September News from the Superintendent
Welcome back to the start of the 2010-2011 school year. Much has changed since the start of the last school year - in the world and here at home. The changing economic climate has impacted all of us, and we are all doing more with less. Despite economic challenges, our commitment to our students and community has remained the same, and we continue to find innovative ways to increase student achievement, while still living within our means.

As a district, our mission is to engage and support everyone in high levels of learning. Our vision is to be a premier school district that models excellence and embraces the challenges of the 21st Century. To assist us in achieving our mission and vision, The New Prague Area Schools have set three priorities that are guiding our decisions. They are: 1. High Academic Achievement; 2. Fiscal Integrity; and 3. Effective, Engaging Communication.

Trying to accomplish these priorities is never easy. During a time when budgets are tightening, it is even more challenging. Despite this, our staff has accepted the challenge of implementing strategies and direction to attain excellence unparalleled in New Prague's history. For the first time in five years, we are one of a handful of districts from 340 throughout Minnesota to have NO APPEARANCE on AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), whether by school or by district as a whole.

Essential to our goal of excellence is attention to fiscal responsibility. However, it is imperative to ensure that the approach taken to protect the bottom line is in alignment with, and supportive of, our #1 stated priority and vision statement.

We can attain fiscal responsibility in one of two ways: 1. Cut expenses, and 2. Generate additional revenues.

Only one approach allows us to fulfill the vision statement of becoming a premier school district. A book written by Jim Collins entitled "Good to Great" refers to this as the ruthless verses rigorous approach. "To be ruthless means hacking and cutting, especially in difficult times. To be rigorous means consistently applying exacting standards at all times and at all levels." Good to Great Both approaches mind the bottom line, but only one funnels into our overriding priority of creating a school district second to none. We can cut, freeze and dismember programs and personnel, but unless it is done in response to a well-strategized plan, we do so at the peril of our ultimate goals. By utilizing a ruthless culture of cutting expenses, we are striving for "good" with every conscious decision made. If we choose to explore a rigorous, visionary culture of seeking and taking advantage of creating additional revenues to hold our bottom line, we attain "great".

We live in a state known for good education. A child of Minnesota can live in one of the many districts and receive a good education. At present, there are only a handful of districts where you will receive a great education. Why? Because good is acceptable, safe, attainable. "Good is the enemy of great. Ant that is why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. The vast majority of companies never become great, precisely because the vast majority become quite good and that is their main problem." Good to Great

For me and our staff here in New Prague, we want to develop a world-class education system. I am excited about the direction and the momentum we have created and now we must sustain and build on our previous accomplishments. "Where better to invest in our future? The education of our children will ultimately provide Minnesota with both a strong economy and a civilized society." Charlie Kyte, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

Next month I will focus on some of our accomplishments in the past two years.

Craig Menozzi
Superintendent
New Prague Area Schools