Board Member & Sports Fan Mark North

State Champions Galore – MNPS Total Track Domination

Point Guard Signings

Alumni Alert

Cap and Gown

Next Season is Upon Us

MNPS: The First Choice for the Finest Student-Athletes

The Avery Give Back to Schools™ campaign has launched, marking the third year the office supply company has given back to schools, students, educators and communities throughout the United States. Schools are selected to win through an online voting process.



May 7th – September 14th 2012, communities, students, families and school supporters (ages 18 and older) can vote for their local K-8 school at http://www.avery.com/giveback.



Avery is expanding the 2012 campaign to award 40 schools with much-needed educational resources and offering cash benefits through Avery’s partnership in Box Tops for Education®.



This year, Avery will award the top 35 schools with the most online votes in a tier-based structure:

• The top five schools with the most online public votes will each receive $10,000 worth of Avery office products and school supplies of their selection, 25,000 Bonus Box Tops coupons (redeemable for cash by schools) and ten $100 gift cards to be split among the teachers for purchase of additional classroom supplies; the school with the most votes overall will receive an in-school donation presentation.


• The next 25 schools with the most votes will each receive 10,000 Bonus Box Tops coupons (redeemable for cash by schools).


• 10 randomly selected schools with over 100 votes will be awarded 5,000 bonus Box Tops.

Public-private partnership will make the Metro Schools program the nation’s best

After a nationwide search, Metro Nashville Public Schools has selected the inaugural director of the Music Makes Us education project, Laurie Tobian Schell, who has 25 years of experience as an arts education advocate and leader.



“When school starts August 1, we will also start a new era in music education for Metro Schools,” said Dr. Jesse Register, director of schools. “Laurie Schell brings expertise in both the education and arts policy arenas as well as a passion for music. It’s evident she cares deeply about the success of all our students.”



Schell joins Metro Schools from California, where she served as the executive director of the California Alliance for Arts Education, a statewide policy and advocacy organization, from 2001 – 2011. She garnered a national reputation for innovative, effective leadership for her role in securing $105 million for ongoing state funding for arts education for all 6 million California students in 2006. Most recently, she has worked as founding principal of Laurie Schell Associates, providing consulting services and issue expertise to nonprofits with a focus on the arts and K-12 education.



She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from Stanford University and a master of arts in liberal studies in dance from Wesleyan University.



“Music Makes Us will transform music education in our city, and Nashville is fortunate to have an innovative leader like Laurie Schell shape this important program,” Mayor Karl Dean said. “She has been a champion in making arts and music a core part of every child’s education in California, and I welcome to Music City her proven ability to work with educators and music industry professionals.”



Music Makes Us: The Nashville Music Education Project is a public/private partnership among Metro Schools, Mayor Karl Dean, the Music City Music Council, and music industry leaders in Nashville. The initiative will move Metro Schools beyond a traditional performance-based music curriculum to an expanded curriculum that includes diverse music genres. New classes in composition, rock band and hip-hop performance will be added, while traditional music curriculum in band, orchestra and choir will be enhanced.



“It is exciting to see the Music Makes Us initiative take shape,” said Nancy Shapiro, vice president of member services for The Recording Academy and an early advocate for Music Makes Us. “Laurie’s hiring is another step toward our goal of making Nashville’s music education program the best in the nation.”



The initiative is under the overall direction of Jay Steele, associate superintendent of high schools, with a community advisory board to be appointed by Mayor Dean and Dr. Register. The staff also includes Dr. Nola Jones, music coordinator, and long-time Metro Schools educator Carol Crittenden. Schell will begin her duties June 15.



About Music Makes Us

Music Makes Us is a new approach to music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools that focuses on enhancing the traditional music curriculum and adding a contemporary curriculum track that uses new technologies and reflects a diverse musical landscape. Reaching 79,000 students in Metro Public Schools, Music Makes Us pledges to make Nashville the worldwide leader in music education. The initiative was announced in 2011 as a partnership among Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and the Music City Music Council.

Metro Schools will mail elementary students’ report cards to their home address this year. To ensure everyone receives a report card, it is very important for families who may have moved to check with their child’s school to make sure their home address is listed correctly.



