Three Goals for the First Day

In the unabridged version of my convocation address, there is a passage that reminds our employees that each one of them has an important role to play in our school district. Our core mission and purpose as a public school is readily apparent and leaves little to the imagination. Think about it: When considering school and schooling, what comes to mind? You likely think of the classroom. The teacher. Instruction. The interaction and interplay the occurs within the confines of the student-teacher relationship when that lightbulb goes off and the student 'gets it'. I rhetorically asked our employees to imaging how difficult our work with be without the support of one another. I encouraged them to consider the type of chaos that might ensue without our administrative assistants. Or a school without clean restrooms and overflowing trashcans. The fact is, without the non-instructional support staff we could not function. To help illustrate that fact, I have a tale to tell.

You see, on the first day of school a drama unfolded. It included a series of cascading events where the setup had all the ingredients for a significant disruption to the learning environment. One that, with the benefit of hindsight would have likely resulted in a delay to the start of the school year. Yet in the final analysis, and as all of this unfolded, no one was the wiser. First day celebrations, introductions, and the beginning of instruction went forward without a hiccup. Truth be told, at the writing of this column I am relatively certain the majority of our teaching staff remains unaware.

Before we begin, I think it is first important for you to be reminded of my philosophy of what constitutes a successful first day of school. There really are only three ingredients to ensure a good start: 1.) get everyone to school safely; 2.) get everyone fed; and, 3.) get everyone home safely. I am not being facetious here: for me that really is the whole ballgame on the first day of school. If those three things happen, I am confident that everything in between will be successful. That, because I have such confidence in our teaching staff. Further, those three evolutions are among the most complicated and logistically challenging events we have in the course of any given school day. While extensively planned, up until the day of execution it is all just conjecture and theory.

And it all began to unravel as I was backing out of my driveway the morning of the first day of school. Keep in mind, I was early that morning with it being the first day and all. Like everyone, I was anxious to get to the office. Based on the lead in from the week of hard work everyone had put it, I was anticipating one of our best starts ever. Then my phone rings:

"We have no gas in the high school", said Mr. Dieken. "That means we have no hot water to run the dishwasher and no way to cook lunch. What should we do?"

Aside from really not knowing what we should do I had a lot of questions, which aren't really pertinent to the story at hand. I hadn't even left my driveway yet and we were off to a rough start. Granted, we had options but at that point they weren't really all that great. 

As you all know, my commute is pretty short so I didn't have a lot of windshield time to come up with a dynamite solution. The problem was still rolling around in my head when I walked through the door and told Sheila that we weren't off to a very good start. 

"That's not all," she told me. "We also have bus problems. According to the DOT, Butterfield Road was supposed to be open from Highway 20 to Riders Road. It isn't". 

For a bit of context, population growth on the north end of the district has been rapid. That growth, coupled with what we had anticipated with road construction was the topic of a lengthy meeting with the bus drivers that run the north routes in the district a few weeks prior to the start of the school year. We spent a lot of time considering the structure of routes based both on the size of the load, as well as road closures and other delays with road construction. This unplanned closure scrambled those plans. 

Well, to make a long story short, the drivers solved the problem on the fly and arrived within minutes of their regularly anticipated arrival time. Lunch was prepared in the elementary kitchen and the maintenance department loaded it into the truck and drove it to the high school. They even helped serve it. 

So those three goals? We met every single one. Thanks of course to the support staff which includes our transportation department, maintenance division, and food service program. They were faced with a problem and simply rolled up their sleeves and got to work. 

Change on the Rise

Note: Each school year begins with an annual convocation address, where I have the privilege of speaking with all our employees to kick off the start of a new school year. My goal is to welcome, inspire, and underscore the importance of the work on which we are about to embark. As has become a tradition here at Hudson, I try to pick a theme each year that grounds us in our work. That theme this year is 'Change on the Rise' and is indicative of the tremendous change that is occurring all around us. Included this week is an abridged copy of my convocation address. I encourage readers to use the hashtag #ChangeontheRise this year in your social media posts related to the school district. Enjoy, and welcome to the start of a brand new school year!

I am very happy to welcome you all back for the start of a brand-new school year. This is the beginning of a chapter yet to be told. It’s a story that undoubtedly will contain plot twists, surprises, and challenges we cannot yet imagine. Much like the hands of a clock marking the passage of time, we move, always forward, reconciling the paradigm of our shared history with the inevitable transformation and CHANGE that is occurring all around us.

It is a very exciting moment in our school district. Change is on the Rise! We are at the crossroad of a new dawn that will bring about great transformation. I selected this particular “gospel” style song as our theme this year precisely because of the powerful imagery about change and the fact that, when it comes, we are often powerless to stop it. 

