Greetings from the office of the Superintendent! 

I am wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.  No matter your beliefs or traditions, may you find joy in the spirit of the season.

Now to more serious topics. We do not often think of our local school district as being an extension of the government, but it is very clear at this point in time as we deal with legislative issues at both the state and federal levels. 

THE STATE BUDGET:  We will soon have gone a full six months without a state budget.  To the York Suburban School District, that means we do not know what we are able to count on with regard to our  budget for the current school year, let alone the future.  We can only speculate what money will come our way or if it will at all.  We do not know what additional financial burdens will be placed on public schools. 

Perhaps the greatest hardship is our inability to plan appropriately for next year and beyond.  With the ever-present goal of fiscal responsibility, the district builds a budget each year, looking out three to five additional years.  This is a difficult task and without knowing our current situation, planning for the future becomes even more difficult.  Nonetheless, the district is obligated to meet specific budgetary timelines and we will do just that.  To do so, however, we must plan and be prepared for the worst.  We have to assume that we will get no money from the state and prepare accordingly.  While in the end, I believe that will not be the case, it is our responsibility to be prepared.  Budgetary planning will continue to be based on the principle of preparedness.

ESSA LEGISLATION: At the federal level, historic legislation was recently passed in the Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA).   This legislation will replace what we all come to know as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.  Indeed, both are wonderful names and who does not want every child to succeed?  Who wants to allow any child to be left behind?  [Read more…]