Superintendent’s Message – January 2019

A quality public education is a key that can open doors of opportunity for many students.  Education takes a team of committed people from educators and staff to parents and administrators. The nine members of the Shippensburg Area School District School Board are an invaluable part of this team, making informed decisions that direct the course of our public schools. Every January, we take time to celebrate and recognize the challenging and vital work our school board does on behalf of our students, families and community

In the past year, the Shippensburg Area School District Board members have demonstrated leadership in numerous ways.  The Board approved a $49.5 million dollar budget this past year to afford all the teachers, staff and programs for the children in our schools.  Additionally, they approved the replacement of roofs on the high school, middle school and central office to ensure more energy efficiency and the long-term reliability of our buildings.  They also approved a new elementary math textbook that was implemented this past year.  In a typical meeting, the Board will often approve budget items, hear a variety of reports and act on as many as 23-30 different business matters.

School directors volunteer an average of 10 hours each month to board work, which includes adopting policy, voting on budgets, approving curriculum changes, choosing textbooks and reviewing hiring decisions to name a few. They take time to learn about the issues affecting public education and to seek solutions.

Your school directors are deeply invested in our community. They are your neighbors, friends, parents and local community leaders. Your Board members are: Dr. David Lovett, Board President, Mrs. Susan Spicka, Board Vice President, Mrs. Erica Burg, Dr. Nathan Goates, Dr. Michael Lyman, Mr. Hunter Merideth, Mrs. Tracy Montoro, Mr. Charlie Suders, and Dr. Geno Torri.

During this month of recognition, please take a moment and show your gratitude for school directors’ time, dedication and effort year-round. The job they do is necessary to ensure our schools remain a pathway to a promising future. Thank our school board members for advocating on behalf of our collective interest, and most importantly, for making the success of our children their priority.

Yours in education,

Jerry Wilson, PhD