To inspire, educate and challenge every student, every day.
As I stated last year, we cannot let these hurdles slow us down or sidetrack our efforts to ensure that our students have everything they need from our school district. We must embrace these new challenges, as arbitrary as they may seem at times, and renew our commitment to students with an even greater sense of urgency than before.
We have overcome many challenges over the past five years; we will overcome these as well. Our students are counting on us!
Education has always been the best hope for a bright future for our children, our communities and our country, and it still is. Welcome back!
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