“Summertime, but is the living easy…?
Yea! it’s summertime; the official start of summer is almost here with the summer solstice occurring June 21. It is what many of us have been waiting for, but from June 21 on, until winter solstice in December, the sun will leave us a few minutes earlier each day. Heavy sigh… As she does every year, my wonderful wife Judy, who is by nature an early-to-bed/early-to-rise person, will make it a point to stay up as late as possible (for her) on June 21.
In my opinion, summertime is not necessarily easy for CCSD’s 12-month employees. A surprising number of activities take place during the summer months to prepare for the new school year. For one thing, prior to the arrival of staff and students, all buildings are organized, repaired, patched, painted and cleaned from top to bottom. Greg Shaffer and his staff work very hard, both inside and out, in the heat of the summer, to get buildings and grounds in top shape for the beginning of the school year. And, while there are no construction projects this summer, we are currently managing the process of replacing old terra cotta sewer lines.
On the administrative level, records are maintained/updated and distributed across grade levels and schools, and between districts. Then, based on population shifts, materials for the coming school year are ordered.
Bus routes are reviewed and adjusted according to the same information.
From my own perspective, one thing that remains constant at all times of the year is the number of meetings I attend.
With all that goes on while students are enjoying some well-deserved summer fun, it’s nice to know that there remains a more casual air among those of us working to ready our facilities for the coming school year. The tempo, while still brisk, is a change of routine that refreshes our spirits.
On the home front, my wife and I are now blessed with three wonderful grandchildren. Our eldest son and his wife, are the proud parents of our first granddaughter. She is (if I do say so myself!) a doll with a beautiful smile and lots of hair. We have many trips and activities planned with our kids and grandkids this summer. Among these is a weeklong stay at the beach. I enjoy the beach about as much as I like needles BUT I love being with my family. They all assure me that I’ll have fun – I’ll let you know in September whether or not they were right.
Strange things can happen during the summer. Who would guess the Pirates were tied for first in their division, briefly, but still sporting a winning record for the middle of June. Or that speedy receiver Mike (60 minutes) Wallace of the Steelers would still be unsigned. OTAs are done for most NFL teams and that means training camp is not that far away. Life is good.
Enjoy what is left of June, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!
Dr. D.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Time to celebrate
On Monday, April 23, 2012, our school district saw SNOW: windswept squalls and quite a bit of accumulation at such a late date supports the notion that some things cannot be legislated, managed, or controlled by mankind. Human nature compels us to gain power over the events around us. If we can’t control our environment, we like to complain about it (hence our lengthy discussions about the weather). I was sorry about the need to call our first snow day in April, but I was also oddly comforted to see that being “up the mountain” still meant living in extreme and unpredictable conditions.
I believe that everyone should be “fussy” at some point in life. Let me explain: CCSD’s seniors have spent 13 years figuring out what they want for themselves and where they want to go. They’ve taken every possible action to reach their goals. When making important career decisions they should not settle for “whatever” but be fussy and selective as these decisions will surely define who they are and who they will become. (This is a clue as to what I plan to speak about during the graduation ceremony.) Now they are ready to take responsibility for their choices and make their dreams come true. As their families and friends, let’s remind them that they don’t face the bright but uncertain future alone; the people they love will be beside them always.
Choosing a direction is the hardest part. As we make life choices, many variables—some, like the weather, are beyond our control—affect our direction in life. Nevertheless, as we react to various challenges, we are the ultimate controllers of our own destinies. We get the credit (or the blame) for the outcomes of our choices.
Congratulations to all seniors graduating this year, and to parents, relatives, friends, and anyone else who has offered encouragement, patience and a listening ear. As you leave our district, remember to be a “fussy” alumnus in life.
Good luck, seniors!
As we rapidly approach the end of the school year, the teacher in me is compelled to remind students that summer is no time to forget the values, morals and education that have kept them safe and happy throughout their lives. Make smart choices in the friends you hang out with, the social events you attend, and even they ways in which you network on the Internet and social media sites. Please have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer.
Finally, I extend my sincere appreciation to all students, staff, parents and Board members for making this an excellent school year for Central Cambria!
Enjoy your summer! Dr. D.
I believe that everyone should be “fussy” at some point in life. Let me explain: CCSD’s seniors have spent 13 years figuring out what they want for themselves and where they want to go. They’ve taken every possible action to reach their goals. When making important career decisions they should not settle for “whatever” but be fussy and selective as these decisions will surely define who they are and who they will become. (This is a clue as to what I plan to speak about during the graduation ceremony.) Now they are ready to take responsibility for their choices and make their dreams come true. As their families and friends, let’s remind them that they don’t face the bright but uncertain future alone; the people they love will be beside them always.
Choosing a direction is the hardest part. As we make life choices, many variables—some, like the weather, are beyond our control—affect our direction in life. Nevertheless, as we react to various challenges, we are the ultimate controllers of our own destinies. We get the credit (or the blame) for the outcomes of our choices.
Congratulations to all seniors graduating this year, and to parents, relatives, friends, and anyone else who has offered encouragement, patience and a listening ear. As you leave our district, remember to be a “fussy” alumnus in life.
Good luck, seniors!
As we rapidly approach the end of the school year, the teacher in me is compelled to remind students that summer is no time to forget the values, morals and education that have kept them safe and happy throughout their lives. Make smart choices in the friends you hang out with, the social events you attend, and even they ways in which you network on the Internet and social media sites. Please have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer.
