Editor:

The Superintendent’s Advisory Council has begun its second year and as a second-year member I would like to inform everyone of its positive impact and thank Superintendent Vicki Wright for its formation.

The formation of this council became the answer to a great deal of frustration and negativity over many years from getting no answers to a massive number of questions and concerns. Our school system has been on a continuous spiral downward and recovery seemed impossible. Negative “I give up” attitudes toward our school district were everywhere and it continued to escalate. Lack of voter turnout confirmed this. To my surprise, the Board was not where I should have taken my questions, but no-one had informed me of that. Superintendent Wright was present at a Board meeting and witnessed this. She immediately formed a council, led by her, for just that purpose — a group of volunteer community residents who would gather to share, compare, question and recommend positive changes amunity as well. Finally ­— finally ­ — after all these years, there was hope.

We gathered, questioned, compared and brainstormed. We recommended changes that were formulated, agreed upon and became reality, some in just days. We made positive, education-altering differences for the good of the students. The feedback has been positive. Without Superintendent Wright’s intervention and foresight for what was desperately needed none of this progress would have materialized.

This council was a missing link. We never had it, so we never knew what we were missing. The students paid the price for this. Our goal is to enable our student to enter this world prepared, informed and educated to the best of our district’s ability. There is much work to be done, but make no mistake, we are picking up steam. The commitment of former members was obvious by their attendance at the first meeting of the new year; plus a new member joined us. I would encourage you to consider joining this council.

Remember, the community and school are one — they cannot be separated — one cannot exist without the other. See for yourself that all is not lost; we can overcome our shortfalls as a district and we can rise above them — with determination and commitment the sky is the limit. Let’s give our students the best launch into life in this challenging, ever-changing world that we can.



Marsha S. Reding

Collins Center