ATHENS AREA SCHOOLS

Well, the New Year came in snowy and cold but changed its mind pretty quickly!  Congratulations to the Spartans and Wolverines for bowl victories that were both a long time coming.  Here's to a long playoff run for the Lions!  We are beginning to hear about new jobs and an improving economy for our state.  There's also much anticipation of surpluses in the state's general and school aid funds to be announced at the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference this month.  We don't expect any additional money for this year for schools, but if the legislative leadership are as serious as they sound about paying down the unfunded liability in the retirement system, that will work just as well for us in schools.  I'd say we're off on the right foot in 2012.  Let's keep it going in a positive direction.  Relentless positive action is definitely the key to our future!

Congratulations are in order to a local education leader for a special recognition.  Dr. Tina Kerr, Superintendent of Coldwater Community Schools, has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators.  Check out the story:  http://www.gomasa.org/news/masa-announces-superintendent-year-2012

The Spartans have been bedeviled by the Blue Devils (and for that matter, tarred and feathered by the Tar Heels) for several of our last great but frustrating basketball seasons.  However, I have to give Duke's Coach, Mike Krzyzewski, his due.  Coach K is more than a great coach.  He is a great leader, a great teacher, and a great teacher of leadership.  I'm sorry my Green and White had to be the ones to provide his 903rd win, putting him ahead of the General, Bobby Knight, another great leader and teacher.  I am not sorry to see him get the credit for a program run with skill and integrity for many years.  In the wake of the Penn State football scandal, as we are reminded that all human figures (like JoPa) have feet of clay, it is good to have examples of integrity held up for young people to look and listen to.  Great job, Coach K!

Wow.

Today our sixth grade classes moved into the new classrooms.  Thank you to our voters and taxpayers.  The students were very excited and took a big part in the move.  The whole process took less than two hours.  I was amazed and pleased.  Next up:  the big band move!

Standing outside as the buses pull in this morning--Halloween--I see a little guy struggling with his packages of cupcakes for his class party.  I offer to help and take the trays from him, only to see it's a bit late:  the poor cupcakes are helter-skelter in the tray and the careful, beautiful frosting is everywhere.  I look at one of our paraprofessionals, standing there on duty, also, and I see the mom sympathy in her eyes.  "Can you fix it?" I ask lamely.  Five minutes later, she has!  I meet her coming out of the teachers' lounge with the repaired cupcakes.  The party is saved!  Much more important, that little boy won't be crying because his treat got ruined.  He and his classmates will never know the difference.  But I do, and now, so do you.

I think my German spelling is correct on the title!  I remember this little line from some workbook in high school German.  It reads, auf English, "Soon comes winter, with its ice and snow."  As we enjoy another blue-sky, beautiful fall day today, I can't help but think that Old Man Winter is just around the corner, bringing me early mornings to check road conditions.  Although the Honeywell Instant Alert system is only as good as our database, I am confident it will be a big help to parents this winter with news of any delays, cancellations, or early closings.  Please be sure that our school secretaries have your correct telephone numbers.  We'll surely be calling someday soon!

Well, it's over.  As a die-hard Spartan fan, I'll take the win, but what a crazy game.  If our festivities and the wearing of the green and blue the last couple of days have made one more student think about a future that includes a college education, it's been worth it.  You've probably seen the billboards along our highways encouraging the conversation:  Where will you go to college?  Not everybody needs or will get a bachelor's or advanced degree, but we know that if young people don't dream it, they won't do it.  Let's help every Athens student think about a future that includes the education for the career of their dreams.

Whereas the great state of Michigan is blessed with a number of outstanding colleges and universities,

and whereas two of the finest research universities in the world are among Michigan's public colleges and universities,

and whereas schools should do all that they can to encourage students of all ages to consider postsecondary education,

and whereas the annual gridiron matchup between the Spartans of Michigan State University and the Wolverines of the University of Michigan carries special significance for many Michigan residents,

Therefore, Saturday, October 15, 2011, is proclaimed to be "Blue and Green Day" in the Athens Area Schools district, and all appropriate manner of supporting and displaying pride in these two great universities and their athletic programs in the intervening days shall be encouraged and enjoyed in good, clean fun!

By order of the Superintendent of Schools, this twelfth day of October, the Year of Our Lord 2011

P.S.--Gametime is 12:00 noon at Spartan Stadium, MSU; television coverage on ESPN.

It's day number two of the new school year, and we're off and running in Athens Area Schools.  I know some people doubted that we would open on time, but thanks to the efforts of Frederick Construction (our CM), all our contractors and subcontractors, and our in-house and Hi-Tec custodial crews, we did it!  Open house is tonight for grades 6-12 at AHS.  I am grateful that we have had such a smooth start.  No year begins without a few hitches, but we are very fortunate, indeed, this year.