Ready or not…School is almost here! 

On Wednesday, all of our new teachers were in the buildings for orientation. 

On Thursday, all of our staff came back to school. 

Next Tuesday, the students will be back.

The custodians and maintenance staff have been doing a great job preparing the buildings for staff and students.  Schools aren’t built to be empty and the halls and classrooms seem pretty bare during the summer when they don’t have students’ voices in them. 

However, the summer gives us some time to paint walls, wax the floors, clean the carpets and do a very thorough cleaning that might not otherwise happen.

The 2010-11 school year will bring back some of the same challenges as well as new challenges. 

Last year we had many difficult decisions to make because of the state’s financial problems and the subsequent 10% across the board cut to our funding.  Many community members, parents, staff and students attended meetings and shared opinions and ideas.  The decisions we made will impact students and staff starting this week. 

For example, we will have several elementary classes that have more students in each section.  We will not have a dance team for our high school students.  We will not have a shuttle bus after activities for students to get back to Garrison or Shellsburg.

It is easy to focus on what we will not have.  Let me remind you of what we will have. 

We have fairly small class sizes at the elementary – they will range from 15 students to 25 students in each classroom. We will have many activities that middle and high school students can participate in.  This week we have volleyball, football, and cross country practices all going on.  Last week we had band camp. 

Students have many opportunities to become involved in school activities. We have great teachers and other staff working with students. 

Our bus drivers and transportation department are recognized as one of the best in the state.  Many of the cooks know our kids by face and name.  Many of our teachers are already contacting their students with letters so they can start building relationships with them.  The classroom associates know almost every student in the building by name as well as their parents.  The secretaries have been working so they have everything prepared for the return of staff and students.  The administrators are all focused on what we can do to meet students’ needs and they enjoy spending time with students. 

We have great facilities and learning environments.  We had people from across the state in our high school building this week for some literacy training.  They were impressed with the building and how it can be used with students.  We have three other great buildings as well and we have plans to make them better. 

One of the challenges that we have is getting the Middle School and Shellsburg buildings air conditioned.  I have been in the buildings this week and it is hot.  And by Friday they will be hotter.  The school board is working with the administrators to develop a long-term solution and plan to address the issue.

We have a great school-community.  We had many families at registration.  In talking to families, it is obvious they like being a part of the Vinton-Shellsburg district.  We have many community members who support the district financially, with their time, or in other ways. 

It is not unusual to have a community member contact me to say, “How can I help the school?” 

It is obvious that people are proud of the district. I am starting my 10th year as a superintendent.  I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the year and know that it will be a good year for our students.  I am one of the people who is proud of the district and the work we do.

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments or concerns.  My door is (almost) always open and I work to return phone messages in a timely manner. 

I may not always say or do what you want me to but I want people to understand the reasoning behind the recommendations and decisions I make. Have a great year!

Mary Jo Hainstock, Superintendent