We Should Still be Thankful

I suppose one could reasonably argue they don't have a lot to be thankful for considering the year that we have gone through. However, might I suggest that in spite of the challenges that have come with this year we [in fact] have much for which to be thankful! For a start, we can all look forward to tomorrow and the days that come after that. While I have indicated previously that I don't really pay much attention to the news anymore, I have been paying enough attention to know that things are going to get better. We can of course choose to look for the doom and gloom in the evening news (that is easy to do), or deliberately look for the good. And it does seem there has been some good news lately. Vaccines are in their final stages of approval and new therapeutics have been recently made available for treatment. All we have to do is hold on for a few more months!

Very early on I reminded us all to look forward to brighter days, and in fact suggested the Sun Still Shines in Hudson. On that warm late March day, I couldn't have imagined we would still be dealing with this pandemic all these months later. But we are. Yet, considering how far we have come I believe we have a great deal for which to be thankful. We have managed to reopen our schools and so far have been able to keep them open, all while dealing with high rates of absenteeism. Our teachers and all staff are working incredibly hard and we owe them a debt of gratitude and thanksgiving for how they are performing right now. 

So on Thursday we will celebrate Thanksgiving and be grateful for all the blessings in our lives. In my case, it will just be Ann and I this year. Unfortunately it will be our first Thanksgiving without our children or grandchildren. We will miss them this year, and it is likely Christmas will be different as well. But we are still blessed and will look forward to spending time with them all again soon.

On behalf of all of us here at Hudson Schools, have a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving. 

My Crackerjack

A few weeks back I had to renew my driver license. The last time I renewed it, I wasn't exactly sure where my DD 214 was, and frankly didn't care all that much. When renewing this time though, I had the form and took it with me for the appointment. I know, they tell [us] the DD 214 is the most important piece of paperwork that we own! And that we should never lose it! In my defense I didn't lose it, I simply misplaced it. Over the years one box of old records after another just got shoved back into the corner of a closet, it had been there all along. 

For those of you wondering what a DD 214 is, it is the official certificate of discharge from active duty in the military, and most importantly, the status under which you have been discharged. I have the fancy parchment hanging on the wall in my office, but that isn't really worth the paper it is written on since it isn't an official document. The whole reason I needed the official discharge paper was to have the 'Veteran' designation affixed to my renewed driver license. 

In all honesty though, I've always had an uneasy relationship with my designation as a Veteran. While I am incredibly proud of my service, I am fully aware of the fact that my experience is not the same as many others who wore the uniform. You see, I served following Desert Storm and before 9/11, a time most would describe as peaceful and relatively prosperous. My time in the active duty Navy was also limited, so I spent the bulk of my service in the reserves. Although I had one brief set of activation orders in 1997 (or was it 1998?), all that really succeeded in doing was raise the stress level of my then fiancé. So, yes I feel a little sheepish when being placed in the same bucket as my comrades who sacrificed far more than I did. Yet when I received that new driver license with the 'Veteran' designation it did offer--can I say validation that my service was noteworthy?

I have numerous 'sea stories' from my time in the Navy and won't share them here. Partly because many aren't really suitable for this audience, but mostly because you probably wouldn't consider them all that interesting. But, I do want to share one memory from the very beginning of my adventure. 

Once enlisted, I was sent to boot camp in Orlando, Florida. In the middle of summer. The bus I was in rolled through the gates of RTC Orlando late that evening where we glimpsed a water tower emblazoned with the phrase 'Navy World', obviously as a play on the family themed vacation destination Walt Disney World (for the record, boot camp was no Disney experience). Along with all the other strangers on the bus we thought this clever and that everyone we were about to encounter would be happy to see us and we would enjoy our stay. They weren't and we didn't.

What happened when the bus came to a stop was pretty typical of what you have heard from countless others that have been though it, as seen on television shows, movies, etc. A guy jumping on the bus and yelling at everyone to get off. We were shepherded into a processing barracks and divided up into groups, sorted, interrogated and tested. After a very long night we were again sorted into dark rooms, pointed to a bunk and told to sleep. 

Awakened a few hours later (pretty much how you would expect new recruits to be awakened), we were told to 'get on the line' for muster. I was very surprised to realize that I was in a very large barracks with about 80-100 other young men that I had never seen before. Our 'P' ('P' meaning 'pre-training period') week had begun. Basically we were in limbo for about 10 days while awaiting other recruits from around the country so we could form up enough Companies to begin a training division. We went through the haircut, being issued uniforms (and while having to wait for them to be 'tailored' being forced to march through the base wearing ugly t-shirt and shorts, which were worn like a scarlet letter that designated us as 'P's), and learning the basics of marching in formation.

Once the uniforms were finally issued, we arrived at 1-1 Day (first day of training in week one). I'm not sure if that was by design or if it is perhaps just the way I remember it. Our Company Commander commented that now that we looked like sailors, he was going to turn us into sailors. Boot camp wasn't a lot of fun, and I think most people who have gone through it would agree. There were ups and downs, physical conditioning and mental conditioning, and a lot of other weird and unusual things that come with boot camp. 

