Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Great enrollment news

I sent the following message to Key Communicators and district employees yesterday:

I am writing you personally today to share with you some great news and ask for your help.

Last Thursday, the school board received a very positive report on our 2012-13 enrollment. I am very pleased to share with you that, as of Oct. 11, enrollment here at North Branch Area Public Schools is down only two students from last year! That is a testament to the hard work of staff to provide an NBAPS quality education, and district efforts to keep our kids where they belong - right here!

You may be wondering why a drop of two students would be considered good news. For years now enrollment at North Branch Area Public Schools has been dropping due to a variety of factors. Those enrollment drops account for a large part of the annual budget cuts we have been making since 2003-04.

With enrollment staying roughly flat from last year to this year, it means the school district will receive more funding from the state than originally projected, and mitigate to some degree the necessity for cuts for next year.

It also gives us reason to hope that the trend of dropping enrollment may be flattening out. Of course, only time will tell if that is the case.

We know our community is concerned with enrollments, and I hope you will join me in sharing this exciting news with your friends, family, and neighbors.

Speaking of sharing good news, have you considered participating in Spread the Red? We want to spread the word about all of the great things happening in North Branch Area Public Schools and we think you are the best person to talk about what is great at NBAPS! And, it's easy! Make a short video of yourself talking about you like about NBAPS and follow the submission instructions at the link above. There will even be prizes for finalists.

We are so very pleased to share this good news with you today, and it is my distinct hope you will consider joining our Spread the Red campaign and help us build on this momentum!

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

School News 9-26-12

A loss for us all

Last week I was informed that MaryHelen Swanson will no longer be your editor at the Post Review.

 I’ve known MaryHelen for just a few short years but more than long enough to have an idea who she is and what a loss her departure will be for this community. The life of a superintendent and the life of a newspaper editor are very similar I should think. The hours are incredibly long for a newspaper editor...I know this because I see MaryHelen at most of the same events and meetings that I attend.

Being a newspaper editor is a high-pressure position that is subject to a great deal of scrutiny. When there are errors or complaints, they go to the editor. And, much like a superintendent, whatever decisions are made, a newspaper editor is sure to leave some people unhappy, even while others are made to feel satisfied.

What separates MaryHelen in my mind is the degree to which she cares about the communities she covers, and the individuals whose reputations and futures are placed in her hands. Not, as some may assume, just those she agrees with, or gets along with; but all of the people who put themselves in the public realm by holding office or job title. She is careful to always remember that the people she covers are human beings, not just news subjects.

 In an age where editors and columnists are almost constantly rushing to give us their spin, its almost a curiosity that I have no idea where MaryHelen falls in her own beliefs. While some wear opinions on their sleeve, MaryHelen holds her own close to the vest so that all receive fair treatment. That is a rare quality these days and, with her departure, even more so.

The next editor of the Post Review will have large, and well-worn, shoes to fill indeed. Caring about the people who make news, as MaryHelen does, would be a great start.

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