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Here we are at the end of the first decade of the 21st century! It seems like yesterday that we were all worrying that our systems would operate correctly as we moved from one century to another. It appears we have survived! We are facing an array of new challenges in this new year; some more daunting than others. However, one thing we can take pride in is our collective ability to rise to the occasion, no matter what the adversity.
There is no question that we will have difficult and challenging times during this year.
I am confident, however, that as a school district, we can meet them with steadfast determination as we continue to work tirelessly to provide the best education for all of our USD 373 students. The following are some of my resolutions for 2010:
1. Continue to advocate unceasingly for our students, our staff and our community at all levels, local, state and national..
2. More effectively balance listening and speaking in order to better understand others.
3. Maintain a sense of humor, which, I suspect, will be needed more than ever.
4. Continue to read and learn.
5. Be more tolerant of the mistakes and shortcomings of others, knowing that I exhibit them as well.
6. Create a budget scenario which ensures that staff employed by our districts maintain their positions.
Happy 2010 to all of you! I hope you have had an opportunity to rest, relax and reflect and that you are prepared for the new semester. Thanks for being a part of USD 373.
John Morton
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Lessons from “A Christmas Carol”
I happened to watch part of the musical version of “A Christmas Carol” this week and was struck by its relevance to both contemporary life in 2009 and to the future of our students in USD 373, in Kansas and in the United States.
The timeless adage is that it is never too late to have one’s eyes opened to generosity and charity toward others; that we never know the whole story of others’ lives, or for that matter, what they may really think of us. To point: Actions really do speak louder than words!
We are in the midst of a bleak mid winter, to quote the seasonal song. We need to, first of all, care about and support one another as never before. Some of our students are dealing with situations we can only imagine. We are their “light” in otherwise dark times. Some of our staff are facing bleak times as well; we need to keep them constantly in our thoughts and again, support them in any way we can.
Finally, we need to continue to try to “open the eyes” of those who appear to think that additional reductions in our already precarious budgets are the only way to get Kansas to fiscal solvency again. The time for their rhetoric is past. We need bold, decisive action by our state leaders, our Governor, and our legislators when they return to Topeka on January 11. We need to turn out in mass next Monday at the school board meeting to hear what our senator and representatives have to say about the future of our state……………our greatest fear should be that, when we are transported by the Ghost of Christmas Future, we find our state in a grave in a cemetery with no one to mourn.
We will continue to provide you with periodic updates and plan to visit every building and department in the ensuing weeks to hear additional budget input and to answer additional questions. In the meantime, let’s open our eyes to the beauty and joy of this amazing season and to the opportunities it affords us to brighten the lives of others, which in turn, will brighten our own lives.
The timeless adage is that it is never too late to have one’s eyes opened to generosity and charity toward others; that we never know the whole story of others’ lives, or for that matter, what they may really think of us. To point: Actions really do speak louder than words!
We are in the midst of a bleak mid winter, to quote the seasonal song. We need to, first of all, care about and support one another as never before. Some of our students are dealing with situations we can only imagine. We are their “light” in otherwise dark times. Some of our staff are facing bleak times as well; we need to keep them constantly in our thoughts and again, support them in any way we can.
Finally, we need to continue to try to “open the eyes” of those who appear to think that additional reductions in our already precarious budgets are the only way to get Kansas to fiscal solvency again. The time for their rhetoric is past. We need bold, decisive action by our state leaders, our Governor, and our legislators when they return to Topeka on January 11. We need to turn out in mass next Monday at the school board meeting to hear what our senator and representatives have to say about the future of our state……………our greatest fear should be that, when we are transported by the Ghost of Christmas Future, we find our state in a grave in a cemetery with no one to mourn.
We will continue to provide you with periodic updates and plan to visit every building and department in the ensuing weeks to hear additional budget input and to answer additional questions. In the meantime, let’s open our eyes to the beauty and joy of this amazing season and to the opportunities it affords us to brighten the lives of others, which in turn, will brighten our own lives.
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