The report cards are not available at schools today due to an unexpected problem with grade calculations by the grading software. Metro Schools’ Information Technology staff worked through the night with the Gradespeed software vendor to identify and resolve the problem. Those efforts will continue today.



Online grades available to parents do not appear to be affected.



While the district has used Gradespeed effectively for a number of years to generate report cards for middle and high school, this is the first time to use the product to generate elementary report cards.



The middle and high school report cards are not affected and will be mailed as usual.

The first day of school is always special, but for Cane Ridge Elementary School students, August 1, 2012, will be particularly memorable. It is not only the first day of class for Metro Nashville Public Schools, but also the first day of operations for Cane Ridge Elementary. Veteran educator Donna Wilburn, who will be the school’s first principal, will start work even before then to prepare for the school’s 700 students.



“Students never forget their elementary school teachers and principals because they provide the foundation for children’s academic achievement and personal development,” said Brenda Steele, associate superintendent for elementary schools. “I know Mrs. Wilburn will be a great principal for Cane Ridge Elementary and will give Cane Ridge students a solid foundation for middle school success.”



Wilburn currently serves as principal of Bellshire Elementary Design Center. She began her career in the Hardeman County School District and also served as a teacher in Memphis City Schools. Prior to becoming principal at Bellshire, she taught third grade at Amqui Elementary School and served as a first grade teacher, reading specialist and assistant principal at J.E. Moss Elementary.



She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Memphis, and an educational specialist degree from Tennessee State University.



Cane Ridge Elementary School, located at 3884 Asheford Trace 37013, is included in the district’s proposed 2012-13 operating budget at an incremental cost of more than $1.1 million. Teachers and students will move from other schools to Cane Ridge Elementary’s 45 classrooms in 90,000 square feet. The budget request must be approved by Metro Council.



In addition, the proposed capital spending plan includes funds to acquire land for another elementary and middle school in the area because of enrollment growth. Projected enrollment in the Cane Ridge and Antioch clusters for the 2012-13 school year is about 2900 students more than five years earlier; an additional 1900 students are expected by 2016.

Three Hume-Fogg students are organizing a great benefit concert with all proceeds being donated to UNICEF.



There will be a wide range of performers including bands such as Peter and the Tinseys, Joey and the Indian Wonders, and HFA's Silver Jazz sax quartet; dancing, from traditional Indian dance to hip-hop dance; and covers like Celine Dion's Aun Existe Amor, Beatles songs, and Edward Sharpe's Home by extremely talented singers!



Come support these great artists and also donate to a great cause.

Friday, May 25th

Baha'i Center

1556 Bell Rd, Nashville, TN 37211



Dinner starts at 6:30 pm.

Performance starts at 7:30.

Tickets are $3; dinner not included.

Maplewood High School Unit TN-933 was one of 80 units to receive the 2011-2012 Air Force Junior ROTC Distinguished Unit Award with Merit. This award recognizes Air Force Junior ROTC units that have performed above normal expectations and have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force Junior ROTC mission of producing better citizens for America.



Cadets completed more than 500 hours of community service including “The Get Motivated” Seminar, Veteran’s Wreath Laying Ceremony, Veterans’ Day Parade, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Congressman Cooper’s Academy Day, GNASBE, United Way’s McGruder Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony, the Mayor’s Field Day, and most recently, the Department of Defense Small Business Conference.



The objectives of the Junior ROTC program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills, promote community service, instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline through character education.

There are a lot of reasons why students may not follow the traditional path to graduation. For Dylan Wright those reasons are deeply personal and tragic.



When Dylan was a sophomore in high school, his brother was murdered. The two of them were extremely close, even starting a lawn care business together. After his brother’s death, Dylan had trouble at his Williamson County high school. He couldn’t focus and would suffer from emotional breakdowns in the middle of the day. Sometimes he would just skip school entirely, putting him far behind in his classes. After three months out of school, Dylan decided to give it another try – but not in the usual fashion.



Dylan enrolled at The Academy at Hickory Hollow, which he heard about from a friend. At The Academy he was given the individual attention he needed to keep focused in class. He says he was treated like an adult, not “a little kid.” It was actually a lot like a college environment, where the faculty never gave up on him and pushed him to success.



