End of the school year!

And what a year it's been...we've dealt with extreme weather (including a record-breaking snowstorm in February, and an April with the least amount of sunshine in recorded history). We've said "goodbye and good luck in retirement" to some of our district's finest, including Rollins Principal Karen Hart and Dieterich teachers Ms. Diane Backes and Mrs. Liz Hardy. We've witnessed a contentious School Board election, and are hoping to have a full Board seated later this summer. And we look to the future with optimism, because those of us who've been part of this district for awhile know that our KIDS are the best, and deserve our support and encouragement!

Shades of Gray

A lot of us have been less than thrilled with the weather lately; it seems like it's been one cold, gray day after another. And yet my neighbor (who teaches at a middle school) notices that her students concentrate better and work harder in this kind of weather. Maybe they're less likely to be distracted by the sight of sunny playgrounds and bike trails outside their classroom windows, or maybe the sound of rain and wind has a calming effect--but for whatever reason, the lousy weather can turn out to be a blessing in disguise in some situations.

Sometimes situations (like the weather) are neither terrible nor wonderful, but somewhere in between. Often the answers aren't black or white, but shades of gray.

Decisions, decisions...

Life is full of decisions: how to spend our time & money, who to vote for, what to say and do in a particular situation. Parents, students, teachers, administrators, and taxpayers all have the opportunity and responsibility to make decisions in the best interests of our students.

What are some examples of decisions made recently that have benefited our district?

And how can less-positive decisions be corrected so our students get maximum benefit?

Continuing the discussion...

The topic of the previous thread (our district's image) must have struck a nerve with a lot of folks--there have been more than 200 comments in a relatively short period of time. So I (the co-administrator, and originator of the past several topics) decided to refresh the discussion. Oh, and don't forget to VOTE next Tuesday!

It's about our image--or is it?

Is it possible for a school district to have a high degree of transparency and accountability, as well as maintain a positive image in the community? Can we "agree to disagree" on some issues, while having as our ultimate goal doing what's best for students?

And what questions would we ask those candidates who are hoping to represent us on the School Board this spring?

Changes...

Spring is always a time of new beginnings, and it looks like 2011 will be no different! We will have fresh faces on our School Board, new policies regarding district Internet use, and reworking of our state's education budget (to name just a few).

Change can be both a blessing and a challenge. How can District 131 embrace necessary changes, while looking out for the best interests of our students?

The Blizzard of 2011

Some called it "Snowzilla"; some called it "Snow-mageddon"; some called it "Snownami".

Whatever we call it, it was the third worst snowstorm in area history.

And we all can call ourselves survivors of the Blizzard of 2011.

We east-siders are a hardy, resourceful bunch! Share your experiences over the past few days.