The start of the school year is always an exciting time of renewal and opportunity.

As we begin the 2010-2011 school year, the Auburn School District continues an ambitious program for improving student learning through clear and high expectations, the creation of conditions for success, accountability to high expectations, professional collaboration and continuous improvement.

The district is committed to the growth of students as both learners and citizens. Last year we provided more than 1.5 million parent communications in three different languages using electronic messaging, family access, e-news, websites, and SWIFT teacher course websites. We now have an academic assessment system in place that reports the progress of each student three times a year and provides important data for instructional decisions that enhance the academic growth of each student.

With the successful passage of the Capital Improvement Levy, we are able to provide needed repairs and replacements to facilities so that students have safe and effective learning environments.

We have reason to celebrate the success of student learning. As the District Strategic Improvement Plan enters its second year of implementation, here are a few district achievement highlights:

• Second grade reading On-Target scores increased 18.74 percent.

• Overall K-5 reading On-Target scores increased 9.34 percent.

• Grades 3-9 math On-Target scores increased 3.5 percent.

• Grades 3-9 On-Target Hispanic math scores increased 5.3 percent.

• Three schools, Washington, Evergreen Heights and Dick Scobee, which were in Step One of School Improvement, all made AYP in both reading and math.

We look forward to serving the public by providing a quality learning experience for our students. Please check out our website that will mark our progress for student learning: www.auburn.wednet.edu.

Our instructional decisions are standards based and data driven, guided by the academic performance of each student. Each school is prepared to share the progress and effort to improve the skills of every student. We are committed to our motto “Engage, Educate, Empower,” which is all about high quality skills for every student. Below are a few more district highlights that demonstrate our commitment to community and student:

• ASD was awarded $1.7 million dollars in competitive grants.

• 76 percent of high school graduates participated in extracurricular activities.

• 800 high school students participate in Advanced Placement courses and 63 percent of graduates attend college.

• 51,680 pounds of food was collected for the food bank in the All-Schools Food drive.

• For 21 consecutive years, the district has been awarded an Certificate of Excellence for exemplary financial reporting,

• 100,000 free lunches were served to children during the summer lunch program at 49 sites across our community.

The Auburn School District’s Strategic Improvement Plan is a blueprint for continuous improvement and unparalleled academic success, despite unprecedented budget reductions from the state and the increasing challenge of educating students who speak 54 different languages and dialects.

We invite you to follow our progress to improve student learning and close the achievement gap at www.auburn.wednet.edu/Superintendent/DistStratPlan.html.

Dr. Dennis Kip Herren is superintendent of the Auburn School District.