Now Dylan is graduating, applying to college, and is even a featured speaker at The Academy’s graduation this morning.



Congratulations, Dylan. We’re so happy you found your place and your path to success at The Academy.

You may have heard a lot about Common Core Standards recently. They represent a huge shift in how subjects are taught across all grades. Here in Metro Schools we started implementing Common Core in middle schools some time ago, and now some of those first educators to use the curriculum will help train others in our district.



The Houghton Mifflin Lead and Learn Organization, led by nationally recognized Doug Reeves, has approved 25 MNPS educators as certified trainers for middle school Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

SEE a list of the certified trainers in Metro Schools.

Cole and Kirkpatrick Elementary Schools participated in the first-ever debate championship May 10, at the Estes Kefauver Building in downtown. The debates were held in federal courtrooms, with five teams from each school debating. Each school’s debate team consisted of 4th grade students with one 3rd grader.



The topic of the debate was “Parents should not be held legally responsible for their children’s poor choices.” Kirkpatrick argued the affirmative and Cole the negative. Kirkpatrick Elementary took home first and second place and Cole placed third. This was only the second debate between these two schools. This was the first year for each team of elementary students, coaches and principals.



Congratulations to both teams!

We have just learned End of Course (EOC) exam scores will not be available as soon as expected. This makes it impossible for us to calculate final grades and to award diplomas to any student who took an EOC this spring.



Students who completed their EOC exams before this spring will not be affected by this delay.



We have all been looking forward to the excitement of graduation and we will do everything we can to allow students and families to enjoy the celebration, despite this delay.

• Students who are on track to graduate if they receive an appropriate score on an EOC may walk the stage at graduation and participate in any other graduation events.


• When we receive the EOC scores this summer, we will calculate final grades and call families when diplomas are available to be picked up at the school office. Please make sure we have a current phone number for you so we can reach you!


• Students may then pick up their diplomas at their high schools.


• If a student does not pass an EOC, the student may participate in the summer extended learning program. Upon successfully completing the work and exam, students will receive their diplomas in July as part of the class of 2012.
  
  
  
  • Summer extended learning will be offered Monday-Friday, June 4-June 29, 8 AM to Noon, using the A+ program.
  
  
  • Classes will take place at Glencliff, McGavock and Stratford High Schools. There will be approximately 100 students per site and first priority will be given to 12th grade students who need credits to graduate in July. For more information, contact your school counselor.
  
  
  
  

Dan Mills Kindergartener Julia S. and her parents recently set up a lemonade and cookie stand at their home to raise money for the Dan Mills library book fund. The Schencks raised $650! Julia presented a check to the Dan Mills librarian Starra Withers during the morning announcements on Wednesday, May 9.

Do you know...

• What your child will do this summer? (Metro Parks/Others)


• What are your school options? (Student Assignment Office)


• How to keep your child safe in the community and in social media, including electronic resources for students and parents?


• What new standards your child will be required to master next year? (Information on new Standards)


• What school immunizations are required? (Metro Health/MNPS)


• What will be the Metro Planning updates for our community? (Metro’s Planning Dept)


• How to plan for your child’s education? (Katie Morgan, EdSouth)

Antioch Middle School

5050 Blue Hole Road

Thursday, May 17th

6:00 p.m.

In just a few days, the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance will be heard throughout Davidson County as more than 4,000 Metro seniors receive their high school diplomas. Thousands more families, friends, neighbors, and guests of Metro Schools will join in the celebration of that accomplishment at graduation ceremonies.



We want everyone to enjoy graduation, which is why we’ve developed a Graduation Etiquette Pledge (GEP) made up of four easy steps to an honorable, dignified, and civil ceremony.



Guests of graduation pledge to:

• leave air horns, whistles, fog horns and other noise makers at home;


• allow seatmates to see the entire ceremony by not holding balloons, signs, or banners of any kind;


• respect school and security staff present and follow requests made by them; and


• wear appropriate clothing and behave in a manner befitting guests of Metro Schools.

CLICK HERE for a full schedule of all graduation ceremonies!

On May 11, 2012, McGavock High biology teacher Nae'Shara Neal is hosting the Second Annual Science Symposium.



