It is with sincere enthusiasm that I write this year’s “Back to School” letter to all those who play such an important role in the educational process of our District’s nearly 1,100 students. One of my goals has been and will continue to be to collaboratively work alongside students, educators, parents, and community members to create an atmosphere where students can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally in a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment.
As a school district, we are dedicated to building upon the successes we saw from last year by continuing to establish a collaborative school culture of academic optimism that places the needs of students first. A huge thank you goes out to the constituents of the district as the passage of the bond referendum back in 2020, has paved the way for CCSD to streamline operations by shifting from three school buildings to two. This past year, we shifted grades 7 and 8 to join grades 9-12 at what is now referred to as Clinton Junior/Senior High School. The old high school, now middle school, will soon be Clinton Elementary School which will house grades 4K-6 for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. The existing elementary school is slated for demolition later this fall.
The additions, renovations and capital improvements throughout the district are on schedule and under budget. Our building partners, JP Cullen and Eppstein Uhen Architects, have done a terrific job helping us navigate the supply-chain issues plaguing the country which has at times hindered our abilities to procure certain items. We will be starting the school year minus a few construction related items but nothing that will impede our ability to provide a high quality instructional experience for our students. We were very fortunate to pass the referendum back in 2020, locking us into the historic low interest rates that existed at the time. Our taxpayers will be saving over $14 million dollars in interest costs over what was projected and these low rates also allowed us to shorten the repayment time on the loans by six years.
Achieving educational excellence, and exercising responsible financial stewardship is a priority. I’m extremely proud to have overseen a budget operating in the black for the past five years. The vast majority of the budgetary savings has been placed into Fund 46 which is geared towards capital improvements to ensure that our buildings and grounds get the priority needed to remain viable for generations to come. As a District, we have worked vigorously to be as fiscally prudent as possible, while continuing to provide an enriching educational experience for our students.
As a district, we continue to see a significant increase in our open enrollment numbers. Since the 2015-16 school year, CCSD has experienced a 33.3% increase in open enrolled students attending CCSD. The district has also seen a decline in students choosing to enroll out of the district by 20.7%. The positive gains we are seeing in open enrollment is a direct reflection upon the teaching and learning that is taking place at Clinton Community School District.
To all constituents, I want to thank you for your continued support of Clinton Community School District. We are truly blessed to live in a community that values education and recognizes the need to provide students with the tools necessary to become college and career ready. Thank you for being part of the Cougar family.
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