Spring is officially here! We've already had our first track meet, even though the calendar still says March, indicating we've enjoyed a warm and dry month. As we head into April, we're hopeful for some much-needed moisture. We'd gladly sacrifice a few track meets and baseball games if it meant seeing our landscape transform from dry and golden to lush green.
From an administrative standpoint, I've been closely monitoring the legislative session and how it could affect Scranton Public School moving forward. Initially, there were approximately 184 bills directly impacting education; these have been streamlined to about 90 bills, reflecting a more focused effort by our legislators. Among the key bills I'm tracking closely are the funding formula and voucher bills. It's essential that we continue advocating for public schools, as 93% of North Dakota students attend public institutions. Any bill diverting resources away from public schools toward private schools remains a significant concern.
We're also carefully monitoring property tax reform bills. While property tax reform is undoubtedly needed, some bills favor urban areas, while others provide more substantial benefits for rural regions like ours. I'm eager to see how these bills progress and how they're amended in committees. Ideally, we'll receive essential property tax assistance for our stakeholders without restrictive caps that could negatively impact services in our small, rural communities.
I'd also like to address a critical issue affecting our educational quality: teacher recruitment and shortages. Like many schools nationwide, Scranton Public School faces challenges in attracting and retaining qualified educators. This shortage impacts our students' learning experiences and poses risks to the long-term health of our education system.
Next week, our staff will attend the University of Mary Education Fair, hoping to connect with new teachers who might fit our school's needs. We're currently advertising for three positions: Secondary English, Secondary History, and an Elementary position. Mr. Cagle and I have reached out to local universities, and we're finding that the shortage is becoming more pronounced, making recruitment for rural areas like Scranton increasingly difficult each year.
What steps are we taking to recruit and retain teachers at Scranton? We're actively promoting what makes our school special—strong community support, small class sizes that allow personalized learning, and our family-like atmosphere. Another significant advantage is our approach to hiring quality staff and providing them with flexible curricula to meet state standards. As an administrator, I firmly believe in empowering our talented teachers rather than limiting them with rigid instructional methods. We encourage flexibility and stepping outside comfort zones. Additionally, our School Board has proactively ensured that staff compensation remains competitive or exceeds our peer schools, offering excellent base pay and benefits. These deliberate steps help Scranton attract and retain high-quality educators.
Our students deserve the best possible education. It's our collective responsibility to ensure they have qualified and dedicated teachers to help them succeed. While we offer excellent online courses and curricula, it's crucial that our in-person courses remain equally outstanding. We remain committed to tirelessly hiring and developing the best teaching staff possible.
Our high school students will soon register for courses for the 2025-2026 school year. Mrs. Oase and Mr. Cagle are working diligently to ensure our students are "Choice Ready," prepared for higher education, a career, or the military. Our website has been updated with current course offerings and pathways. We encourage parents to actively engage with their child's education—review our website, discuss your child's educational path, and reach out to Mrs. Oase or Mr. Cagle for guidance.
Our students are actively involved in many exciting activities—FBLA, FFA, music, science, and many others. Please continue to monitor our School App for activity updates and school news.
Thank you again for your continued support. At Scranton Public School, we're dedicated to providing exceptional education and always welcome stakeholder input.
Take care, enjoy the spring weather, and as always, KEEP SOARING HAWKS!
Kelly Pierce
Superintendent