Superintendent’s Corner

I don’t know how many mountain climbers reside in Hudson, but I would imagine we have a community full of hikers. One of the hardest parts of climbing a mountain, or so I am told, is finishing that final push near the top.

I’ve thought about that recently as Ohio released its annual State Report Card in September, and our Performance Index Score rose from 107.1 to 108.2. That 1.1 increase might seem minimal, until you take a deeper look at the challenge of continued growth when you’re already at a very high level. Think about a baseball player hitting .200 early in the season, and going on a hot streak where he/she gets 40 hits in their next 100 at-bats. Their average climbs 40 points! If a player is hitting .330 and goes on that same streak, their average climbs 14 points! Academic performance works much the same way. Our students were not starting this assessment period at the bottom of the mountain, and continuing to climb requires finding opportunities for improvement when there is increasingly less room to grow. This is why this achievement for our students, staff and families deserves to be celebrated.

Of course, our continued pursuit of excellence comes during a time of significant discussion across Ohio about property taxes and the funding of public education. We recognize the financial pressures facing many households and understand the importance of these conversations. As a district, we have a responsibility to listen, remain transparent and be strong stewards of the resources our community entrusts to us. That transparency includes the fact that in 1975 homeowners and farmers covered about 46% of school property taxes. Today, that number has grown to 67.5%. The businesses’ share in 1975 was 54%. Today, that number is 32.5%.

While school districts are bearing the brunt of these discussions, it is important for all of you to know that it is our state legislation that has put the burden onto homeowners and farmers – not school districts. Academic excellence and financial responsibility are not competing priorities. Our community deserves both. But, beyond any number on an achievement standard or a financial report comes the people behind our successes as a school district and community.

Thank you to our students, staff, families and community for what they have built for decades. Our achievements and our full understanding of school district funding in Ohio are a testament to all of you. Congratulations.