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On behalf of the District, we are grateful for your support and commitment ensuring that our students are receiving quality instruction in order to develop their full academic potential. The Arizona Department of Education reports that the Isaac School District student achievement is at an all time high. Ten of our 12 schools labels increased the last two years. Today, eight schools are "Performing Plus" and four schools are "Performing." Also, our school designation, "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP), under Federal law—No Child Left Behind (NCLB)—has improved significantly. Today, nine of our schools are making AYP, this is highest number of schools in the District's history.
While our students are doing better academically, the State continues to reduce our financial resources. Last school year, I asked myself if the District finances could get any worse. To my surprise the State reduced our budget again. This has been one of the most fiscally challenging school years during my 35-year career working in the public school system. Because of the economic downturn, we are forced to do more with less as the State continues to reduce our District's budget. In spite of diminishing resources, it is our responsibility to ensure that our number one priority is to provide our students with the best possible educational experience and create a safe, learning environment. Working together, we have proven this can be accomplished at the Isaac School District. The second most important thing we can do is optimize our financial resources in order to protect as many jobs as possible while offering our employees competitive salaries and benefits during these difficult economic times.
Over the last five years, like many districts across Arizona, our student enrollment has declined a total of 1,200. In order to address this large deficit and balance the budget, the District reviews its options: increasing class sizes; reductions in the workforce; reductions in salary; and right-sizing the number of schools.
In order to address the loss of 1,200 students, the District formed the Facilities Utilization Committee with 25 Isaac District Members, including 12 parent representatives (one from each school). The Committee reviewed the data and considered many factors. The Committee recommended to right-size the number of schools from 12 to 10. After reviewing the Committee's recommendations, the District Administration agreed with the Committee. These recommendations are not because it is easy, but it is the right thing to do for students, their families, and the community. By right-sizing, we ensure that people are more important than buildings. We ensure that we preserve important programs like Art, Music and P.E. instead of buildings. Based on the recommendations, we can assure our students, parents, and community members that our students will continue to receive high-quality instruction in a safe learning environment. Right-sizing the District is projected to save almost $1 Million prioritizing people and programs. The Governing Board supported the recommendation to right-size the number of schools.
My commitment, since 1975, is to ensure that all children receive high-quality instruction in a safe learning environment. The foundation of a successful learning environment is not the physical location of the school. In fact, the academic success of our students is deeply rooted in the dedication and commitment of teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and the community -- not the building location.
In spite of the tremendous academic success, balancing our budget and preserving many of our teaching and support staff positions, the District has its hostile critics. They criticize our students ability to learn; they criticize our teachers and support staff ability to teach; they criticize school and district leaders ability to manage our District. These critics are attempting to create a hostile learning environment in order to distract us from focusing on the academic success of our student. The critics are attempting to demoralize our community and staff ensuring that our students fail. These critics offer no real solutions. These critics refuse to accept the fact that our students will continue to realize their full academic potential. To paraphrase a quote from President Lyndon Johnson, "Any hostile person who lacks good judgment can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one." In spite of their criticism, with your continued support, our students will continue to reach new academic standards and improve the quality of life for our students, their families, and the community.
In closing, on behalf of the District, we appreciate your steadfast support and commitment to our students and the community. We appreciate everyone putting the educational needs of the children first, as we continue to do more for them with diminishing financial resources from the State. We look forward to another successful school year. Thank you and have a great summer.
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