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Guest column: The state of the Williams Unified School District

Having been Superintendent of the Williams Unified School District now for eight months, I feel it was timely to share with the citizens within the District as well as parents, teachers, business leaders and students where I feel the school district is heading.

Prior to doing that, allow me to discuss what has happened in the past eight months since I was retained by the School Board. I was pleased to learn, when I arrived in Williams, about the great support that the community, including parents, citizens and business community is providing to the school district. I was amazed that a group of individuals, called "Williams Needs an Angel" Committee were raising money within the community to build a new playground for the Williams Elementary-Middle School. I have felt welcome and included in the activities of Williams, Arizona.

As we started the new school year, the district and I were fortunate to retain two well experienced, recognized principals, namely Steve Hudgens and Donny Bridges. They have been the sustaining force in changing the climate of the schools and propelling the district forward. I am also fortunate to have a professional school board that gives me good directions, and then allows me and the principals to carry them out.

During the WUSD Board Retreat on Sept. 12, the board and administration agreed to six goals which will impact the school district. These goals encompass both short-term and long-range plans. Allow me to elaborate:

1. Improve Internal and External Communication

a. In our inter-office communication to each building, we are using an internet based program called Group Wise, which allows information to flow both ways, so that concerns or questions can be addressed quickly. We are also going to test a parental involvement program during summer school, where parents can access links on the internet so that they can work with their children on strengthening their skills in math, science, writing, etc. We are also hoping that this message will be the start of a monthly report to the community, not only by me, but by our principals as well. Our student administrative software, Power School is now available to allow parents to access their children's grades, attendance and homework assignments. The Williams Elementary Middle School is sending a monthly newsletter to parents. Both schools are also having weekly staff and faculty meetings and training every Friday afternoon.

2. Improve Test Scores

a. Currently both schools are considered by the Arizona Department of Education to be Performing Schools. Both schools are working hard to keep improving our students' knowledge as well as to impress upon the students the need to do well with the AIMS tests. One way of making sure that students do well on these tests as well as to acquire good grades is to be in school. Therefore we are examining various methods that might improve student attendance. Some of the areas we are examining are to communicate tardies and absences with parents, so they know the magnitude of their student's attendance or lack of. We also believe that if we change the climate of the school more students and staff will be encouraged to attend school. We are also offering tutoring programs that will assist students who are having a difficult time with the AIMS tests. We have recently received a three-year grant from the Arizona Department of Education to address AIMS Intervention and Dropout Prevention. This grant will provide approximately $104,000 per year to assist us in this area. We are also submitting a proposal for a Reading Readiness Grant in collaboration with Ash Fork Unified School District and Seligman Unified School District. This is a significant grant that will bring in over $300,000 per year for the three school districts to help our early learners master their reading skills.

3. Explore Sources of New Revenue

a. I have already discussed some of the new grants we have recently either been awarded or are expecting to receive. It is difficult to acquire new revenue without student growth and to date that hasn't happened, but we are still expecting it. If the newly proposed theme park materializes over the next several years, this will most certainly bring in new students to our schools. As outlined many times by the CEO of this proposed theme park, Mike Morgan, the district will also benefit through his proposal of in-lieu taxes, which would be paid into an educational trust fund controlled by the Williams District Governing Board. This would greatly assist the district with fresh funds, not controlled by the State or Federal bureaucracy.

4. Insure Safe Schools

a. The principals, Donny Bridges and Steve Hudgens, have identified areas in their respective schools that need attention due to unsafe hazards. We are in the process, through our building renewal funding, of taking care of these problems. We have ordered new entry doors for WEMS. They will provide a more secure school, plus allow a safer entry and exit. We are also going to be painting and replacing carpeting in five classrooms this coming summer at the WEMS campus. At the High School we also are replacing carpeting in the band room as well as another classroom. This will be an ongoing process to insure that we are on top of the problem. We are also hoping that through grants or other means we can add more recording cameras to view our outside and inside perimeters. We would also like to have cameras on our buses to insure orderly behavior and create a situation where the driver's attention can be focused on the road and passing cars.

5. Change the Negative Climate of the District

a. I have already discussed some of this in numbers 1 and 2. This will be a continuous process so that we are satisfied that the greater community believes that our schools are positive, safe learning environments. I think we have made positive gains, but it is still a journey.

6. Explore Bond Possibilities

Due to reduced funding by the state from the School Facilities Board and the difficulty in acquiring their approval for new projects, the board may choose to seek a Class B bond. Potential projects for this bond might include:

• new roofs, for both the high school and elementary middle school

• a new gym at the high school

• grounds renovations at the elementary middle school

• new floor and acoustics for the elementary middle school gym

• fence around the complete perimeter of the grounds at the elementary middle School

• redesign the parking lots of both schools

• K-3 school at Valle

• locker rooms renovation at the high school as well as new bleachers for the gym

• widen or move the high school football field

• new travel vans for athletic events and field trips

• new district office

This is truly a Christmas list and should the board determine that a bond is necessary, we would need assistance from staff and community to narrow the scope of our wish list to reflect exactly what the community would be willing to support.

I believe that the direction of the school district to become a true "lighthouse" school district is shaping up and moving towards that goal. We have a community that believes and supports public education, a school board committed to excellence, and a certified and support staff that is truly working hard for each individual student to help them become successful in life. The missing part of this picture is the funding to allow the district and community become this great lighthouse. Perhaps the theme park and Mike Morgan's vision for providing in-lieu taxes are that missing link.

I do appreciate your support of our schools and for allowing me to share this information with each of you.


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