Message from Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody
We move into a new year with
so many wonderful things
happening in our district,
and we leave behind many
challenges and face many
challenges ahead.
Inclement Weather
This fall surprised us with two
hurricanes – Florence and
Michael – that caused students
to miss valuable instructional
time in the classroom, as well
as our visit from ‘Diego’ - the big snow and ice storm in December. Our
excellent teachers and staff are working hard to ensure that our students
continue to stay on track in learning and growing. I am very proud of all
of them. We could not do what we do without the support received from
our parents and community. You can be assured that we will always focus
on safety in making calls related to inclement weather.
Renewal Update
We are continuing to progress forward as we begin implementing new
programs and focuses in our Renewal process. Our Board of Education
approved a new school calendar at their December Board meeting. This
calendar reflects the hard work of our teachers – one from each school’s
Teacher-Led Design Team – in addition to district administrators. This
committee met several times and worked hard in groups to produce
several creative options for the school board to consider. After conducting
two community-wide surveys, a new calendar was approved by the
school board. With the calendar flexibility we are granted through
Renewal, we now have a calendar that gives our students, staff and
community what they have been asking for and wanting for years. We
now have an earlier start date in August that will allow our students to
complete their exams prior to Christmas. And remember that with an
early start date comes and early ending to our school year in May. Please
be sure to check out the new calendar provided in this magazine as well
as on our district’s website at www.rssed.org.
I am making the rounds meeting with each school’s Teacher-Led
Design Team to assess their progress and work with them as they build
a stronger educational environment for our students. This is where
the gravel meets the road in creating our Renewal System at Rowan-
Salisbury. Teachers are the experts and best know the instruction needed
to provide to our children as we develop plans to promote critical thinking
in guiding our children to solve real-world problems. I am very proud of
these groups of extraordinary educators.
Capital Needs and School Consolidation
Our goal and focus is to always keep on the forefront of our minds to do
what is best for students. And we need you to help with this endeavor.
December was a busy and often emotional month. We initiated a series of
community input sessions as we brought to our public the serious crisis
we are facing in the escalating costs in capital needs while at the same
time seeing our student enrollment decline. Our school board is facing
tough decisions. We can no longer maintain 35 aging school facilities
with many empty seats. So what is best for students? We brought this
concept to our community in gathering input and ideas about how we can
effectively utilize our facilities. These conversations became intense at
times, which they should. After all, we are talking about what is best for
the future success of our children. During January, our school board will
be looking at the community feedback received from the meetings and
the survey conducted to determine a course to take in addressing this
crisis. We will keep you informed as we progress forward.
New West Rowan Elementary School
Woodleaf and Cleveland elementary schools officially became one new
school as students entered a new building on January 7th after enjoying
a two-week holiday break. I want to commend West Rowan Elementary
principal Kris Wolfe for her leadership in guiding these students, staff and
families through this new adventure over the last year and a half. This
school represents hope and possibility for our students and community.
If you were not able to make the ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony
on January 4th, I encourage you to contact the school for a visit soon to
see the learning environment our children are enjoying at WRES.
Happy New Year
It is hard to believe that we are entering into the last half of our school
year. We have much to look forward to as our Renewal programs
continue to grow and come to fruition. I want to take this time to say
‘thank you’ for your support of our teachers, students and staff as we
all work together to make this the best year ever for education in the
Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Together, we are charting new waters and
traveling further down an inspiring path of great things happening in our
district. May you all have a very ‘Happy New Year!’
Dr. Lynn P. Moody
Superintendent
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
2 • January/February 2019• Parent Teacher Magazine