Three wishes for Ramona

By Superintendent Bob Graeff

Ramona Unified School District

Looking forward to 2014, I would like to share three simple, straightforward wishes I have for the entire Ramona community.

First, I wish that every adult in the entire Ramona community would fully support the importance and critical value of our local public schools. Since the opening of the first American public school in 1635 in Boston, a cornerstone of our democracy has always been a core belief in public education.

As in Poway, San Marcos, and other local communities with high-performing student populations like ours, I wish that every Ramona resident, parent, retiree, young single, and educator would renew their faith in public education and recognize it as one of our single most important vehicles to maintaining economic and moral leadership across the entire globe.

Second, I wish that every Ramona parent and school employee would raise their level of expectations for the success of every child in the community. Whether bound for the university, the military, or the work force immediately after high school, nearly every student could — and should — be asked to increase their level of commitment to their core studies, to their elective programs, and to preparing for future success.

With parents and school employees working together and holding themselves to higher levels of responsibility as well, our local students (Grades K-12) could achieve so much more during their school-aged years, leading to greater fulfillment in their adult lives.

Finally, I wish that every Ramona voter would take time this coming year to review information from our local school district to understand why the board may be asking again for support for a local school bond. For decades, the state’s financial plan for all school districts has been to require new construction and major upgrades to come through bond measures approved by local voters.

Even though our student enrollment is declining, our aging schools and complex fiscal issues must be addressed — now more than ever before. For our local schools to meet the changing demands of an evolving economy, our students must be housed in adequate buildings and with programs that are supported financially to address student needs.

On behalf of the Governing Board and each of our employees, please join me in doing what you can to make these three wishes come true in 2014. On behalf of the entire school administration in Ramona Unified, Happy Holidays — and Happy New Year!