Indeed, my personal experience over the last six months has been un-welcomed and life changing. My only choice is to rely on inner strength and faith while coming to terms with the fact that I cannot change the hand I have been dealt.

There is a lyric in the opening song that describes a changing tide and that it cannot be tamed: “High tide, low tide: you can’t tame it.” Imagine for a moment what it would be like to try and hold back the onrush, or a wall of water. It is impossible. That is perhaps the best illustration I can give to changes of this magnitude.

Often, it matters not whether the change is good or bad. The challenge is to continue to have faith and optimism in the future. The good news is that even in the face of difficult and adverse change, we do have the strength to overcome, persevere, and work together to create a better world. To ‘“create a more perfect union,”. Truth be told, this idealized and perhaps utopian worldview really encapsulates our work as educators—to prepare the next generation of citizens and hope they can improve and build on the legacy that has been left to them.

I love the very first line of the song that I just shared with you: “Without the light, the darkness comes!” The image of light inspires hope, comfort, and—while most certainly biblical—is a common metaphor: tomorrow, a new dawn and the sun will rise! 

A new dawn is most certainly upon us as the sun rises and brings light to a new school year. The change we are experiencing in our district in many ways is unimaginable. Granted, much of this change is of our own choosing. Yet it will not come without stumbling blocks and even some discomfort.

Preparing for the start of a school year is no small task. This year, as you look around the district at the changes that are occurring, it is probably self-evident those challenges are further exacerbated. The maintenance department has been working nonstop since the day school was dismissed, and our contractors have had to chase after an unforgiving timeline. Much work remains, and this construction zone that is our high school will persist throughout the school year. I want to express my gratitude to the entire team for their planning, attention to detail, and problem solving that has gone into preparing us for this moment.

Over the last week, it has been a privilege to spend time with our new educators as they embark on an exciting new adventure. For some, they are preparing classrooms for the very first time. Others join us with experience that will serve them well here in Hudson Schools.

Along with amazing educators and staff, there is perhaps no better indicator of overall district health than enrollment. In the last several years, changes enacted by the legislature have given families greater flexibility and choice with regard to how and where they choose to send their children to school. Changes to open enrollment, vouchers, and online schools have not been of our choosing. Quite the contrary. However, it is undeniable that we have benefited quite handsomely as a result. 

If you want to talk about change, I never would have dreamt that we would be in a scenario where we quite literally had a waiting list for families to enroll in our schools. In the 2020-21 school year, our opening day enrollment was projected at 767. We project opening enrollment this year will be more than 900.

These gains in enrollment have enabled us to create opportunities for the students of our community that were simply out of reach a few years ago.

The question remains: why? What is it about our district that is so appealing to families? How is it that Hudson Schools became the school of choice, the destination district for so many? The answer is quite simple: our teachers and staff. It is due to their commitment, dedication, and loyalty to the students and families we serve. These attributes are what enable our students to perform at the very highest academic levels. 

We know that we cannot simply assume our success is self-assured. We will continue to work hard every moment of the precious 180 days we have on behalf of our students. We will continue to sharpen our skills, improve our craft, and live up to the legacy and tradition of this institution, while at the same time embracing the change occurring all around us.

Change on the Rise indeed! Welcome back and have a great school year. It’s great to be a Pirate!

Welcoming New Teachers to the Hudson Family

(L-R) Michelle Walker, Katelyn Pint, Allyson Hearn, Jacob Smith,
Makenzie Fletcher, Karlie Michael, Elly Heinemann 
(Not pictured is Amy Kuker and Crystal Betts)

As we embark on the 2023-24 school year and all that is in store for us, I would like to take a moment to recognize and welcome some new faces within the Hudson Schools community. Each of these individuals brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and goals—and we cannot wait to see the ways they enrich both our team and the experiences of our students. 

Katelyn Pint - 1st Grade 

It’s not every day that we get to welcome back one of our very own Pirates! After pursuing her degree in literacy and special education at University of Northern Iowa, Katelyn chose to come back to Hudson and join our team. With her deep connection to the community and her passion for education, she’s sure to have a remarkable impact on her students.

Karlie Michael-Special Education

Karlie earned her degree in elementary education with an instructional strategist minor from the University of Northern Iowa. Fun fact about Karlie: her second school placement was working with our special education students at the junior high, and she is excited to continue working with our junior high staff and students in this new role.  

Allyson Hearn - 5th Grade

Another University of Northern Iowa graduate, Allyson brings a wealth of experience to Hudson after working at the Quarters Cedar Falls and a daycare center in Independence. Her passion for fostering growth and development is sure to be an asset to our team. We are excited to welcome her—and her adorable goldendoodle Darby—to the Hudson family. 

