Well, here we are. It’s Tuesday, September 2 and the first day of school. So far, I have not gotten any angry calls from parents about bus drivers who did not stop to pick up their child. There’s been no massive traffic jam, usually the case the first day of school, in front of the middle school where nervous parents drop off 6th graders to that hormone saturated next level of education. And praise be to God, I did not see or hear any Neanderthal seniors taunting nervous freshmen as they enter the hallowed halls of grades 9-12 for the first time. The auditors have completed their fieldwork. The coffee is hot and inviting in my cup this morning. The world is good!
Having been a disc jockey and then for most of my undergraduate years a dual major in Business and English, I am always trying to find lyrics or poetry to say what I would like to say. On the first day of school, I am reminded of, and will probably really date myself, with an old Graham Nash song:
“You who are on the road
must have a code that you can live by
and so become yourself
because the past is just a goodbye.
Teach your children well…”
“Teach your children well” may be a 20th Century way of saying: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.” Reminders and good advice on the first day of school and for the next 180 or so days to follow - don’t you think?
Strategic Planning at MSBO
This July, the MSBO Board met in New Buffalo with a strategic planning facilitator to help us establish some goals and priorities for the organization. As an organization, MSBO is obviously in a transition mode. For the past several years, MSBO has been blessed to have the leadership of Tom White. Tom will be completing his tenure as Executive Director in December. But don’t worry! Tom will be assisting with the planning for and details surrounding the annual conference in Detroit this coming spring.
Dave Martell takes over the reign of Executive Director in January. In our state, there are two kinds of people: Michigan State fans and those other guys. Dave is a Michigan State fan. For those of you who are “Blue” about this, someday I think you will see the “Green” light. In the meantime, next time you see Dave stop and say hello. Please introduce yourself, if you don’t already know him. Having been a member of MSBO for more than 20 years and having seen the transition between Dr. Wally Piper and Tom White, I look forward to Dave taking the organization to the next level of excellence.
MSBO has an outstanding staff of employees to assist Dave. From my experience, they are committed to member’s needs and assisting members face the challenges, some large, some small, of being professionals in the business of school transportation, maintenance, technology, food service, human resources, payroll, and financial management.
But neither Tom White, Dave Martell, the MSBO staff, nor the MSBO Board has all the answers. Nor can we do it alone or without your help and the help of MSBO members like you. We need your expertise, your knowledge, and your passion for the business of educating Michigan’s children. So, here’s my sale pitch…
Do you remember those old posters that you might see in the U.S. Post Office? I mean the recruiting posters that said, “Uncle Sam needs you?” Well, MSBO needs YOU. And I am asking for YOUR help. The MSBO Board discussed a couple primary and strategic goals when we met this July in our strategic planning retreat. We are still working on ironing out the exact verbiage, but here are some of our initial thoughts.
First, MSBO members will be equipped to contribute in strategic decision making.
MSBO will help by enhancing and increasing relevant professional development for MSBO members. MSBO can assist members obtain the skills and confidence to problem solve and to understand how to be difference makers in the day to day and long term politics of education. MSBO can help our members bring solutions to the table.
Secondly, MSBO will become the clearinghouse for ideas and innovative solutions in education.
MSBO will strive to increase research, expand our offering of turnkey solutions to problems and increase members’ knowledge of current tools and resources available to them.
We actually discussed much more than that. We discussed “mega” issues like school funding, the ongoing poor economy in Michigan, how can we maintain the influence of MSBO as an organization, how can we assist MSBO members deal with declining (or growing) enrollments, how can we encourage members to stay active in their organization and to attend the conference in Detroit this year, etc.
What do you think? What is important to you as an MSBO member? How can MSBO best make the goals outlined above a reality?
As President of MSBO, I am asking for your help and feedback. The MSBO Board is your Board. We are here to serve you. From my more than 20 years of experience in MSBO, we have a diverse group of members with a broad knowledge and expertise base. In this year of transition at MSBO, we need you to share some of that knowledge and expertise. Get involved. Get in touch. Give a little bit!