Published: August 25, 2009 12:37 pm      

Greater Clark superintendent welcomes back teachers, challenges them to beat state average

The numbers, and the past, can’t be changed, but the future can be.

That’s the message Stephen Daeschner, superintendent at Greater Clark County Schools, relayed to the hundreds of teachers and other employees who filled the Jeffersonville High School gymnasium Monday for the district’s opening day celebration.

He said it’s difficult to articulate a vision, until you know where you’ve been and how you can improve. So, he started off with data, pointing out how the district lags behind the state average when it comes to ISTEP scores, graduation rates and other areas.

He also talked about how the changing demographics of the region, such as the growing free- and reduced-lunch group, can affect education.

Daeschner also discussed budget issues, saying the preliminary general fund budget is about $75.4 million, about $4.73 million more than the projected revenue. He said figuring in stimulus and rainy-day money still leaves about a $2.1 million deficit.

“This will be solved by October,” Daeschner told the group. “We will find a way to balance the budget. We have to balance the budget.”

Even with the challenges, Daeschner said if other schools with similar demographics can achieve, so can those in Greater Clark.

“We in this room can’t do anything about the history ... but we can do something about tomorrow,” he said. “We can all in this room do something about it if we choose.”

He said people can choose to complain and share those stories with others or they can choose to share the good stories that are going on in the district.

The meeting also included a talk from keynote speaker Dale Orem, vice chairman with Your Community Bank, and Micah Howard, who was recognized as a distinguished Greater Clark graduate. Howard graduated from Charlestown High School and works for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

During Howard’s speech, she thanked the teachers in the room for helping her achieve what she has. She said it’s those teachers who will make a difference for the district.

“If there’s anybody who’s going to turn Greater Clark around, it’s these teachers,” Howard said after the program. “I’m confident that they will meet and exceed Dr. Daeschner’s expectations.”

Teachers said they are up for the challenge.

“Sometimes the truth isn’t easy to look at, but you have to face it in order to see where you need to go,” said Karen Wesely, who is in her 10th year of teaching. “I’m looking forward to going up. It’s a fresh start.”

“I think everybody was challenged today and I know I was thinking of what can I do to contribute to the whole,” said Patti Howard, who has taught for the district for 31 years. “We’re up for the challenge. There’s no better group of teachers than in Greater Clark County Schools. It’s exciting.”

For Kelly Runyon, who is starting her fifth year of teaching, this is her third superintendent.

“I think he has a lot of experience he can bring here and it sounds like he plans to stay,” Runyon said.

She said she’s optimistic for the upcoming year.

“We can make the change and turn things around,” she said.

Though teachers started back Monday, students don’t start back until Wednesday.