When Circumstances Converge

Early in my professional career as I was beginning to make an apology a mentor stopped me mid-sentence with something I never forgot. He said you never need to apologize when you gave your best effort with pure motives though the outcome wasn’t what you expected. That advice and its various permutations as I’ve reflected on it over the years have served me well. And they are relevant again as I respond to the oft asked question “Did you mean to sign up for this when you decided to run for school board?” 

The key operative word of course is “this” suggesting that the present circumstances we are grappling with as a school district are undesirable or at least difficult. Certainly it would be easy to wonder what would be different if the community had supported replacing Grass Junior High with one facility next to Henry Sibley High School rather than the two middle schools we have today.  Or what if a previous school board hadn’t spent down our fund balance settling the teacher’s contract?  Or what if our PELRA legislation mirrored collective bargaining language found in the private sector so we were better able to manage costs?  Or why couldn’t our music faculty have been hired in a different order so staff adjustments could be made with fewer disruptions.  Or why did our superintendent pick now to make a career move?

Allowing myself permission to ask these types of questions leads to faulty thinking that blames the present circumstances on previous seemingly bad decisions. But if I discipline myself to accept that there is nothing for which an apology is due, I am then freed to respect the efforts of others and to view the current circumstances without excessive value judgments. The current circumstances are neither difficult nor particularly undesirable. They simply are what they are.

Admittedly—the future is uncertain. But the future was uncertain a year ago when much of the community was blissfully unaware of the financial challenges we faced as a school district. Ultimately, the uncertainty of the future has little bearing on the difficulty of the present situation. It is only difficult to the extent that we allow our confidence in rational judgment to give place to doubt and fear.

From my perspective, our current circumstances do not create a perfect storm but rather a golden opportunity. Here’s the evidence supporting my argument:

1)       We have exceptional teachers who every year are recognized with state and national awards.

2)       We have strong leaders at both the district and building levels who are comfortable innovating and pushing the envelope.

3)       We have a well organized and energized committee working to pass a levy referendum this fall.

4)       We have a highly talented group of community leaders engaged in a Strategic Redesign Advisory Committee.

5)       Technology is at our finger tips, just waiting to transform how we deliver education and at a lower cost.

6)       Circumstances have stripped us of the option to ride out the storm and wait for normal to return providing motivation to change.

7)       We have a school board with the determination and courage to face our current circumstances with confidence and optimism.

It is an exciting time.  Uncharted waters are before us.  And a bewildering number of circumstances seem to have converged upon us.  But I have confidence individuals from throughout our community and district will amaze us as we find our way together.

This blog is the sole responsibility of Dewayne Dill.  It does not represent any official opinions, statement of facts or positions of the ISD 197 School Board or School District. Its purpose is to contemplate the broader context of issues the board considers.