When it was over and we all had to travel on to our next assignment, we weren't authorized to wear civilian clothes. Mostly this was due to the fact that all of our civilian clothes had long since been mailed home, but also [I'm speculating] the Navy still wanted to project the aura of having complete control over us. Nevertheless, we were all quite proud of the fact that we now had the privilege of wearing the Crackerjack.  (Aptly given the nickname 'Crackerjack' due to the resemblance of the character on the box of snacks, it is more formally known as the U.S. Navy Enlisted Dress Blue Uniform.)

After donning that uniform and settling into my seat on the airplane it suddenly occurred to me that I had changed significantly. It wasn't just my Crackerjack. It was in the way that I carried myself. It was the way that I approached complex issues, and most importantly provided me with the wisdom of maturity. From my earliest days of boot camp to when I finally mustered out at the end of my enlistment, my experience in the military taught me a lot. There is no doubt it served as a catalyst from youth to adulthood. Trust me, I had a lot of growing up to do, and my service in the Navy certainly helped me with that. So this time of year, when people like to tell me 'Thanks for your service.,' I would also like to say thank you to the service. You helped a boy grow up.

Decision Points on Changing Our Learning Model

As the metrics for Black Hawk County and statewide continue to trend in the wrong direction, I wanted to update you on our planning and explain how decisions will be made when and if it comes to making a change in our instructional model. First for the bad news: with the countywide positivity rate now at 20.3%, we have crossed the threshold where we need to start having this conversation. But, there is some good news: while our metrics in the district are on the uptick, we are still well below that redline, with an absentee rate of 4.1% for students who are absent for any COVID related reason, either as a result of a positive case or in quarantine. (Ref: Hudson Decision Matrix)

Furthermore, our internal data strongly suggests the spread of COVID is happening outside the school setting. Based on this analysis, there is no doubt our mitigation measures are effective. It is arguable then, that changing the learning model now could lead to the unintended consequence of accelerating community spread. Why? Because while it is clear what we are doing inside the school is working, it would appear that what we are doing outside of the school is not. I am cautious then, about exacerbating a situation where students may or may not follow recommended social distancing or mask wearing outside the school setting. The point I would really like to emphasize here is that it is of critical importance that face coverings and social distancing not be considered unique to the school setting. 

Nonetheless, since we have crossed that first threshold with our county positivity rate, the responsible  course of action is to begin putting the pieces together in the event a change becomes necessary. It would be appropriate for you, as parents and community members to begin thinking about what this might mean for our child(ren) and to create contingency plans. But let me be crystal clear: at this point we are not planning a change to the learning model. 

However, if our internal data begins to shift and we see evidence of spread in the school setting, or high absenteeism rates among students/staff then we will need to reevaluate the situation and make some adjustments. Here’s how that is likely to unfold.

To begin, a change in instructional model will not be made in a silo. Both the school district and county health department have a critical and collaborative role to play in determining the best response. In prior thinking, we believed a change to the instructional model might come suddenly, without much advance warning. I no longer think that is the case and instead believe we will be able to provide some notice before making the switch.

Once we determine collaboratively with the county health department a change is warranted, a three day window will open for us to make the shift. Here is a flow chart with our current plan when making the switch:

Day One: We would continue to operate onsite, albeit with a 1:40 early dismissal. The aim of this day is to make certain all our students have the devices and instructional material they need for at home learning. Once school dismisses at 1:40, that afternoon our faculty and staff would make final preparations for remote learning.

Day Two: This would be our first day of remote learning. You can expect to receive more details about what this will look like from building administrators. All faculty and staff will continue to report to their normal work station and our food service program will continue to operate much the same as it did over the summer. 

During this day, the district will be required to submit to the Iowa Department of Education a request for waiver to move to continuous required remote learning for a period of two weeks. 

Day Three: Required remote learning will continue, but the Board of Directors will hold an emergency meeting to determine our next steps. Assuming the Iowa Department of Education approves a request to move to continuous required remote learning for a period of two weeks, the Board will have the final word. They can either affirm that decision, return to in person learning, or move to a hybrid model of instruction.

A quick note about hybrid learning. First, it is important to note that those groupings have already been developed using an algorithm that considers multiple variables in a specific, predetermined order. It may be that you or your child won’t like the grouping they have been assigned. We understand that, but again, there are very specific reasons the groups were developed the way they were. Because of that, unless a significant error has occurred we don’t anticipate changing these groupings. Also keep in mind that those groupings will not be released until it is necessary to do so. 

In closing I want to emphasize again that at this time we are not planning to make a change in instructional delivery model. Today’s message is meant to inform you of our current thinking and how we are going about the decision making process. 

Have a great day, and please help us by making sure you follow mitigation protocols outside the school setting. 

Black Hawk County School Leaders Issue Statement on COVID-19 Numbers

The leaders of the eight public and private school districts in Black Hawk County have released the following joint statement:

As many in our community are aware, Black Hawk County has been experiencing rapid increases in its COVID-19 positivity rate and the number of confirmed cases recently. As the leaders of our local schools and districts, we are all working closely with the Black Hawk County Health Department to determine the best path forward for our students, staff and families.

