"The noblest question in the world is:
What good may I do in it?” — Ben Franklin
As the 2018-19 school year concludes, I would like to update you on progress toward a number of initiatives. It has been another busy year here in the Valley, and we have lots of positive news to share.

1:1 Initiative: We began the first phase of our 1:1 initiative in March by giving every ninth-grader a Chromebook for use in class and at home. Students and faculty have both shared positive feedback with us about this step in the district’s digital transformation. Starting next year, we will be providing Chromebooks to all middle school students, as well as next year’s ninth, 11th and 12th grade students (pending School Board approval). Ninth-graders who received Chromebooks this year will keep their current devices when they move into 10th grade. At this time, we are working out the logistics of how we will provide students with their devices, but our hope is to make sure they have them early on in the start of the 2019-20 school year. We will share more updates as plans are finalized.

Safety: We have spent a lot of time this past year exploring ways in which we can improve safety procedures and practices in our buildings, and one result of that work is the decision to provide security at some level, in all of our buildings during daytime hours, starting next year. At the secondary level, we will also have security officers present in the buildings in the afternoons and evenings, given the amount of activity that occurs in these buildings once the school day has ended. We will look at the potential for offering security in the evening hours at our elementary school buildings also. None of the security personnel are currently armed or will be armed next year. 

Facilities/Athletic Fields: As you may have seen in the most recent edition of the Perk E. Mail, the School Board took the first official action toward improving the district’s athletic fields by hiring an engineering firm to design plans for a synthetic turf field at Thomas J. Keenan Stadium, two synthetic turf practice fields behind the high school (known as hilltop), and a synthetic turf baseball field (also located at the high school). This firm will also be working with related organizations to secure permits and other approvals that would be needed prior to construction. We anticipate an update on this process sometime in July. Along with the fields, the district has been reviewing capital project needs across the district, and will be moving ahead with a number of these projects when school ends. The biggest project will be the renovation of South Elementary School, where windows and doors, exterior building panels and floors will be replaced, among other work. Middle School East will also receive some attention with an asphalt paving project.

Curriculum: We continue discussions about the addition of a wellness/social-emotional learning opportunity for elementary school students.  Details of what is decided are forthcoming.