September is upon us, and the kids are back in school. We’ve all anticipated the start of the new school year for some time now, even as we cherished the last few days of the summer vacation, and I join all of our teachers, administrators, other staff members, and the Board of Education in saying, “Welcome back!”
We have a lot to look forward to this year. Our academic programs are first-rate and improving each year. Our music programs are second to none, and hundreds of students are already knee-deep in fall sports. We continue as a regional leader in educational technology, and we’re excited about new courses and new facilities as we get back into our routines.
This year is unusual in that nearly half of our administrative team is new to the district, including new principals at OES and the middle school, a new assistant principal at OFA, a new chief information officer, a new athletic director, and a new business official. We’ve been fortunate to recruit some very experienced, talented people and they’ve already begun making a difference as they started work over the summer. Please join me in welcoming them, as well as our new teachers.
Our district is privileged to enjoy such strong community involvement. That was particularly evident in your support for the budget last spring, and for a newly created capital reserve fund. We’re on very solid financial footing and we’re working hard to manage our resources well, making the most of the community’s backing for excellent educational programs, facilities, and support services for our children.
This year we’ll undertake capital construction projects in most of our buildings, replacing outdated systems and facilities that have exceeded their useful lives. Roofs, windows, heating and air conditioning systems, sidewalks, and parking lots are not the most exotic projects we could address, but they’re critical in keeping our facilities safe, energy efficient, and in top condition. Look for lots of information about these projects over the coming year.
I have just completed my first year as your superintendent and one thing that especially stands out for me is the engagement of our students and staff in the community, and the strong involvement of the community in our schools. Our students and staff are involved in community service through churches, scouting, and numerous service organizations.
And people from all over the community come to our events and performances, involve themselves in our decision-making processes, and in a multitude of ways support our children and our schools.
There’s a strong tradition at Owego Apalachin, and we can all be very proud.