Hello Parents, Guardians, and Web site Visitors,

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year!  I am beginning my tenth year as your Superintendent, and I am looking forward to serving your children and our two communities again this year.

As you know, we have a very special place here, because we constantly focus on supporting and educating your children based on their individual needs.  Over the past several years, I have presented the following challenge to every one of our staff members:  "Every single day, every moment of the day, every child is better off because of his or her interactions with every staff member."  This will continue to be our theme.

I am sure you have read newspaper articles and heard news broadcasts about the challenging budget situation for schools throughout the state.  Large numbers of layoffs are taking place, programs being dropped, and class sizes are increasing to balance budgets as school districts receive less state aid.  Fortunately for our children, our school district has no layoffs, no reduction in programs, and class sizes remain some of the lowest in the area.  All staff members and a great School Board of nine elected officials have helped make us even stronger by expanding programs and adding staff members in spite of the budget challenges.  In my next update, I will provide more budget information including the delicate balance between state aid, tax levy, and service to students.

Our overall enrollment continues to increase.  This year, we have a large kindergarten class with over 210 children district wide.  Consequently, the School Board added a tenth section of kindergarten and an additional kindergarten teacher.  They also approved adding an eighth section of fifth grade due to an increase in fifth graders.  The popular four-year-old preschool program will also increase by approximately 20 children, resulting in the opening of a fifth preschool partner site.

Project Lead the Way (a pre-engineering program) will begin at the Middle School this year and at the High School next school year.  Our parent and booster groups continue to be strong, contributing a significant amount of time, equipment, materials, and supplies directly to the children to assist in their education.

In conclusion, thank you for your support and assistance.  Feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance.  Your children are in good hands in this very special place.

Best regards,

Michael R. Weber, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Port Washington-Saukville School District