Teachers and Staff Get Together for their First Meeting of the New School Year

his convocation of teachers, administrators and support personnel represents a long tradition at Dubuque Community Schools in which our professionals gather just before the start of the new school year to prepare for what's to come. Administrators address the crowd announcing what's new, whose new, what we can expect in terms of student numbers, the effects of new legislation, but perhaps more importantly, it's a chance to get fired up for a new school year. The 90 minutes are filled with so many well-turned phrases, rounds of applause, giving credit where credit is due, the tried and true "please stand and be recognized" opportunities and inspiring stories and annecdotes, that if Nora Gymnasium were a tent, this might be a revival meeting.

The event got off to a rather altruistic start. The invitation contained a note to bring some nonperishable foods which would be collected for the Dubuque Food Pantry. That obviously appealed to our family of educators, and they responded with several cases of food items that were trucked off to the Pantry at meeting's end.

John Burgart, Superintendent of Dubuque Community School Distrct, made opening remarks and was the master of ceremonies for this event. When he approached the microphone the audience erupted in applause and quickly rose to its feet. A standing "O" for John was most appropriate considering the events of the last several weeks as the School Board sometimes struggled with the selection process of a new superintendent since the retirement of Dr. Jane Petrek July 1st. John was named interim superintendent at that time as the Board distilled the search down to three finalists recommended by a selection consulting firm they had hired. The Board carefully listened to employee feedback during the selection process. Then the Board's first choice decided to remove himself as a candidate for the job. No question, it was the district-wide employee feedback that inspired the Board to acknowledge that perhaps the best choice for superintendent for the time being is John Burgart. These events were no doubt fresh on the minds of everyone in the audience, and more than one speaker, including District Finance Director, Joe Link, at the podium made the point that John would make a great superintendent.

For a complete text of John's remarks, click here.

It will probably be the last time that Joe Link addresses everyone since he plans to retire at the turn of the new calendar year (note that we said "probably"). Joe used this opportunity not only to go down a long list of physical school improvements that have taken place over the summer, but he recognized the great Support Services Departments who work tirelessly to support the teachers and students with everything from maintaining our vast transportation system to our remarkably clean-conscious custodial services, and a Nutritional Services Department that serves nearly 7,000 meals a day. Joe got a well deserved standing ovation.