Happy New Year! The start of the New Year is an exciting time for the students' staff, parents and the Community. Students and staff are back in full swing and many are getting ready for final semester exams. It won't be long before we celebrate the 39th graduating class of Edgewood.

In February the bids will go out for the new high school. We will award the bids sometime in March and weather permitting construction will begin sometime in April 2010. The process to this point has been very intense. We are very pleased with all our partners and the expertise each has offered. It won't be long until we move into this state-of-the-art facility. Without a doubt, this new high school will bring additional educational value to our students.

Many of you have probably read all the challenges we as educators are being faced with across the State of Ohio. House Bill 1, when fully implemented, brings about reform in education, school funding and taxation, as well as teacher licensure. The most publicized reform has been the requirement of all day Kindergarten. Though the state recently approved a waiver to delay the start until 2011, unless there are changes, it will need to be implemented within two years.

House Bill 1, along with the down turn in the economy specifically the housing market, has taken its financial toll on school districts across the State of Ohio. In October 2009, we sent out a press release outlining our financial picture for the next five years. In this press release, we reminded our Community that we will stay committed to the original plan that was presented prior to the new high school bond issue. This plan called for a renewal (No New Taxes) levy in 2010, and an additional levy to follow in 2011/2012 prior to the opening of the new high school. To stay the course, it was necessary to immediately reduce three million dollars from our operating budget, with an additional reduction of two million dollars coming in school year 2010/2011. We are still committed to this plan and we appreciate your support in the future.

As we continue to work through the changes and challenges, we remind ourselves that moving forward and providing our students and staff with the resources to move into 21st Century Learning, is vitally important and very rewarding. Our young people of today have the resources and skill sets to acquire more knowledge than ever before. We must challenge their critical thinking skills as we prepare them to lead our country into the future.

One thing that never changes is the biggest key to the overall success of our students and our District that is our ability to work in partnership with our parents and the Community. We hope that you feel welcome in our schools and that you will take advantage of opportunities to become involved, to learn more about your school district and to be a part of the many things that are taking place.

As always, if you have any concerns or comments, feel free to contact me directly at the Edgewood Administration Office 513-863-4692 ext. 1007 or knapp@edgewood.k12.oh.us We value your input.

Educationally yours,

Larry Knapp