Elly Heinemann - Special Education

Elly recently graduated from UNI as well, and we’re excited that she’s going to begin her career as a Pirate! She is filled with enthusiasm and her commitment to education and students is boundless. We are excited to see her passion in action in the classroom. Notably, her husband, Matthew, is beginning his first year teaching as well.

Michelle Walker - Junior High/High School Science and Computer Science

Michelle comes to us from Starmont CSD, and we hope she is as excited to get to know everyone in the Hudson community as we are to have her here. Michelle brings with her endorsements in 5-12 all science, basic science and biological science from the University of Northern Iowa. We are grateful she chose Hudson as the next step in her journey. 

Makenzie Fletcher - 5th Grade

With an education degree and minors in literacy and mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa, Makenzie is equipped to make an immediate impact within the Hudson community. She is excited to be a part of our Hudson family and to build relationships with our students, staff and families, and we are thrilled she is here!

Amy Kuker - 1st Grade

Before joining the Pirate family, Amy taught in Cedar Falls for nine years. We are pleased she made the decision to come to Hudson, and can not wait to see what she brings to our team. Her dedication to excellence is second-to-none. Amy holds degrees from both the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University, and endorsements in both reading and English/language arts. 

Jacob Smith - Physical Education

Jacob’s background in physical education and health education from UNI, combined with his passion for sports and mentorship, is sure to bring vibrant energy and have an immediate, positive impact on our students. As he works to inspire students through physical activity, we are excited to see what his influence will bring to our students and our school community. 

Crystal Betts - Elementary Principal

Crystal is excited to be back working with elementary students. Her focus will be on building positive relationships, learning about current practices and successes, and supporting an effective learning environment. She has three active children and is looking forward to being involved in the community.

Please join me in welcoming these outstanding educators into the Pirate family. These individuals are prepared to make an immediate impact as our school community works to help our students LIVE ABOVE the LINE. 

Transportation and Bus Routes

Continuing our exploration of the 'Topics' newsletter this week, I want to spend a few moments with you discussing transportation to and from school. Before we get into the planning and development of our bus routes, I don't want to miss the opportunity to once again remind you of our parking plan for the coming school year. You can access information about that plan on the 'Parking 2023-2024' tab of our website. 

Now then, on to the bus routes! Because of significant enrollment growth over the last couple of years (and in this case I am speaking specifically of resident pupil enrollment), the structure and configuration of our bus routes is continually being evaluated. In the Twin Oaks addition for example, we had two students a year ago. This year we anticipate 10. White Tail went from 15 to 31, and my neighborhood alone has 63! This afternoon I took a 'road trip' through the district and the pace of construction and sheer volume of residential lots suggests that overall growth in our district will continue at a very rapid pace. We'll talk more about enrollment growth in a couple of weeks, but for the purposes of our discussion today I want to keep it 'in the lines' of transportation. 

Yesterday we spent some time with a handful of our drivers who are assigned the heavier student loads and, after some shifting of stops we think we're all set. Those bus routes with departure times will be posted during our K-12 open house on August 21. Even though we have routes largely set at this point, it is important to know that both route assignments and times will remain fluid over the curse of the first few weeks of the school year. It may be necessary to shift some stops to other buses depending on the load size of each route.

Here's part of the reason why. When constructing routes, we have to account for those who have registered and those who have not yet registered. There is a blend of  'they rode last year, so we assume they will ride this year', along with a side of  'I think this student will be driving to school this year'. Let's also not forget about who is participating in after school activities and may not be riding after school, but will need a ride to school. At the same time, we have to account for 'drop ins'. We just had some today that are new to our community. Is it art, or is it science?

Although school starts two weeks from today, registration continues. And each day that passes adds to those routes. Long story short: all our routes are full, save one. The route that runs south of town. Although a smaller load, it does encompass our largest geographic footprint. We are continually evaluating that route to see if/when we should add stops to that route while at the same time being mindful of how long our students are actually on the bus. 

If that weren't enough, we have the added complication of road construction this fall, and it is expected to last until the end of October. Over half of our routes run north out of our district. If you have had the pleasure of driving on Hudson Road lately, you are aware of the road construction and pilot car. We expect that will impact pickup and drop off times both to and from school. If that weren't enough, there is also construction on Butterfield Road, north of Ranchero. This will impact our timing to the Twin Oaks addition. 

So a couple of takeaways today. If you haven't registered yet, please do so! And the second, is that we ask for continued grace and flexibility during the first part of the school year.