Looking back… Saline Area Schools in 2000

As we end the first decade of the 21st century, I have been thinking back to what Saline Area Schools was in January, 2000.  We had 4,980 students enrolled in the fall, up 173 from the previous year. (We now have 5,450.) This marked our 9th consecutive year of 100+ more students enrolled, with a few years enrolling over 200+.  There was talk of the need for a new high school and elementary building.  The Community Wide Planning Committee was reviewing options for a possible “recreation millage” to support the quality of life in the district.  In May, 2000, both the bond issue for a new high school & elementary building, along with the CARES millage received voter approval.

Instructionally we were focused on implementing the new “block schedule” at the high school.

It was an entirely different era for Saline Area Schools – marked by frantic growth and the need for upgraded and expanded infrastructure. From the budget side, the growth was good – we hired 19 new teachers for the 1999/2000 school year, with another 21 to be hired for 2000/2001.  We had bond funds from “Project ‘97” able to support our buildings, technology and transportation needs.

In the 10 years since we have had 5 different superintendents, 3 different high school principals, 3 different middle school principals…. no administrative staff member is in the same position they were in in 2000.  Only a small percentage of teaching staff are still in the same classroom or teaching the same subject or grade level. The challenges of growth are long gone, replaced with the challenges of scaling down our organization.  Instructionally, we are in the 2nd year of the trimester at the high school.  At the elementary level we are looking to – with scarce resources – provide all day, every day kindergarten in the near future

It is interesting to look back…. and then to envision January, 2020.
What will Saline Area Schools be in 10 years?