Happy Holidays from Hudson Schools

As the holiday season approaches, the Hudson Community School District would like to wish all of our students, families, and staff a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and support our community, and we are proud of all that we have accomplished together this year. We hope that you are able to spend the holiday season surrounded by loved ones, and that you have the chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy all that the season has to offer.

As we look towards the new year, we are excited to continue our work and to see what we can accomplish together. We are committed to providing our students with the best education possible, and we are grateful for the support of our community in helping us to achieve this goal.

We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year. From all of us at the Hudson Community School District, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Community Partnerships

Last week I spoke with you about the impact our volunteer network has on our school district. Hopefully one of the important points you took away from that column is the value our volunteers bring to the overall mission of the school district. And, the fact that we couldn't fulfill our mission without them. Today I want to speak with you about an equally important partner in our school system: community organizations. These include the local businesses we all frequent. Our close relationship with the City of Hudson, including both the police and fire department. A strong partner and collaborator with our local churches. The fact is, in Hudson it seems as though everyone is working together for the betterment of our entire community. While the context I am providing today is school district focused, it is our hope and belief the school district too is a strong community partner for our constituents, businesses, and local churches. Indeed, I am fortunate to know that if I need something, anything really, there are a whole host of community partners that I can call on to assist and lend their expertise. 

These partnerships are essential for the success of our school district and the wellbeing of the entire community. These relationships, which often involve collaboration between schools, local businesses, and community organizations, can provide valuable resources and support for both students and teachers. These partnerships help our school offer a wider range of educational opportunities and support for students, ultimately leading to better academic outcomes.

An important benefit of community partnerships we enjoy here in Hudson is that they can foster a sense of collaboration and community spirit. There was no better example of this collaboration and community spirit than when we launched our community task force last January to examine the needs of the high school and discuss plans for our future. The results of this work of course culminated in a successful referendum this past September. I am very eager to reconvene this group with the new year and share the progress we have made since last being together. 

At this time of year, when the holiday season is in full swing, community partnerships can be especially important. Many schools and community organizations extend themselves during the holidays to help those in need and make the season a little brighter for everyone. These efforts not only help to make the holidays more enjoyable for those who might otherwise struggle, but they also bring people together and foster a sense of community and connection.

Overall, community partnerships are an essential part of the fabric of our school district and the City of Hudson. So, during the holiday season, I encourage you to do all you can to support our local community partnerships. You can do this by volunteering and shopping local. 

Volunteer Opportunities Abound

Last weekend I was headed over to my office and as I crossed the highway I noticed a truck and flatbed trailer parked by the shot put area. I immediately thought it had something to do with fall lawn care until I noticed a couple of guys on a cherry picker under the scoreboard. It appeared they were working on the platform that was going to be used to support the new PA system at the football stadium. Volunteers.

Even though we have somewhere in the vicinity of 140 employees on staff, the fact of the matter is we couldn't do what we do without our volunteer network. That project described above? Not only are volunteers providing all the labor, they also raised the money to purchase the new system. Another real interesting fact about this: some of the volunteers that are working on the project don't even have kids in school anymore! It goes to show there is a lot of community and school pride here in Hudson! 

Our volunteers do so much for the school district! The athletic boosters sponsor multiple events throughout the school year and raise funds for our student uniforms and other special projects (such as the new PA system). They run the shot clock and announce at basketball games, provide labor for projects, and serve important leadership positions. We have an active and vibrant music booster organization that does much of the same, recently announcing a capital campaign to raise funds for some much needed equipment for the auditorium They provide meals and snacks for our student performers during long rehearsals and even volunteer to help build costumes, and lend their expertise on a whole host of projects in our fine arts department. Then there is the PTO, a group that focuses their efforts on the elementary school. Providing meals during conferences, purchasing special items for classroom teachers, and raising thousands of dollars to fund their endeavors. 

The Hudson Education Fund (HEF) is charged with running the scholarship endowment, awarding thousands of dollars annually in scholarships for seniors to apply toward their post secondary aspirations. The Hudson Board of Education, also an organization made up of volunteers (they are elected, but they certainly don't get paid) who serve as the governance body of the school corporation, managing a multi-million dollar budget annually. Recently, we asked for a large group of volunteers to sit on a task force as we considered the future of our high school. The results of that work yielding a successful referendum this past September. 

While it is entirely possible I am forgetting to mention one of our volunteer groups, I can't forget to mention the multitude of parent volunteers who assist in numerous ways around our school. Perhaps a teacher needs help with a special project. They know just who to ask. When they do, you answer the bell. 

The bottom line is that we couldn't do it without you. Thank you to all our volunteers!

Happy Special Education Day

On this special education day where we recognize the efforts and dedication of our teachers who work with these students, I think it is important to underscore and remind everyone that public schools are in fact for everyone. One of the bedrock principles of public schools is the idea that all children are entitled to what is referred to as FAPE: a Free and Appropriate Public Education for all students. Governed by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), this law embodies the hope and promise of educating all students regardless of disability or learning difficulty.

Very soon the legislative session will begin. Like last year, I anticipate proposals will be discussed to introduce voucher type programs into the state. The litany of reasons these schemes are bad for our educational system are numerous. But with today's spotlight on special education, I think it worth pointing out that private schools who would stand to benefit from vouchers are under no obligation to follow the law as it pertains to students with special needs. In fact, they can (and do) quite simply deny enrollment to students with special needs. 

Denying educational access is the antithesis of our charge as a public school system. We embrace our responsibility to provide access to all our students. In fact, it is a motto we live by in Hudson with our Core Purpose: We create effective learning environments that result in success for all students. Emphasis on all. 

Please join me in thanking all special education teachers for the hard work they put in each day to serve their students. We appreciate everything you do to ensure our students benefit from the high quality educational experience they need and deserve. You are appreciated!