The Hallsville Board of Education met virtually on Monday evening, by Zoom, for our April meeting. The meeting agenda and items can be found here. The work of the district continues and construction is plowing forward on the Primary Building additions for an on-schedule timeframe of completion. We spent some time talking about the rest of the year's budget and began initial conversations around next year's budget, which we will approve likely in June. With the economic ramifications of COVID-19 uncertain, it's important for the teachers, staff, and community to know two things: 1) the district is in a good financial position at this time and 2) I believe the admin team and the board will be both conservative in our next budget but also take on targeted expenses intended on improving outcomes such as adding additional paraprofessional support where needed. Our district patron's generosity combined with conservative spending has allowed our district to climb from reserve funds of 15-ish% to 33+%. There's a very realistic likelihood that state funding will be cut. We are prepared and I'm grateful that our district is in a position that we're in. We have reserves for times like this, but we will remain cost-conscious. It's become cliche to think and describe as a society how we have had to pivot and are spending our time. The word that comes to mind is change. Our world changed. Our lives changed. It's time that we be real with each other. The novelty of working from home, if fortunate enough to do so, has possibly worn off. Children and families are growing more worried as time goes by and delays are seen in unemployment benefits being received or children stressed. I was on a work-related call and someone noted that their 7th grader was worried about when she was going to get her items from her locker. This 7th grader isn't a Hallsville student but is a microcosm of what our kids are feeling. Generally speaking, our students wonder and are stressed about things like when they will be able to get their belongings from their lockers. While this may seem petty to us adults, their lockers, remember, are their worlds. It's what they can control. And they may not have access to part of their identity. While not Hallsville-specific, it's what our kids are going through. Our kids' normal has been upended. Like you, they don't know what to expect tomorrow. They realize that we as parents, teachers, and administrators aren't in full control and live in the uncertainty like them. We see our children's stress in possible anger, frustration, apathy, saddness, or other ways. Now is the time to talk to our children and students in age-appropriate ways about their feelings. It's also, I think, in age-appropriate ways with our older kids, to talk about how this is stressful on us as adults. Our older students are going to be adults as we blink our eyes, and we can grow together with our children during this time. Before we can have that conversation with our kids, we have to acknowledge it to ourselves and each other. So.....I'll start. I acknowledge my stress to you. Stress of not knowing what's in store. Of wanting to be around friends and family. I feed off of this energy, and I'm feeling somewhat depleted. I want to help people, but even (in my world) advocating and getting the best policies passed doesn't take away the stress of us all. It leaves me feeling disappointed. We all had expectations for this spring that have obviously been upended. It's natural to be disappointed in the unmet expectations that we aren't going to experience because of COVID-19. It's even more important to know our children's expectations at all levels got changed and it's okay for them (and us!) to be disappointed. It is disappointing that prom doesn't look the same or that the teaching idea you worked so hard to perfect this spring won't be seen by your students. It's disappointing that our children who are most at-risk are yearning to be with friends and family. There's so much to be disappointed about and we need to take time to acknowledge and feel that disappointment. Then, what can we do with this disappointment? Is it too Pollyanna-like to think about the joy? I was skeptical. I had a great experience on a work Zoom call (one of the million!) on Thursday. It was an early childhood call with Kansas City providers. During our introductions, we were asked to share a joy or positive thing we've experienced during these times. Answers varied from more time at home with seniors or upper-classmen in high school or returning college students to cleaning and prioritizing their own personal spending in these times of uncertainty. For a few child care providers who remained open it was the joy of being able to truly focus on those children they were still serving instead of feeling rushed when their workload/capacity is full. How are you seeing joy in these times? As an extrovert and typical-optimist, it's tough to find the silver-lining---even for me. I'm seeing joy in generosity in others and in myself. Does it overcome the disappointment and stress? Not a lot of the time -- but it was fantastic to slow down and recognize how fast time is going by with Sebastian. It has made me realize where I get joy: from people. It's made me figure out how to find at least some joy in the things when I can't be around people (non-family). Change has created stress, disappointment, and I hope at least some joy in your life and in those closest to you. Let's continue to learn what it takes to be thankful for change. Even thought I don't normally have to think twice about being joyful---during these times, I do. I'll work on seeing the joy during these times and mentoring those students and children around me. Will you join me? I leave you with two songs: "All For One" sung by the US Army Voices. I love this message It's one of mutual sadness and suffering but one of togetherness. I As a Bruce Springsteen fan, I leave you with a cover of The Rising, sung by Angel City Chorale as a finalist from America's Got Talent a few years back. This gives me chills every time I listen. Until next time, Craig
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHallsville resident. Foster Parent. School board member. Politico. Jesus Follower. Cardinals Fan #MizzouMade Archives
June 2020
Categories |