Finally, I extend my sincere appreciation to all students, staff, parents and Board members for making this an excellent school year for Central Cambria!
Enjoy your summer! Dr. D.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Budget time once again...
Spring has barely sprung and the weather is breaking all kinds of heat records. Following an extremely mild winter, spring appears to have morphed into summer in the span of two weeks. Although the weather is always a topic of conversation during April, those close to public education know it is also the time when many districts are organizing and proposing next year’s budget. This year, such activities are likely to be as unsettled as the weather this time of year.
Mrs. Kaschalk, our business manager, will present our district’s user-friendly budget outline for the public on April 19. Her presentation will show that almost 70% of our district’s budget is a fixed cost with zero “wiggle room.” Each line item was scrutinized to see if a reduction or elimination was warranted, with a list of recommendations presented to the Board. To name a few, this list included fewer teachers being hired to replace those retiring, leading to a small increase in class size, renegotiating out-sourced services contracts, and implementing our own Autistic Support Program.
As you may recall, last year at this time we provided the community, staff, parents and students with a survey to gauge what areas of the district are most important as the budget is developed. The information garnered from this survey helped to keep our district fiscally sound and provided much information about the needs and priorities of our area. The survey helped us identify which items are essential and which can eliminated or modified in the years to come.
Last year I predicted, “This is just the beginning of belt tightening for many districts across the Commonwealth,” and this has certainly proven to be the case. Our district continues to do wonderful things for our students, even with less money. This is commendable, but how long can any district do this? Just as a person on a strict diet can live on fewer calories than he burns for only a finite length of time, districts can function at a monetary deficit for only a limited number of years before sinking into deficit spending. The governor’s proposed budget includes no increase for our district as we continue to pay for unfunded or underfunded mandates. As a result, the cuts made for this year will continue for next year as well.
As the Board and I continue to work on a balanced budget, everyone recognizes how public education is vastly different from what it looked 20 years ago; school districts have shouldered responsibility for much more than the three Rs; it falls to schools to provide instruction and opportunities in the arts, physical wellness, and personal development. So, while we proudly exert our efforts toward the benefit of our students, we have come to realize that nothing in our district is considered safe and untouchable when the budget axe gets sharpened and begins to swing in our direction. We need your help in restoring educational funding to our district.
I urge you to contact the governor and/or local legislators to make your voice heard and let them know that public education is an important investment in our children. As costs continue to go up, and districts look to make ends meet, the lack of funding will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the youth of our society, and on our own well-being and safety.
Now back to my regularly scheduled discussion of sports. The Pens are pretty much history this year, and rightfully so. As much as I am a fan of our Pittsburgh teams, the Penguins on Sunday were sad poster children for “How to Lose a Hockey Game and Your Dignity.” On a more positive note, the NFL schedules have been released, Charlie Batch was resigned for another year, the draft begins April 26, the Blue and White game is this weekend, and voluntary NFL workouts have begun. I can smell the pigskin being tossed about already….
Dr. D.
Mrs. Kaschalk, our business manager, will present our district’s user-friendly budget outline for the public on April 19. Her presentation will show that almost 70% of our district’s budget is a fixed cost with zero “wiggle room.” Each line item was scrutinized to see if a reduction or elimination was warranted, with a list of recommendations presented to the Board. To name a few, this list included fewer teachers being hired to replace those retiring, leading to a small increase in class size, renegotiating out-sourced services contracts, and implementing our own Autistic Support Program.
As you may recall, last year at this time we provided the community, staff, parents and students with a survey to gauge what areas of the district are most important as the budget is developed. The information garnered from this survey helped to keep our district fiscally sound and provided much information about the needs and priorities of our area. The survey helped us identify which items are essential and which can eliminated or modified in the years to come.
Last year I predicted, “This is just the beginning of belt tightening for many districts across the Commonwealth,” and this has certainly proven to be the case. Our district continues to do wonderful things for our students, even with less money. This is commendable, but how long can any district do this? Just as a person on a strict diet can live on fewer calories than he burns for only a finite length of time, districts can function at a monetary deficit for only a limited number of years before sinking into deficit spending. The governor’s proposed budget includes no increase for our district as we continue to pay for unfunded or underfunded mandates. As a result, the cuts made for this year will continue for next year as well.
As the Board and I continue to work on a balanced budget, everyone recognizes how public education is vastly different from what it looked 20 years ago; school districts have shouldered responsibility for much more than the three Rs; it falls to schools to provide instruction and opportunities in the arts, physical wellness, and personal development. So, while we proudly exert our efforts toward the benefit of our students, we have come to realize that nothing in our district is considered safe and untouchable when the budget axe gets sharpened and begins to swing in our direction. We need your help in restoring educational funding to our district.
I urge you to contact the governor and/or local legislators to make your voice heard and let them know that public education is an important investment in our children. As costs continue to go up, and districts look to make ends meet, the lack of funding will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the youth of our society, and on our own well-being and safety.
Now back to my regularly scheduled discussion of sports. The Pens are pretty much history this year, and rightfully so. As much as I am a fan of our Pittsburgh teams, the Penguins on Sunday were sad poster children for “How to Lose a Hockey Game and Your Dignity.” On a more positive note, the NFL schedules have been released, Charlie Batch was resigned for another year, the draft begins April 26, the Blue and White game is this weekend, and voluntary NFL workouts have begun. I can smell the pigskin being tossed about already….
Dr. D.
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