We recognize that Black Hawk County has reached a positivity rate of 20 percent, the point at which school districts may seek approval from the state of Iowa to shift to full online learning for a temporary period. This is an option we will continue to monitor and explore as we move forward. 

It is worth noting that while the county is seeing a high positivity rate, our schools are not experiencing a similar increase at this time. For the most part, our districts' absentee rates—especially those related to COVID-19—are remaining steady. 

We ask our community members, parents, staff and students to be diligent and follow all health and safety protocols inside and outside of school. Our schools all require face coverings when social distancing is not possible during the school day. Please wash your hands frequently and encourage students to do the same.

This is a critical time in our community—one in which we all must do our part to protect the health and wellbeing of others. By working together, we can give ourselves the best chance possible at continuing with in-person teaching and learning without significant disruptions. Please join us in these efforts.

This statement has been released by the following school and district leaders:

• Travis Fleshner, Union Community School District

• Brian L’Heureux, Valley Lutheran School

• Lynette Hackett, St. Patrick Catholic School

• Jane Lindaman, Waterloo Community Schools

• Thomas Novotney, Cedar Valley Catholic Schools

• Andy Pattee, Cedar Falls Community School District

• Justin Stockdale, Dike-New Hartford Community School District

• Anthony Voss, Hudson Community School District

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Sitting in the Chair

Over the course of the last eight or nine months I have spent quite a bit of time visiting with friends and colleagues who occupy the same chair as I. During this time we have struggled with a range of issues we have had little training for that are typically not in the wheelhouse of educators. Often we have been forced to make decisions with incomplete data or competing interests that come with data sets and talking points of their own. It can become quite maddening. Indeed, 2020 has been a challenging year for anyone who finds themselves in a position of leadership, particularly when many look to us for guidance and answers.

Today then, I want to focus my comments not so much on my typical audience but rather to those who find themselves leading in this most unusual of times. Hopefully leaders will be able to use these experiences to strengthen leadership skills when we can look forward to the day the most pressing issue we face is whether or not this is the right time to purchase a new school bus. At the same time, I am certain (if not hopeful) that this time we are living through reinforces many of those attributes that landed us in the chair to begin with.

As stated above, many people look to us for guidance and answers. Normally, we are well equipped to provide those answers because the training we have received has given us the tools we need, the knowledge base of our craft, or the competence to find and research the appropriate response to solve the problem before us. But not so fast. As I have shared many times before, I'm not that kind of doctor. Or as my granddaughter likes to tell her friends, 'My papa's a doctor-but not the real kind'. My point is that we don't need to have all the answers, and we have to be okay with that. I have found it quite refreshing when posed with a question that I can't answer to simply say, 'I don't know. But we're going to figure it out'. Instead of the opposite approach, which is to bluff our way through with a bunch of words. Whenever that would happen, those on the receiving end of that 'answer' are likely nodding right along trying to figure out how to get away as quickly as possible, while thinking 'this dude has no idea what he's talking about'. The fact of the matter is this: I have found that when honestly saying you don't know, it is a sign of strength as opposed to a sign of weakness. I believe those who look to us for answers appreciate honesty and sincerity instead of bluff and bluster.

Along that same vein not only have I found comfort in not trying to pretend that I have all the answers, but to give myself and those around me the permission to make mistakes. As you know the World Series just wrapped up, and with that most American of sports traditions, it got me to thinking about batting averages. The most successful power hitters in the major leagues don't even come close to batting a thousand. Truth be told, a batting average of .300 is considered excellent and .400 is nearly unachievable. In case you are wondering, the best career batting average belongs to Ty Cobb at .3664. When making mistakes, the best thing to do is to take ownership and use the experience as a lesson to try a different approach next time.

Speaking of mistakes, a big one that could be unforgivable would be underestimating the power of teamwork. Think about it for a minute. If you don't have the answers to the questions that have been posed, chances are that someone on your team certainly does. In my role as superintendent, I have often used the analogy of reading instruction. I am no reading teacher! If I am your only option to help your child with a reading problem then we are in big trouble. Thankfully we have some outstanding reading teachers in our school district; along with a whole host of highly skilled professionals that have a depth of knowledge and expertise that is unparalleled to most fields. Truth be told, the great things that happen in this school district don't happen because of the person sitting in the superintendent's chair. One could probably argue they happen in spite of him!

Finally, I want to talk about empathy. A lot of people are hurting right now. They may have lost jobs. Others may fear they are going to lose their job if their child gets quarantined one more time or if schools have to implement remote or hybrid learning plans. Even worse, some are getting sick; seriously sick. Further, some of those families have had loved ones who have gotten sick and had the worst possible outcome. I think it is important when interacting with families that are facing challenging obstacles that we try to view the problem from their perspective. Look for a way to lower the temperature. Chances are they need help. Maybe as leaders we can be solution focused and try to help them find it. 

So to all my friends and colleagues out there who are sitting in the chair: Thanks for picking up the phone when I call. I'll continue to do the same when you call me, and I look forward to seeing you at our next virtual meeting.