Superintendent's Report

I think one might assume (for 7-8 months at least) that there will not be any more early mornings checking weather forecasts on the Internet and television, worrying about icy or snowy roads, blowing and drifting snow and freezing rain, and wondering if school will start two hours late or be canceled altogether... although one never knows. Two days of school were canceled this year -- which is pretty much a typical winter -- and will be made up on June 1 and June 2.

Spring is a busy time of the year for students, for staff, and for the school district. Development of the preliminary budget for the 2010-2011 school year started in December. Enrollment estimates, state funding projections, line-by-line budget review, and cost updating have all been factored in as best as possible. Admittedly, enrollment and state funding are the most difficult aspects of the budget to predict. At this point, the current preliminary budget for next year is projected as an approximate $100,000 deficit in the General Fund. The main goal as we enter next school year is to maintain our current programs and personnel and continue to offer a wide range of opportunities for students.

As you might have heard, Chokio-Alberta and Morris Area will be joining forces for volleyball, girls and boys golf, girls and boys track, softball, and baseball next fall. At a March 15 meeting, the C-A School Board voted unanimously to pair with Morris for these sports; the Morris Area School Board followed suit on March 22 by unanimously approving the pairing agreements. Athletic pairings between our two districts has been an ongoing discussion for several years and this agreement will benefit our programs.

One of the biggest eye-openers for me since becoming a superintendent is the politics of education. I have come to realize that what happens in Washington, DC and in St. Paul frequently has an impact on the Morris Area School District. Consequently, I have closely followed education politics at both the state and national level more this year than in previous years. At the federal level, there seems to be a push toward increased accountability, further developing a highly-trained teaching force, and a nationalized curriculum. Indeed, some of these aspects have also found their way into discussions at the State Capitol recently. Recent discussion in St. Paul seems to be centered on the budget deficit of nearly $1 billion for the current biennium, with a projected $4 billion to $7 billion deficit for the next biennium. Education makes up over one-third of the state’s budget, so deficit and reduction discussion – while realistic and necessary – are still concerning. If we value education and want to continue to offer our students the programs and opportunities that we currently offer, it is important to contact Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen and Rep. Torrey Westrom. Our message needs to be to keep funding for education where it is currently at – don’t reduce funding, as our kids and our future depend on it.

I hope you have a terrific and safe spring. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached by phone at (320) 589-4840 or by e-mail at smonson@morris.k12.mn.us. Thank you for your time.

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