December Update
By Dave Ackerman
Isn’t it amazing how quickly the school year goes by once it gets started? Here we are well into the holiday season and it seems like the school year just started. The feeling that the school year is speeding by is usually a pretty good sign that things are going well. It has certainly been an eventful and successful fall semester as our athletic teams, music, and performing arts have all experienced tremendous success. It truly is amazing to consider all the accomplishments our students have achieved.
The week of November 17-21 was National Education Week. It is at this time that we pause to recognize the contributions of educators and all people who work in the schools for the impact they have on the lives of our students. People who chose to go into education do so because they want to make a positive impact on students and contribute in a positive way to their lives. Sometimes this impact isn’t realized until many years after graduation. This is when the tough or demanding teacher or coach, or that staff member who always found time to talk to you from the school is truly appreciated. I often think back fondly to the teachers, administrators, and staff who did their best to educate me, and I am thankful for all of them.
It is said that “Education is the resistance of the one, and the persistence of the other.”
That is absolutely true. Thank an educator when you get the chance.
One of the inevitabilities of a school year is the onset of winter and all the difficulties the weather can bring. Making the call on what to do in inclement weather is one of the most difficult jobs for administrators. Weather Prediction 101 was not on the list of classes required for administration, but it should have been. When making the weather call, we are in contact with the county, neighboring school districts, we monitor the radar for precipitation and winds, and we monitor the temperature. We drive on a number of roads, and call residents who live in the far reaching areas of the district. At the forefront of the decision making process is the safety of the students and staff. We recognize that we have 16-18 year old drivers, six bus routes, and staff who drive from long distances. We take this responsibility very seriously, and yet sometimes the conditions at one end of the district may not be the same as the other end. Please know we do our best, but it is always any parents’ prerogative to keep their child home from school if they feel conditions are not favorable for them to get to school.
One last note, if you have not signed up for SNOWCAP yet, please do so at www.snowcaponline.com . When we make the decision on what to do with school, we contact SNOWCAP and this service instantly contacts all the radio and television stations in our area. If you have registered for an email or text message, you will also receive the cancellation notice on your computer or cell phone. Please remember to verify your phone or email after registering. If you are an ALLTEL customer, you will need to update your cell phone by hitting *228 and following the update instructions on your phone. We have had reports that in some areas the text message may not be getting through. Unfortunately there are some dead zones in the district for cell phone use, and we advise patrons to monitor the radio and television stations during inclement weather.
Have a great holiday season!
Dave Ackerman
Superintendent
