PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Building
resilience in
Kathy Davis-Phillips
Director of Business & Auxiliary Services,
DeForest
WASBO President
A
little over a year ago
I was asked to pick
a theme for my year
as WASBO’s president.
At the time
it felt like a period
of change. We had a new WASBO
Executive Director, new Governor
for Wisconsin, and the overall educational
atmosphere both locally
and nationally seemed at the cusp
of forthcoming change. Hence my
theme of “Building resilience through
times of change.”
I had absolutely no idea at the time
though of the magnitude of change
that we all were
going to
have
to
uncertain times
I had absolutely no idea at the time though
of the magnitude of change that we all were
going to have to deal with this year. Nor how much
many of us were going to have to rely on our own
resilience to make it through these times.
deal with this year. Nor how much
many of us were going to have to
rely on our own resilience to make it
through these times.
Our year started off with one of the
most positive state biennium budgets
school districts have seen in years.
Despite the uncertainties at the
national level, we seemed to
finally be in a period of
positive change for public
education in Wisconsin.
However, not long
after we were celebrating
a long-awaited
increase in the revenue
limits, we were
once again faced with
unsettling budget
uncertainties. In hindsight,
I now find that the
message I shared in my first
article as WASBO President
ended up being eerily more relevant
than I originally thought:
“Change is something that is inevitable.
Some of the changes may be
unwanted, come out of nowhere,
and be stressful. However, change
can be something that creates new
opportunities and can help us
grow as leaders.”
It may be hard in the moment to
see the full impact that the 2019-20
school year will have on us as leaders.
In time, I believe we will all look back
at this period as a year of growth, a
test of our resilience, and a time of
pivotal change.
As I am nearing the end of my service
to WASBO, I wanted to take a
moment to share my gratitude for
WASBO. Kaitlyn, Kristin, Tina, and
DyShaunn, thank you for all the work
you four do behind the scenes. Ryan,
your videos are amazing! Jeanne,
thank you for your leadership, calm
approach to everything, and for
always taking really good care of
WASBO. Mike, it has been a plea-
4 June 2020 • Taking Care of Business • WASBO.com