How Safe are Our Buses?

It's a fair question. Just how safe are the buses that many of our students board each day? Thanks to our mechanics--Taber, Kyle and Dennis--the answer is "very". In fact, District transportation director Kay Buckner recently reported that our fleet of buses passed the "DPS annual inspection with flying colors!! The mechanics worked exceptionally hard and all did a wonderful job of which we are very proud. We did have a few minor violations, but all were fixed within minutes of being called to our attention. This is the most important process we go through all year."

We hope this will make you feel as confident, and as proud, as we are. Not only do we have a meticulously maintained bus fleet, but we also have a group of drivers that is second to none. On a day like today, with the wind and snow blowing all around, I thought you might like to know. Thanks for checking in.

Greg

Odds and Ends

Students and staff have returned from a long Presidents Day weekend. The prospect of a snow-free week is especially nice. Repairs continue at the middle and junior high schools. Last week I met with a subrogation attorney and a forensic engineer to review the damages to the building. Prior to our January storm, I had only the vaguest ideas about what either of these two individuals do for a living!

Recently I was asked, and agreed to, lend the District's support to two projects--the Scott Ranch Road extension and the Billy Creek Bridge remediation. Both projects, which would require federal assistance, would greatly improve our students' safety. We hope that Representative Kirkpatrick will aid the town and county officials who are hoping to make these projects a reality in our community.

I am looking forward to participating in the elementary school's reading celebration on the 26th of this month. Principal Jeanne Powell reports that her students have read a combined total of nearly 20,000 books! People sometimes ask what I'm currently reading. I am re-reading Adam Smith's classic Wealth of Nations and Douglas S. Freeman's biography of George Washington. I hope you take time to read each day, not only with your children, but for your own pleasure.

Thanks for checking in.

Greg

Congratulations to our Blue Ridge HS Academic Decathlon & Jr. High MathCounts Teams!

Mr. Trevor Holliday reports the following, "Blue Ridge Unified School District hosted Region I competition this weekend. Our high school team did a fine job, placing fourth out of the sixteen teams. We will head to the State Competition next month which will be held at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix." Thanks to Mrs. Judy Peterson, Mr. John Holliday, Mr. Dewain Bartimus and many in our community who made this event a success!

Mrs. Carol Godwin of the junior high adds, "Congratulations! I was here on Saturday to collect my math team for travel to Holbrook for Mathcounts Regionals and the ACADEC competition looked to be very well run and organized. The students appeared prepared and excited to compete!As a smaller achievement, perhaps, the Junior High MathCounts team won our Regional competition in Holbrook and will be attending the state competition next month held in Vail, Arizona."

It is such a pleasure to be able to regularly pass along this type of information to you. These achievements aren't just occasional; our students and their coaches/sponsors consistently rise to these levels. Congratulations to all! Thanks for checking in.

Greg

Partners

I've been thinking a lot about partnerships lately, especially how much we at Blue Ridge rely on them to carry out our mission and goals. I was reminded of the importance of partnerships yesterday when I met with Bob Funk of White Mountain Radio to talk about his station's commitment to our District. Bob's assistance, and that of other media outlets, helps us to communicate with our community. Thanks, Bob. The White Mountain Independent is another partner we greatly appreciate and value. Thanks, Greg, Mike, Sean and others for taking an interest in us and making sure to get the stories right.

Today and tomorrow we will see another excellent example of this community's willingness to partner with the students of this District. BRUSD hosts the Region 1 Academic Decathlon Competition. The response from many of you to offer assistance for this event, whether in the form of your time, expertise or tangible items, has been as generous as always. I join coordinator Dewain Bartimus in thanking you for your partnership in this worthwhile endeavor.

Thanks for standing with Blue Ridge and partnering with us. We couldn't do it without you! Thanks for checking in. Have a good weekend.

Greg