State of the Schools: A Tough Road Ahead

Strongsville School District officials, led by Superintendent Jeff Lampert, presented a snapshot of the district’s goals and challenges during the annual State of the Schools address Monday night.

 Lampert highlighted three main objectives needed for the district to maintain excellence in the face of continual financial uncertainty: student achievement, fiscal stability and responsibility, and updating the district’s strategic plan.

 Lampert also vowed not to “buy into killer phrases," like "Let’s form a committee" and “Let’s not move too fast,” from hindering "the progress and change" needed in the school district.

“We are not going to let those killer phrases stop us from creating a good climate for students. That’s our charge,” Lampert said.

 “Our students are our No. 1 customers and we want to create a climate for success.”

 Assistant Superintendent John Krupinski told the community the district is focused on four distinct goals for student achievement.

The first is concentrating on reading  by developing the best instructional practices for students across all grade levels. Second, the district is calling for a response to intervention for students in need, with a specific focus on reading by continuing to develop and increase the number of opportunities students have. 

Third, Krupinski said student achievement can be improved by teaching children higher-level thinking skills, like searching for answers and solving and analyzing content. Last, the district’s goal is to focus on attendance and to strategize on how to keep students in school.

School Treasurer Bill Parkinson talked about the fiscal challenges the district continues to face in the years ahead. He explained that the district continues to receive less money from the state (since the last levy, funding has decreased by 10 percent) and how the district is increasingly reliant on property taxes for its revenue (71 percent of the district’s revenue comes from property taxes).

 “The majority of our funding cannot be controlled,” Parkinson said, pointing to declining enrollment, state funding and declining interest earnings.

Parkinson detailed, however, more than $7.8 million in district reductions in an effort to make “proactive fiscal decisions.” Those included slashing student activities and closing Allen Elementary to reducing instructional supplies and delaying bus repairs, facility upgrades and technology purchases.

 Mark Donnelly, director of business services and technology, discussed how the district could continue to keep up its school buildings. Donnelly told the audience there is a five-year plan with a major project list for each building in the district. Each year, $1 million is earmarked for capital expenditures—but the money goes quickly, especially when the district will be faced with roof replacements or unexpected repairs, Donnelly said.

 “During the next five years we will struggle, but I believe we will be OK. But we need a clear plan for our buildings from 2015 to 2025,” he said. “As a community, we all need to band together to figure this out.”

 The district’s additional priorities are to continue its partnership with the city of Strongsville, increase communication with stakeholders on what the district can do better; use technology to enhance learning; provide more professional development for staff to hone their skills; and collaborate on decision making.

 “We need to use all the information we can to create the best district we can and the best climate for our kids,” Lampert said.

 Lampert encouraged those with additional questions to e-mail him or call his office at 440-572-7010 .