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.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Has Spring "sprung"?
Wow, a plethora of congratulations are in order for CCSD students. First, the Forensics team had a successful season; coaches and students alike worked hard to prepare and compete. Second, the CES Odyssey of the Mind team placed second in their division on the regional level and are advancing to the state level. Third, wrestlers Ben Rager and Tony Risaliti qualified for states. Ben had a great showing and season at 126 lbs., and was recognized among the Altoona Mirror 2nd team All Stars. Tony placed 4th at states, made the Altoona Mirror 1st team All Stars at 160 lbs, and was named Wrestler of the Year by the Altoona Mirror. Tony now holds the school record for wins (127 – 40) and for pins (83). Fourth, our 4 x 100 freestyle relay team (Newcomer, Chiappini, Brady and Westrick) qualified for states and broke the CCSD 4 x 100-school record. Finally, congratulations go to Kelsie Conrad for qualifying for states and returning with a new school record in the 100 meter backstroke. Whew! We are proud to note that CCSD is home to quite a talented group of young men and women!
The first official day of spring is March 20 but, with the temperatures and sunshine we have had this season, it seems as if spring started in February. I realize that some people do miss the activities that are possible only in the cold and snow, but I have heard very few complaints. Truthfully, the mild weather has been a blessing for our district: we have had very few rescheduled events, we’ve used far less than the usual amount of salt and anti-skid material, and we’ve had to spend vey little in overtime pay for plowing. Of course, we may still get one of the spring snow events, so don’t put that shovel away yet (are you knocking on wood right now, or crossing your fingers?!).
Kudos to all staff involved in the education of our students with special needs. We recently went through an exhaustive PDE audit of the programs and delivery of services for our students with IEPs. Parents, students, teachers, aides, and administrators were interviewed by the team from PDE. I am happy and proud to say that we had an excellent monitoring review. An official document will be sent to our district in a month, but the exit meeting was very encouraging and PDE had almost nothing to cite in terms of non-compliance within our district.
Many of you are now aware of the governor’s proposed budget. Once again, public education and local entities are bearing the burden of financing unfunded mandates:
• There is no real money for full day kindergarten.
• The transportation subsidy is to be cut.
• There is no increase in funding for special education for the fifth year in a row.
• The pension debacle continues to drain district coffers.
Once again, we must do more with less money. I am committed to continuing with full day kindergarten, as I believe it leads to many positive results. At the same time, I am determined to keep our district out of deficit spending. Unfortunately, this may involve some painful cuts and unpopular decisions in the months and years ahead. Be assured that my focus remains the preservation of a quality curriculum for our children. Many thanks to our booster clubs and PTOs for helping with so many fundraisers and monetary perks for our students.
Although this budget dilemma has caused considerable anxiety for educators, parents, and communities, we at Central Cambria are handling it in the best way possible: while some might wait or spend as if the problem might just disappear, we know the wiser course of action is to prepare for next year’s deficit and plan for an uncertain future in ways that maximize opportunities for our students.
I again encourage you to take a few moments to contact your local legislator. Ask for the renewal of Block Grant monies to school districts, and ask lawmakers to rescind the other cuts in the proposed budget. Thank you for supporting Central Cambria and public education.
I promised my older brother Dan that I would mention him in one of my blogs. He, like me, is a devoted Steeler fan. We spend inordinate amounts of time debating the “right” call on defense or offense – mostly to impress each other with our football prowess. He lives in the Downingtown area, home to a prosperous district that has two campuses and is growing steadily. Comparing notes with Dan on the state of education is always interesting. While he is not an educator, two of his children work in public schools. All in all, I am confident that our students are as successful – academically, athletically, and artistically – as those in his area.
Enjoy this unexpectedly mild start to the spring season by attending some of our spring sports. Track is a runaway favorite with my wife, and baseball and softball are in full swing (every pun intended!).
Speaking of sports, it was great to see the Pens win 11 in a row, but I’m still reeling from the abrupt end to their streak. I was staggered to see them lose to the Flyers with only .9 seconds left in overtime – I still can’t believe it. Oh, and hang in there, football fans, there are only 36 (long) days until the NFL draft….
Dr. D
The first official day of spring is March 20 but, with the temperatures and sunshine we have had this season, it seems as if spring started in February. I realize that some people do miss the activities that are possible only in the cold and snow, but I have heard very few complaints. Truthfully, the mild weather has been a blessing for our district: we have had very few rescheduled events, we’ve used far less than the usual amount of salt and anti-skid material, and we’ve had to spend vey little in overtime pay for plowing. Of course, we may still get one of the spring snow events, so don’t put that shovel away yet (are you knocking on wood right now, or crossing your fingers?!).
Kudos to all staff involved in the education of our students with special needs. We recently went through an exhaustive PDE audit of the programs and delivery of services for our students with IEPs. Parents, students, teachers, aides, and administrators were interviewed by the team from PDE. I am happy and proud to say that we had an excellent monitoring review. An official document will be sent to our district in a month, but the exit meeting was very encouraging and PDE had almost nothing to cite in terms of non-compliance within our district.
Many of you are now aware of the governor’s proposed budget. Once again, public education and local entities are bearing the burden of financing unfunded mandates:
• There is no real money for full day kindergarten.
• The transportation subsidy is to be cut.
• There is no increase in funding for special education for the fifth year in a row.
• The pension debacle continues to drain district coffers.
Once again, we must do more with less money. I am committed to continuing with full day kindergarten, as I believe it leads to many positive results. At the same time, I am determined to keep our district out of deficit spending. Unfortunately, this may involve some painful cuts and unpopular decisions in the months and years ahead. Be assured that my focus remains the preservation of a quality curriculum for our children. Many thanks to our booster clubs and PTOs for helping with so many fundraisers and monetary perks for our students.
Although this budget dilemma has caused considerable anxiety for educators, parents, and communities, we at Central Cambria are handling it in the best way possible: while some might wait or spend as if the problem might just disappear, we know the wiser course of action is to prepare for next year’s deficit and plan for an uncertain future in ways that maximize opportunities for our students.
I again encourage you to take a few moments to contact your local legislator. Ask for the renewal of Block Grant monies to school districts, and ask lawmakers to rescind the other cuts in the proposed budget. Thank you for supporting Central Cambria and public education.
I promised my older brother Dan that I would mention him in one of my blogs. He, like me, is a devoted Steeler fan. We spend inordinate amounts of time debating the “right” call on defense or offense – mostly to impress each other with our football prowess. He lives in the Downingtown area, home to a prosperous district that has two campuses and is growing steadily. Comparing notes with Dan on the state of education is always interesting. While he is not an educator, two of his children work in public schools. All in all, I am confident that our students are as successful – academically, athletically, and artistically – as those in his area.
Enjoy this unexpectedly mild start to the spring season by attending some of our spring sports. Track is a runaway favorite with my wife, and baseball and softball are in full swing (every pun intended!).
Speaking of sports, it was great to see the Pens win 11 in a row, but I’m still reeling from the abrupt end to their streak. I was staggered to see them lose to the Flyers with only .9 seconds left in overtime – I still can’t believe it. Oh, and hang in there, football fans, there are only 36 (long) days until the NFL draft….
Dr. D
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