A Message to Our CommunityJanuary 2003

The new year is upon us and the challenges have never been greater. One danger is that education will be put on the back burner as politicians turn their attention to the concerns of California’s economy. Governor Davis’s recent message is evidence of that trend. Four years ago he said he had three priorities: education, education, and education. The governor is declaring his new priorities to be: jobs, jobs, jobs. The truth is the two are inextricably linked. Education is an economic development issue. Without a highly-trained workforce our communities will not thrive and our economy will suffer. As an education leader in Alameda County, ACOE will continue to work with school districts, policy makers and community leaders to make sure the focus stays on a high-quality equitable education for all students.

The state budget crisis comes at a time when many school districts in Alameda County are already facing significant financial challenges. We, here at ACOE, are experiencing a growing demand and need for the financial expertise of our business staff. A series of factors, including a shortage of skilled and trained school fiscal experts and declining resources are contributing to the number of districts struggling with their financial health. We are currently working hand-in-hand with several districts to stabilize their budgets to avert a more serious financial crisis. ACOE will continue to monitor and support the business needs of our districts through these challenging times and beyond.

We are proud of the accomplishments and changes we have made in the last four years. ACOE will continue to stay the course to improve education in order to meet and respond appropriately to the complex problems our communities are facing. Our schools must engage teachers and students in relevant curriculum that promotes critical and creative thinking, appreciation for diversity and the ability to communicate differences in the pursuit of finding solutions and new possibilities. Now, more than ever, collaborations with school districts, parents, businesses, universities, arts and community-based organizations are critical. It will take all our combined expertise to put together an agenda that will secure a healthy and safe economic and social future for our children. We need our best thinkers at the table with a sustained singleness of purpose.

In that spirit, ACOE is convening an educational conference January 30 – February 1, entitled: Working Together for Educational Excellence and Equity to Enhance Student Learning. The three-day conference will include national and local educators who will speak on innovative programs sparked by a common vision and goal. There will be examples of projects that successfully leverage resources and expertise to achieve maximum results.

We are interested in hearing from key stakeholders who want to be involved in an innovative approach to engaging students in the civic process. Please plan to participate in the Civic Mission of Education on the final day of the conference.

As we start the new year, we are also focusing on the importance of school safety. Please join ACOE on January 22 for a full day of training on The Key to Safe Schools. In February ACOE will hold workshops on bullying, hate and bias in our schools.

We look forward to serving the educational community in 2003. There will be challenges to come, but if we join together, put our resources, energy and creativity to work, we will succeed in creating strong learning and teaching environments.

Sheila Jordan is the County Superintendent of Schools. She may be reached at 670-4144 or by e-mail at acoesuperintendent@acoe.org.