Editor’s Note: We have changed the location of Thursday’s School Board Work Session in Steven Gould’s column. It has been moved to the George Washington High School cafeteria.
We’ll start Tuesday off with a GuestCentral column from Danville School Board Member Steven Gould titled “Get Involved in DPS, Early and Often!”
“Get Involved in DPS, Early and Often!”
Last Monday, August 11, marked the official beginning of the 2014-15 school year for Danville Public Schools. By all accounts, we are off to a great start, thanks in large part to the dedicated efforts of our teachers and staff and the eagerness of our students to learn.
A new school year presents myriad new opportunities for students. It also presents a fantastic opportunity for members of our community, whether or not they have children or grandchildren in DPS, to get involved and remain involved in our schools.
Whatever your interest is, there is a way for you to influence our students. Whether it is stepping up your involvement in the PTA, volunteering to read to a class on a regular basis, or simply following the progress of our students more closely, the start of a new year is the perfect time to engage. Our community will be the better for it, and, odds are, you will enjoy it, too!
This week, there are two separate opportunities to have your voice heard on issues important to our schools. I hope, as you resolve to increase your involvement in our schools, you’ll attend one or both of these:
Office Hours (Tuesday, 8/19, 5 to 7, Boys and Girls Club, 123 Foster Street) – I will be holding my second set of office hours since taking office on July 1. You don’t need an appointment; instead, you just need to have an interest in our schools and in our students. Stop by, share what is on your mind, and, while you’re there, take a look at the great work done at the Boys and Girls Club every day.
School Board Work Session (Thursday, 8/21, 5:30 start, George Washington High School Cafeteria, 701 Broad St.) – Each month, the School Board holds a regular meeting (1st Thursday evening) and a work session (3rd Thursday evening). The work session provides an opportunity for the Board to consider a number of substantive issues outside of its regular meeting, and Thursday’s work session is no different.
The first – and most important – item on the agenda for the evening will be the search for the next superintendent of DPS. The Board wants to hear your thoughts on the qualities the new superintendent should have, the goals that we should set for that individual, and the scope of our search for candidates. Join us in charting the path forward for our community and its schools.
There is no doubt the value you, Mr. Gould, will bring to the DPS Board. You’re a mover and a shaker, and your actions speak volumes.
He is going a make a wonderful School board Member. How many other School board members can say they have done any thing like this. DUHHHHH… Have they even set foot into a classroom to visit or even a school at that matter. I have a feeling by the time his 1st year is up he will have been to every school met every teacher and principal and know what is going on. GO GET EM Steve.
Gracie, he’s not the first elected official to visit the schools, although I’m not even sure I saw that in the letter he wrote. Maybe he is visiting them. But I’m sure many of the school board members have done so. I remember Lee Vogler visited all of the city schools last year and he’s not even on the School Board.
It seems Mr. Gould is trying to follow in Vogler’s footsteps some. But it is nice he’s doing his job so far.
just so everyone knows—the work session has been moved to the GW cafeteria–I assume to have more space. 5:30 start time–thank you!