Argus My Words article - June 2006
In June 2006 I submitted the following My Word
opinion piece which was published in the Argus.
June is the month for graduations. Graduation is a time of reflection on your past accomplishments and challenges. It is also a time of optimism about the future.
This year I had the honor of representing the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education at Mission San Jose High School’s commencement ceremony. It inspired me to reflect on the last 5 months that I have served on the school board and the last few years that I have been involved in the school district. What have I learned? Our schools face many obstacles, but we have and can overcome them.
Fremont benefits from a diverse population and not just in culture or race, but also in its diversity of opinion and experience. It is critical for board members to listen to the community, the staff, the parents, and the students for the simple reason that the best decisions are made when listening to all sides.
We are resilient. Many may not realize it, but in the past few years our school district has faced great challenges. In 2003 we weathered severe budget cuts. Last year we settled a difficult contract negotiation with the teachers. In September a new superintendent was hired, and since then there have been numerous changes within our administrators.
Yet with all of this change Fremont schools continue to excel! Our test scores are up, and we have some of the top performing schools in the state. The fact that so few students and parents have been directly affected by these challenges is a testament to tireless efforts of the board of education, teachers, and staff.
Our diversity and resilience are true assets for the district, and they have made our schools great. But how do we get better?
I believe that it all centers on hiring the right people. In recent months this has been the focus for the board and superintendent. We have worked hard to bring in talent and build the district’s leadership team.
With the right people in place it’s time to ask where we want to go. This requires open discussion and critical thought about the path our schools should take for all students. In July the board and staff will begin that discussion in a priority and goal setting session. This is just the first step. Planning is a continuous process. We must constantly be reviewing and correcting our course. As Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “Plans are worthless. Planning is essential.”
Fremont Unified School District is headed in the right direction, and I am proud to be a part of the team that is leading the way.
Bryan C. Gebhardt
June is the month for graduations. Graduation is a time of reflection on your past accomplishments and challenges. It is also a time of optimism about the future.
This year I had the honor of representing the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education at Mission San Jose High School’s commencement ceremony. It inspired me to reflect on the last 5 months that I have served on the school board and the last few years that I have been involved in the school district. What have I learned? Our schools face many obstacles, but we have and can overcome them.
Fremont benefits from a diverse population and not just in culture or race, but also in its diversity of opinion and experience. It is critical for board members to listen to the community, the staff, the parents, and the students for the simple reason that the best decisions are made when listening to all sides.
We are resilient. Many may not realize it, but in the past few years our school district has faced great challenges. In 2003 we weathered severe budget cuts. Last year we settled a difficult contract negotiation with the teachers. In September a new superintendent was hired, and since then there have been numerous changes within our administrators.
Yet with all of this change Fremont schools continue to excel! Our test scores are up, and we have some of the top performing schools in the state. The fact that so few students and parents have been directly affected by these challenges is a testament to tireless efforts of the board of education, teachers, and staff.
Our diversity and resilience are true assets for the district, and they have made our schools great. But how do we get better?
I believe that it all centers on hiring the right people. In recent months this has been the focus for the board and superintendent. We have worked hard to bring in talent and build the district’s leadership team.
With the right people in place it’s time to ask where we want to go. This requires open discussion and critical thought about the path our schools should take for all students. In July the board and staff will begin that discussion in a priority and goal setting session. This is just the first step. Planning is a continuous process. We must constantly be reviewing and correcting our course. As Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “Plans are worthless. Planning is essential.”
Fremont Unified School District is headed in the right direction, and I am proud to be a part of the team that is leading the way.
Bryan C. Gebhardt