New school board will have to meet new challenges
By Chuck Kajer
Last week’s meeting of the New Prague Area School Board marked the beginning of a new chapter for the school district.
The school district has seen and adapted to rapid growth over the past few years. Two new elementary schools are being built and are on the fast track toward completion this fall, and work will begin this year on a new addition to the high school, which is only eight years old.
While the district has been growing, the educational programming has been innovative and effective and the district has done a responsible job managing its limited resources, during a time when demands on the system have increased and state funding has seen little increase.
The challenge facing the seven members of the New Prague Area Schools Board of Education is to continue the tradition of excellence in the schools. Excellence in the classroom doesn’t just happen. It takes the concerted effort of teachers working together, under the guidance of strong building administrators, with the support of a district administration that provides the tools needed for success. It also takes school board members who take the time to do their homework and make decisions based on researching information, not on preconceived ideas. Finally, it takes the support of families and a community that emphasize the importance of an education to their children and who are willing to support the schools in many ways. Voters showed their faith in the school district when they voted for the building projects now underway.
Voters also showed their faith in the seven school board members when they chose them to represent the community on the board.
As the district continues to grow, it will face new challenges. It is up to these seven board members to make sure the district has the ability to meet these challenges.