No longer the new superintendent, Conrath outlines agenda for schools
 

Thursday, August 31, 2006

By KEVIN PARKS
ThisWeek Staff Writer

By David Rea/ThisWeek

Worthington City Schools superintendent Melissa Conrath spoke during the convocation held Aug. 23 at Thomas Worthington High School.

 

 

In her remarks at last week's Convocation ceremony officially kicking off the 2006-2007 academic year, Worthington City Schools Superintendent Melissa Conrath paraphrased 17th century English leader Oliver Cromwell:

"Those who stop getting better, stop being good soon."

Conrath chose that quote to help explain the decision more than a year ago to leave what she admitted was a pretty comfortable post with Big Walnut Schools to accept the challenges facing the district she now heads.

"I'm not your new superintendent anymore (but) your experienced and ready superintendent," Conrath told the filled auditorium at Thomas Worthington High School.

The Aug. 23 ceremony, held just prior to the official start of classes, included honoring accomplished past alumni, recognizing outstanding teachers and looking to what the future might bring. Conrath said she hoped this blend of past, present and future would "inspire you to embrace the challenges of the future with the tenacity and passion of the past."

The world is a rapidly changing place, the superintendent pointed out. An increasingly global economy is forcing changes on schools as the teachers and administrators and others look for ways to prepare young people for the 21st century, to enable them to compete for jobs not just with others in the United States but other young people from many parts of the globe.

Communities are demanding that their school officials do more with less, Conrath said.

The taxpayers are requiring greater responsibility than ever before and are threatening to withhold their financial support until it is demonstrated to them that all that can be done with existing resources is being done.

Superintendent Conrath pointed out that the Chinese symbol the stands for "crisis" is made up of two other symbols, one representing "danger" and the other "opportunity." In order to find opportunity where obstacles appear to exist, and get better as a school district, will require a vision for the future, Conrath said.

She outlined hers for those assembled last week:

 

  • Celebrate and maintain the success the district has experienced, but adjust and refine academic programs to find the best systems and models for using technology and better meet the needs of students. This includes adapting to the changing landscape of the community as Worthington's attendance area grows increasingly diverse.

     

  • Improve the relationship between the district and the community it serves, increasing the trust and confidence of not only parents of students but taxpayers in general so that all will be proud of the school system. Conrath joked that it is her dream to one day open a local newspaper and see only words of praise in the letters to the editor.

     

  • Be financially responsible, while at the same time fairly compensating employees. Residents feel the tax pinch to fund schools, Conrath admitted, and she hears complaints that some people are being forced to give up their homes. It is incumbent upon district administrators to seek efficiencies in all aspects of the operation.

     

  • Gain community support for the $37.4-million bond issue that will on November's ballot. It is the responsibility of the district's current leaders, Conrath said, to protect the investments of the past by making certain existing infrastructure does not fall into disrepair. She indicated that "open and honest dialogue will be necessary" to convince the voters of this.

    Conrath concluded by saying she feels the personnel the district currently has are capable of meeting these goals.

    "I have an inherent trust in the quality of the staff here," she said. "It has exceeded the high expectations I had before I came here."