Best of the Blogs
School Administrator, August 2022

“[D]id you know that just 3.2% of our total budget is spent on system administration? Private industry standards for businesses with budgets the size of our school’s budget set standards in this area at a much higher rate, often 10% or more. Bottom line: The funding we get from our community goes where it needs to go — to direct support for our students’ learning!”

From “May 13 Blog Post” by Heather Perry, superintendent, Gorham School District, Gorham, Maine, on her blog Monthly Superintendent’s Update
“It has been almost a decade and a half since I talked to you about the concept of ‘right sizing’ our district. At the time enrollment was declining and we needed to make an immediate course correction in order to protect the financial solvency of the school district.”

From “Right-Sizing Our District” by Anthony D. Voss, superintendent, Hudson Community School District, Hudson, Iowa, on his blog Education in Iowa Public Schools
      
“Hope is a more robust predictor of future success than the ACT, SAT and a student’s GPA. Let that sink in — Hope is a better predictor of future success than today’s gold standard measurements of knowledge or academic performance in the collegiate environment.”

From “More Than a Feeling, an Indicator of Success” by Matthew Montgomery, superintendent, Lake Forest, Ill., on his blog Basics of Leadership
       
“My second most important responsibility as superintendent (Safety is Job #1!) is to make sure we cast a wide net to secure smart, creative, hardworking and qualified individuals who are committed to academic excellence, the social and emotional needs of students, and building a dynamic and inclusive community.”

From “It’s Springtime: Hiring Season in the Needham Public Schools!” by Daniel Gutekanst, superintendent, Needham Public Schools, Needham, Mass., on his blog Needham Public Schools Superintendent’s Blog

Read the full postings of these and other members’ blogs at www.aasa.org/SAblogs.aspx.