State of the Mat-Su Borough School District: Being the best school district

As fall winds nip the air, we are pleased with the beginning of this school year. Our students, faculty members, support staff, administrators, and community partners are on track to meet new goals this year. Already, enrollment in our 45 schools is strong, and we expect more students before the official 20-day count period in October.

As superintendent of the Mat-Su Borough School District, I know that our district faces challenges of growth, fiscal challenges of finding resources to meet changing needs, and challenges of allocating all resources equitably across a large and diverse borough. Committed to the success of every child living in the Mat-Su Borough, the School Board and administration continue to seek ways to offer more services, stronger educational options, and a clearer path to learning excellence. At our recent “Fair Friday” professional development and Opening Day, all 2,000 plus district employees met to renew the vision and mission of our district, coalescing around common goals for all our children. I want to share the state of the district with you.

This summer, the MSBSD School Board renewed its commitment to be the best public school district in the state of Alaska and even in the nation. Three goals steering the district this year are:

• Honor and provide support for teachers — some of our society’s most revered individuals are teachers who honor their profession every day; who doesn’t remember a favorite teacher?

• Enhance equity of cyber learning amongst schools — the district builds a strategy for bringing opportunities to every Mat-Su school.

• Inform and enhance the community sense of pride, ownership, and confidence in the district — this goal is achievable only through the continued commitment of every Borough resident to strengthen community ties and partnerships, working for the greater good of every school.

As parents and community members, I want you to have a clear picture of the MSBSD. We educate about 17,600 students at 45 school sites; we follow sound educational practice of offering a standardized curriculum for our students, yet foster uniquely customized delivery of material at every school. Continuing our strong commitment to academic innovation, parent public school choice, and excellent customer service, you can know the “why” for what we do as a district.

• Academic innovation is the renewal of public education through maximizing the changing ways in which our children relate to the world and approach their learning.

• Parental choice in public education is paramount and we offer many programs at our 45 schools; all paths support the mission to prepare students for success. Administrators and district staff are constantly challenged to “be your best and find your niche for your students.”

• Excellent customer service is more than a slogan in the district; we know that we use other people’s money to accomplish goals. We are responsive to our school communities as well as accountable to the public we serve.

Some 80 percent of district funds go into human resources — we know that public education is a human resource “business.” We honor the community investment in public education and work to sustain sound fiscal policies and fiscal efficiency to get the job done.

During our opening day professional development, community members were invited to come and ask questions and find answers that resonate in our Mat-Su communities. By providing answers to these questions, we can help you be better informed about the programs and initiatives we have undertaken in the district over the last few years. As we demonstrate our return-on-investment, our Legislature and Mat-Su Borough Assembly have appropriated funds for specific educational programs, extending our student learning.

Three years ago, Mat-Su voters passed the largest single capital improvement bond package, totaling $214 million. Funding six new school facilities and upgrades at all local schools, this bond also provides for the new turf fields and track improvements at the four large comprehensive high schools, Palmer High, Colony High, Wasilla High, and Houston High. With the provision of these new turf fields and tracks, the Legislature has provided the way for Mat-Su schools to once again host state athletic events! By bringing more visitors to the Valley, there is more money in the pockets of local business owners! Make sure you get out to football games and other events to see the fields and cheer on your Mat-Su teams.

As always, my door is open. If you would like to learn more about student progress, district programs, or educational issues, an expanded state of the district message is available. You may also attend School Board meetings or listen to the meetings live, broadcast and live-streamed by Radio Free Palmer.

As winter is coming, you will want to stay informed about upcoming school events, and in the case of extreme weather, school closures. That information is always available early in the morning on local radio stations, Anchorage television broadcasts, on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and at the district website at matsuk12.us. Stay informed and be involved. Your schools appreciate your support and need your commitment to our children’s education.

Deena Paramo is the Superintendent of the Mat-Su Borough School District.