Daniel A. George
Superintendent of Schools

On behalf of the Board of Education and myself, welcome back to Southwestern Central Schools for what promises to be a fantastic 2007-08 school year!

You will find some dramatic changes around our school campus this September. Thanks to our community and their support you will see new pavement, sidewalks, curbs, and a new retaining wall grace the High School and Middle School, along with new roofing at both buildings and the bus garage.

Less noticeable, but also important, are brick repairs, more handicapped accessibility, replacement of several water lines, kitchen improvements, replacement of doors, walls, and team locker rooms. In short, many smaller projects that add up to some major preservation, upgrades and improvements to the investment our community has made in our school infrastructure.

The current project, together with the EXCEL capital project approved in May and the athletic complex approved last December. insures that Southwestern is indeed a district headed in the right direction. These successes, it seems to me, are all the more exciting because they result from a community pulling together.

Special thanks go out to the Board of Education for their support and longterm vision for our district and the Southwestern Schools Education Foundation, which played such a vital role in making this dream a reality. The Southwestern Schools Education Foundation, with generous support from area foundations including the Lenna Foundation, the Sheldon Foundation and the Johnson Foundation, were incredibly generous to us. In addition, countless groups and individuals pitched in to make various fundraising activities such as the Jackson Rohm concert, the Glenn Colton concert, our volleyball tournament, a rigatoni dinner and various sales (such as the wristbands and magnets) a success.

The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” may be overused but remains true. When parents, teachers and community members participate in our schools by attending concerts, athletic events, board of education meetings or volunteering, their interest and support inspires our students and adds to a sense of support and self-worth - so necessary for an atmosphere of learning.

Whether your student is teenaged or a kindergartener just beginning the educational journey, my sincere wish for all of our families is a safe, productive and enlightening year. Thank you all for your investment and commitment to the Southwestern Central School District and we look for your continuing contributions toward our mission: “…to develop students’ potential for positive contributions to society as self-sustaining individuals.”

Have a great year, everyone.