Greetings! On behalf of the Board of Education, it is a pleasure to welcome our Norwin School District students, parents, employees, and the greater community to a new and exciting school year.

Building on the many successes of this past school year, we look forward with a calm and steady hand coupled with optimism to meet the many challenges for preserving and strengthening public education.

As the School District prepares its 2018-2021 Comprehensive Plan, the Board of Education and its Administration will continue making educational and financial investments based on best practices, proven methods, and strategies for long-term success.

With less state and federal funding, it will require a collective effort on the part of all key stakeholders to preserve the fidelity of our School District educational programs and services. In fact, and to date, prudent financial management and the reallocation, realignment, and restructuring of human and financial resources have contributed greatly to our academic and financial successes.

This ongoing process dictates a steady course of action and commitment on the part of those key stakeholders in the school community. To that end,“ Creating a Culture of Change” requires a continuous effort to do all we can to sustain our quality educational programs and services.

These primary goals continue to be an integral part of our mission to graduate productive and responsible citizens in an ever-changing global society:

4 To increase student achievement and growth and produce high-performing schools through effective leadership, innovation, and technology.

4 To do what is best for students educationally and to do what is fiscally responsible for taxpayers.

4 To build capacity, accountability, and efficiency in the public school system.

In an era of new fiscal reality, it is my responsibility as the Superintendent of Schools to use executive leadership skills by“ Creating a Culture of Change,” which fosters the“ capacity to seek, critically assess, and selectively incorporate new ideas and practices”( Fullen, Michael,“ Leading in a Culture of Change”, 2001).

Now more than ever, my core belief is that transforming the culture – changing the way we do things – is the only way that public education can be strengthened and preserved. By being calm and steady at the helm, we can work together to preserve what is good and right about our schools; however, that process will require continuous efforts to meet the changing needs of the School District – budgeting and finance; educational program and service delivery models; operational support services; and employee staffing and assignments.

With limited state and federal funding, the responsibility of balancing school budgets is becoming increasingly difficult. Together, we must help ensure that all children receive the educational opportunities they deserve to succeed in school and also to minimize the burden of local property taxes for the taxpayer.

Together, local school boards and superintendents, in partnership with the Governor and State Legislature, must restore a truly shared partnership and guarantee each child a public education where funding is fair, adequate, and equitable. The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that“ The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” Therefore, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must do more to support local school districts.

In partnership with our Board of Education, students, parents, employees, and the greater Norwin community, I will continue articulating a vision for the future of the School District; focus on student achievement and growth; advocate for fair, adequate, and equitable state education funding; and position the School District strategically for further academic and financial success.

Best wishes for an exciting and successful school year!

William H. Kerr, Ed. D. Superintendent of Schools

IN Norwin Fall 2017 | Page 40

2017-2018 S u p e r i n t e n d e n t’ s W e l c o m e orwin

2017-2018 S u p e r i n t e n d e n t’ s W e l c o m e orwin

Greetings! On behalf of the Board of Education, it is a pleasure to welcome our Norwin School District students, parents, employees, and the greater community to a new and exciting school year.