Often,
at the beginning of a new year, we take the opportunity to assess the
progress we are making in our personal and professional lives. When we
recognize areas where results might not match our needs, goals, and core
values, we often make changes to better align our efforts with our
intentions. Quitting a bad habit, changing our diet, and committing to
particular routines to promote better efficiency or organization are
quite common in our society. By evaluating ourselves and focusing on
success, we hope that our actions will lead to a more enjoyable and
productive life.
As
a school district, our organization also continues to focus on success
as we work toward the mission that has been set by our community for
preparing all students to become lifelong learners, caring individuals,
and responsible citizens. The staff, administration, and school board
continue to examine district operations and programs to identify what we
need to quit, what we need to change, and what we could be promoting.
Everyone in the school district continues to work to achieve a vision
defined by strong partnerships, aligned resources, well-rounded
educational experiences, high academic achievement, prepared graduates,
efficient systems, and a quality and effective staff.
Some
of the most significant items that we are currently working on in our
school district include the evaluation and review of the following:
- Programming and staffing for academic intervention and personalized learning opportunities.
- Greater technology access and use for instruction and student learning.
- K-5 math curriculum and instruction.
- The expansion of summer school programming.
- The potential for a language immersion offering for our students.
- School district finances and the development of the budget for 2015-2016.
- Systems and policies related to district operations and staffing.
As
we examine how our school district can maximize success in these and
other areas, we will continue to be guided by the direction identified
by school district stakeholders during the “Great Conversation”.
According to core values developed by our families, staff, and community
members in Menomonie, we value integrity, so we will be honest,
courageous, responsible, and accountable. We value excellence, so we
will nurture growth, be our best, and expect the best. We value respect,
so we will honor others and self, protect, listen, and appreciate. We
value trust, so we will share, be reliable, be consistent, and follow
through. And, we value community, so we will care, serve, unite, be
loyal, and celebrate.
It
can sometimes be difficult to make changes, but by continuing to focus
on the success of our children, we hope that our actions will lead to a
more enjoyable and productive educational experience for everyone in our
community.
A Final Reminder: Anyone
who is interested in running for a seat on the School District of the
Menomonie Area Board of Education needs to file a declaration of
candidacy form by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, at the Administrative
Service Center (ASC) located at 215 Pine Avenue. More information and
the forms required for candidacy are available at the ASC, and a Guide for Candidates
publication is also available on the website of the Wisconsin
Association of School Boards (WASB). Should school stakeholders have any
questions about becoming a school board member or anything else
regarding our school district, I invite you to visit the ASC or contact
me at 715-232-1642. More information about our schools can be found on
the school district website (www.sdmaonline.com) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/sdmaonline).