Monday - December 1st, 2008

Good morning!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break.  Wyvonna and I certainly enjoyed it.  We did not go see the kids and grandkids, so we just stayed home and enjoyed the week.  I got to play golf, work in the yard, put up Christmas lights, read, watch football, and just relax.  I was certainly ready for this and really enjoyed it.  Thanksgiving is certainly a time we reflect on the many things for which we are thankful.  To live in a country in which we experience freedom is something we are all thankful for and we should be ever mindful of those who protect our freedoms.  I am so thankful for my family and all they mean to me.  I am thankful to have the opportunity to work in Northside and serve as superintendent in this wonderful district.  Northside is an outstanding school district of which we should be proud, and we should certainly be proud of what we do to help our students be successful.  And I want to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication which make this district so great.  As I reflect and count my blessings, I have so much to be thankful for, and after all isn't that really what Thanksgiving is about!

I do want to congratulate all of the Northside participants in the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon.  I know many of you who participated in the half-marathon and ran the full marathon.  I was very proud of the fact that Northside had the second largest participation in the marathon next to Ft. Sam Houston.  We had almost 240 Northside employees run!  There may be others but I am aware that Rick Gardner, Project Manager/Director of Human Resources, and Bryan Meyenberg, Head Athletic Trainer at Warren High School, ran the marathon in times that qualified them for the Boston Marathon.  What a great accomplishment for these two individuals.  But no matter what your time was, I congratulate you on participating.

I know that many of you are anxious to hear whether the district will be giving a retention stipend in December.  I was certainly hopeful that we would be able to do so.  However, due to the current economic conditions and the negative impact that it may have on Northside ISD, we will not be paying a retention stipend at this time.  Because of the drop in interest rates the amount of our investment income revenue is projected to be about $6 million less than budgeted.  Also, with the number of foreclosures and mortgage problems, we feel that our property tax revenue may be affected.  I am sure that every family has had a conversation about how they can cut back on expenditures during the time of inflated gasoline prices and now the uncertainty of the economy.  This conversation has taken place many times among me and our financial staff.  I am very appreciative of the fact that we have been able to have a retention stipend the last two years, both at this time of the year and at the beginning of school.  I appreciate everyone so much, but I have to do what I feel is fiscally sound for the school district.

As we begin salary discussions for next year, I want you to know that what we will be able to do in terms of salary increases will be very dependent on what the economy does in terms of recovery, and what the Legislature does in terms of school funding.  If we are building a budget for 2009-10 based on 2006-07 revenues per pupil (our target revenue) then it will certainly impact what the district can spend for salary increases.  Since we made budget cuts in 2003-04 and froze salaries and 2004-05 made more cuts, we have maintained a very stable financial situation.  We are still very sound financially, but we must be cautious as we proceed, especially not knowing what the results of the 2009 legislative session will be in terms of appropriation for public schools.  I do know that we will do whatever we have to do to maintain as stable a financial condition as we can.  But I am hopeful the Legislature will realize that they must address the current system of school finance and also address increased costs due to inflation.

I know this is not the news you were hoping for, but I and the Board appreciate so much the hard work and dedication you give to Northside.  I know that everyone will continue to do the things that make Northside such a great district.  With three weeks until our Winter Break, I hope all of us will keep the focus on instruction and continue to prepare our students for success.

We do Believe in the power of public education and We Believe in what we do every day to make the district better and help our students be successful.

Have a great week!