This is a competition between high school students and includes a variety of science projects from Overton, Hume Fogg, and McGavock High Schools. The students invited to the symposium are all part of a National Science Foundation Grant called GK12.



These are original science research projects completed by Nashville high school students with the help of “real” scientist mentors. There will be no vinegar/baking soda volcanos. The mentors participating in this program practice in a number of different scientific fields. The students have used the scientific method to investigate their projects and have worked with their science mentors for the last 7 months.



The Middle Tennessee area is one of only two such National Science Foundation programs currently in place in Tennessee schools. This symposium will showcase the hard work of the students, teachers, and their science mentors.



Students will be at the competition from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at McGavock High School. Feel free to stop by at your convenience!

Hume-Fogg Magnet High School has been selected by the College Board and Cambridge International Examinations as one of only 20 schools in the world to pilot the new AP® | Cambridge Capstone Program and Credential program. This rigorous new program, which was designed to equip students with knowledge and skills that are increasingly valued by colleges and necessary for life in an interconnected world, combines the in-depth subject matter offered through AP courses and exams with the interdisciplinary global seminar curricula and the assessment of research projects and presentations offered by University of Cambridge International Examinations.



The pilot program, which will determine how the AP | Cambridge Capstone Program and Credential can best be implemented across the range of schools that AP serves, will begin this fall. Hume-Fogg Magnet was selected as a pilot school based on a number of factors including Advanced Placement® participation and performance, and a commitment to providing equitable access to AP for all academically prepared and motivated students.



The College Board and University of Cambridge International Examinations created the AP | Cambridge Capstone Program based on feedback from colleges and universities requesting that high school students develop stronger backgrounds in independent research, collaborative teamwork, and 21st-century knowledge and skills now essential for success on college campuses and in today’s global marketplace.



“The students from Hume-Fogg who participate in the AP | Cambridge Capstone Program will be engaged in some of the most challenging issues facing our world today,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of Advanced Placement and College Readiness for the College Board. “With its concentration on research methodology, global issues and challenges, and team collaboration, this program will enable motivated high school students to take their advanced studies to the next level.”

Adam Taylor, Biology teacher at Overton High School, has been busy chatting on twitter with other Metro teachers. Taylor has created the "#scistuchat" hashtag on Twitter, where he coordinates a technology conference in the summers to raise awareness for learning technologies. He also leads professional development in his school to help more teachers become comfortable with teaching with technology.



Taylor was recently featured in The Scientific Muse for his work with Twitter in the classroom. Check out his interview here.



Great job, Mr. Taylor!

Front Row: Debra Jenson, Kimberly Osborne, Jennifer Norton, Keri Davis, Lauryn Crabtree Back Row: Lisa Baranoski, Darcie Finch, Ernestine Saville-Brock (math coordinator), David Williams

The Tennessee Department of Education is putting the work of the Common Core transition into the hands of those who know best - a few of Metro's top teachers!



As Tennessee gears up to implement the Common Core State Standards in grades 3-8 math next school year, more than 200 teachers from across the state will spend their summer as Core Coaches, helping colleagues in their districts navigate the transition to the rigorous standards.



“This is an exciting moment for Tennessee as we take the important concepts of the Common Core State Standards directly to classroom teachers where they will have the biggest impact for children,” said Emily Barton, assistant commissioner for curriculum and instruction for the Tennessee Department of Education.



More than 400 teachers applied to be Core Coaches, and the 205 chosen state-wide went through a rigorous application process. Kicking off the transition process to new standards and assessments, they will now spend the spring training to lead sessions this summer for more than 11,000 teachers across the state.

One and all were invited to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Hume-Fogg Academic High at its Centennial Block Party!



There were games, food, performances galore, and two brand new flavors of Hume-Fogg ice cream developed by Jenny Piper of the Pied Piper Creamery. Music was provided by the winners of the 2012 Battle of the Bands, the HFA Jazz Combo, the HFA Gospel Choir, and the HFA Steppers. Headliners were The Co., which includes 2004 alumnus Troy Akers. There was also an historical exhibit of HFA memorabilia from the last 100 years displayed in the front hallway and recognition of Alumni outside at the stage.

This school year hasn’t closed out yet, but the first day of next school year will be here before you know it! So where will your child be going to school on August 1st?



