August means students and teachers are enjoying their last days of summer before the old bell rings again. At the same time, school administrators are buckling up for the new academic year.
Superintendents and other school administrators must look at many of the same, but other unique, issues as the school year begins.
That goes for districts large and small. In Wall, superintendent Sally Crowser said its time to take a hard look at district-wide finances.
“One thing we are really going to work on is developing a strong financial plan, more for a district goal," Crowser said. "With that too, I want to do some strategic planning, and pieces of a strategic plan which would include (a) capital outlay plan, curriculum planning. Some of those types of plans that haven’t really been solidified lately.”
Widespread governmental funding cuts have come for all aspects of American life, from archeologists to doctors, causing many government organizations to reconsider their finances. However, many of the title grant funds once locked by the Trump administration have been unlocked for education.
For Platte-Geddes superintendent Joel Bailey he’s taking a mindset of growth into the year.
“Because that’s what we want to see from the superintendent down to our youngest kindergarten student – growth," Bailey said. "Oftentimes what you read about in the newspaper or hear in the news is state test scores. Being a public educator for my entire life, I know learning and growth looks different for every student, and every teacher, and me.”
Additionally, new laws passed by the legislature usually take effect July 1, meaning there is always new policy for school administrators to consider going into every school year.