IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2018 | Page 69

Dear Baldwin-Whitehall School District Community,
Thank you for your support as our Baldwin-Whitehall School Board
enters a new year of change, aspiration, and collaboration with our
educators, families, and citizens.
As your newly elected School Board President, I’m excited to dive in
and help our District achieve its goals, and I’m honored to represent
the interests of so many diverse families and students who call our
District home.
I may be new to the office of President, but I’m no stranger to the
crucial role that the School Board plays in shaping our children’s
future. Even before I was originally elected to serve on the board
in 2013, I participated in school board meetings as a parent and
a taxpayer. I also served on the PTA when my own kids were in
elementary school, because I’ve always loved giving back to my
community. I have a longtime interest in making sure that our schools
deliver on their promise of a rich, rewarding, and personalized
educational journey for students of all ages and abilities.
I was recently asked what excites me most about our District’s
future. While there will be many opportunities and challenges ahead
for our students, teachers, and board members alike, three topics
immediately came to mind.
First, there’s no denying that our school buildings are ready for an
upgrade. My initial focus here is on our elementary schools, where a
fresh round of renovations to fix some structural and design issues will
provide a warmer, more efficient, and more inviting learning space for
some of our District’s youngest students.
I also see opportunities to improve the learning environment in
our other buildings, which need various upgrades to their structures
and equipment. Quite simply, our District cannot continue to remake
learning for the 21st century if we don’t remake our learning spaces, too.
Second, there’s the ongoing process of extending our successful
1-to-1 Initiative from Baldwin High School to Harrison Middle School.
I’m extremely impressed with the success of this program so far, not
just in terms of its impact on our students’ success, but also by how
smoothly it’s become integrated into the workflow and learning
process of both teachers and students. I can’t wait to see how well
this program transitions to meet the needs of our District’s younger
students, and helps prepare them for future opportunities.
Third, there’s the concept of opportunity itself.
While we traditionally think of a four-year college as the apex of
the student experience, I’m happy to see many students and families
are starting to consider alternatives to this path as they seek their
own individual route to career stability and personal happiness. Trade
schools, tech schools, and even entrepreneurship are all viable routes
to future fulfillment, provided that these paths match the dreams,
goals, and talents of the students who follow them. I encourage our
District families to explore the full range of options available to every
student as they take the next steps on their learning journey.
Thank you for this opportunity to share with you my thoughts and
hopes for our District. I look forward to working with our school board
and our community to ensure that all perspectives are considered, all
voices are heard, and all decisions are made with the best interests of
our students and our region’s future in mind.
If you ever have any questions, our school board meetings are
open to the public and our entire community is welcome to join us in
leading our District forward.
Warm wishes for a sunny season ahead.
David Solenday
Baldwin-Whitehall School Board President
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2018–2019
IT’S TIME FOR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION AND WE’RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO MEETING THE BHS CLASS OF 2031!
REQUIRED SCREENING DATES
MCANNULTY ELEMENTARY: MAY 1, 2018
PAYNTER ELEMENTARY: MAY 3, 2018
Mark the dates and visit
http://www.bwschools.net/our-district/kindergarten-registration
for complete registration information, links, and resources.
BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL ❘
SPRING 2018
67
David Solenday
LETTER FROM SCHOOL
BOARD PRESIDENT