Enrollment confirmation letters are in the mail and headed to your house. They state very clearly which school your child will attend in 2012-13. Every student in Metro Schools will receive one.



Here’s the important part: if the letter is correct, you do not need to do anything. If the letter is not correct, you must correct it and return it to the Customer Service Center by May 22. You may do this by mail or in person.



I think that’s worth repeating.

If your child’s enrollment letter is correct, do nothing and enjoy the school year!



If your child’s enrollment letter is wrong, correct it and return it to the Customer Service Center by May 22. The corrected letter must be mailed or delivered in person. Faxes, phone calls, and emails will not be accepted.

And don't forget school starts August 1st!

When it comes to growth from year to year, Meigs is number one!



The magnet middle school was recently named the top performer in all of Tennessee when looking at growth in testing scores over a three-year period. The Education Consumers Foundation has been analyzing TVAAS data in its 'Tennessee Project' to find out just how effective our schools are.



As parent David Kern said, "This speaks volumes about the hard-working teachers at Meigs and even more about the strong leadership."



Congratulations to the students, faculty, and families at Meigs!

It's one of the top national awards a high school student can receive, and Metro students earned three of them!



The National Merit Scholarship is given to students who have "the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies." Narrowed from a starting group of 1.5 million students (!) down to 15,000 finalists, just 2,500 Merit Scholars are chosen nationwide.



Three of our graduating seniors will receive honors and $2,500 to be used at the university of their choice.

• Hui C. of MLK Magnet


• Austin P. of Hume-Fogg Magnet


• Jaron R. of Hume-Fogg Magnet

What an honor!

Last year we spent $674 million educating more than 79,000 students. Every year that number goes up – and not necessarily because we want it to. Inflation hits individuals and organizations alike. We have to pay more for many of the same services we receive year to year.



For 2012-13, the Board of Education has approved a budget increase of more than $48 million over the 2011-12 budget.



So where would it all go? Let’s take a look.

NEW SCHOOLS

We already mentioned the new Cane Ridge Elementary School. That’s an area that needs a new school and will get one no matter what. But we also need new schools for those students who may need a little extra help or a second chance.



No one wants a student to drop out of school. We want every child who enters our schools to leave with a high school diploma. One way in which we’ve made huge strides toward making this happen is with our Academy schools. The Academy at Old Cockrill and the Academy at Hickory Hollow are terrific schools for students who need another option for earning their diploma. They opened three years ago and have since graduated 1,000 students. And they do it at a fraction of the cost of a traditional high school. It’s one reason for the significant rise in our high school graduation rates.



They have been so successful, in fact, that we’d like to open another one. Opry Mills was the original home of the Academy at Hickory Hollow, but the school had to move after the May 2010 flood destroyed the mall. Now that the mall is back open, we’ve been invited to reopen the Academy at Opry Mills. We know a third Academy will turn out as many graduates as the other two. But it requires more teachers, an investment in technology, and supplies. And all of that costs money.

WATCH a news report on Academy successes

Another step in fighting the dropout rate is catching students early, before they get to high school. That’s the idea behind the new Nashville Bridge School proposed in this budget. Bridge would be a place for middle school students who are over aged and under credited, which are warning signs of dropping out. These students would attend Bridge until they get back on track academically.



These are proven strategies to boost the graduation rate. And they’ll do it for less money than traditional schools: $2.1 million. That takes our total increases up to $47.5 million.

SEE the approved budget proposal in its entirety.

OTHER EXPENSES - AND SAVINGS!

Where does the other million in expenses go? Several smaller increases are listed below:

• Match for Teacher Incentive Fund Grant: $292,000


• Increase in contract with New Teacher Project: $261,000


• Increase in contracts for Health Services for school nurses (Red Cross, Metro Health, & Vanderbilt): $398,000


• Hiring more school translators: $117,400


• Hiring more parent outreach translators: $165,000


• Making up for funds in a now-expired grant for Smaller Learning Communities: $198,800


• Music Makes Us, the collaboration among Mayor Dean, the district and private supporters to improve music education: $540,900


• Staffing adjustments in various departments: $1,783,000

• Staff savings (including changes to pension, FICA savings, and new hires replacing higher paid retirees): $3,632,000


• Not purchasing new literature textbooks (they must be further studied for compatibility with Common Core Standards): $2,000,000

• NEEDED CHANGES: $39,401,200


• PROPOSED CHANGES: $9,484,300


• TOTAL ADDITIONAL FUNDS: $48,885,500

HOW?

