Superintendent Heuer
Superintendent Douglas G. Heuer
We continue to strive to ensure that our schools are providing the best education possible to benefit our students and our community. We continue to develop innovative programs that help students achieve, programs that are gaining attention in the wider world. For example, we were recently named a Next Generation Innovation District by the prestigious Council of Chief State School Officers. CH-UH is one of only six Ohio schools named as part of the program. Our District was also recognized by the Hanover Research Group and the Ohio School Facilities Commission as one of the nation’s leaders in advanced teaching and learning models.
These innovations aren’t about accolades. We have an obligation – all of us – to support every student in our schools and help them find their best path in life. For a large number of our students, if it doesn't happen in school, it's not going to happen. We aspire to be a magnet school district for families to remain in the community or come to the community. Our schools must be beacons for the community.
We have to shape our schools to support our programs, and that includes the buildings themselves. This community has been having a multi-year conversation about our school facilities, going back to the fall of 2010. We are getting much closer to a plan that the community can embrace and be excited about, and because of that, we are hopeful to have a bond issue on the ballot in November 2013.
As we look to the future, our sights must be set on accomplishing three tasks. First, we must expand learning opportunities for all students in a number of ways. One is by growing our preschool partnerships and programs. We must also use before and after school accessibility and programs and extended school year studies to compliment or supplement each student's learning experience. And we must continue to expand our use of technology to provide students access to learning beyond the school walls.
Second, we must use focused professional development to build the capacity of the professional staff for literacy intervention, Pathway curriculum development, understanding of the new Ohio Common Core standards, and the application of the continuous improvement process to all facets of instruction.
Thirdly, we must renovate and recreate our facilities for flexibility of use, security, year around functionality, cost efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
We are confident in our ability to accomplish these tasks and build on the traditions that have been established. Those traditions are really about the students who grow and thrive in our schools and march out into the world prepared to make a real difference in their communities. We will continue to uphold the CH-UH tradition, and I thank you for your continued support of this district, our communities, and our students.