How can the district get the funding needed? You are the answer. We need your public show of support for fully funding Metro Schools.



Mayor Dean has presented his full budget proposal for Metro Nashville to the Metro Council. In June the Metro Council will vote on a final budget, including funding for schools.



Call and email your Council Member and the five at-large Council Members and ask them to vote for the Mayor’s budget for schools.

List of Metro Council Members

Bottle rockets may be child’s play to some, but to NASA and students at Bailey Middle Magnet, Cora Howe Middle and Wright Middle schools, they are serious business. The space agency has awarded its 2012 Educational Engagement Award to a combined team of Vanderbilt University engineering and education students for their work with about 500 students in the three Metro schools.



Nine mechanical engineering students in the Aerospace Club worked with six students in Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development to develop lesson plans for the middle schoolers. The Peabody students teach in Metro Schools as part of their teacher licensure requirements.



Together, the Vanderbilt students taught teams of Metro students scientific and engineering concepts and then worked to design, construct and launch the rockets. Metro students calculated their rockets’ altitudes based on the rockets’ time aloft and the group from each school with the highest-flying rocket earned a visit to Vanderbilt, including a tour of engineering laboratories, workshops, project demonstrations and lunch.



Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School is part of a K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) continuum that includes Hattie Cotton STEM Magnet Elementary, Isaac Litton Middle, and Stratford STEM Magnet High School.



This post is based on an online article “Engineering, Peabody effort lands NASA STEM outreach award” www.news.vanderbilt.edu. Posted with appreciation to Brenda Ellis and Vanderbilt University.

The Stratford STEM Magnet High School baseball team played ball for the first time on its new baseball field Monday. The new field was made possible by Michael Holt, a volunteer in the Inglewood community who gave a generous donation to the school’s athletic department to renovate the baseball field. Now that it's updated the field is one of the nicest in Inglewood. To thank Holt for his contributions, the team invited him to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during the team’s last home game.



Great team effort in the Stratford High community!

Last year we spent $674 million educating more than 79,000 students. Every year that number goes up – and not necessarily because we want it to. Inflation hits individuals and organizations alike. We have to pay more for many of the same services we receive year to year.



For 2012-13, the Board of Education has approved a budget increase of more than $48 million over the 2011-12 budget.



So where would it all go? Let’s take a look.

RECRUITING TEACHERS

No one will argue over the importance of hiring the very best teachers we can find. But that’s actually a lot harder than you think.



Working in an urban school district is not easy. As Director of Schools, Dr. Jesse Register, has said so many times, “We’ll never be the easiest place to work, but we can be the best.” Attracting great teachers to an urban district is tough when a suburban rural district pays more. Currently Metro Schools is ranked 30th in the state in starting teacher pay.



Let that sink in. We are the 2nd largest district in the state, but 29 districts pay teachers more than we do. That has to change.



And we don’t just compete with Tennessee districts for the best teachers; we compete with cities from across the region. Teacher recruiters from Houston have visited Nashville three times this year offering new teachers $44,000 a year.

SEE the approved budget proposal in its entirety.

Under the 2012-13 budget, teachers would start out making $40,000 annually, placing us 3rd in the state and positioning us to hire more of the strongest teachers who have their pick of jobs. That also means current teachers with up to five years’ experience who make less than $40,000 will get bumped up to that level. We’re also proposing changes to teacher pay at the top end, allowing them to reach the top level after just 15 years, not 25.

SEE a list of starting teacher salaries across Tennessee.

These are the kind of dramatic steps that will draw great teachers and college graduates to Metro Nashville Public Schools. Our hiring recruiters are already hearing positive buzz building around our district just at the very mention of a $40,000 starting salary. It must be done if we are to be considered a top destination for the best of the best.



What’s the price tag on this huge step in the right direction? Just under $6 million, bringing us to a total of $45.3 million in additional costs for 2012-13.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about giving more of a very good thing. When a school helps produce more graduates and fewer dropouts, why not open another?