Dr. Jamie Blair, Superintendent

 

Message from the Superintendent

In 2007, community stakeholders and school leaders created a Strategic Plan for Vestavia Hills City Schools. One shared value of the city and the Strategic Plan is that of community service and involvement. This investment now in our students will reap the reward of active and responsible citizenry in the future.

The dramatic downturn in our economy over the last several months has created financial hardships for almost everyone. School systems across our state and nation are among the many organizations struggling with funding issues due to these tough economic times. While proration of the state education budget has not negatively impacted our system as much as other systems in Alabama, we have still had to tighten our belts and dip into our reserves in order to make up for lost state revenue.

Local tax dollars give us the financial support we need to fill in the gaps created by proration. However, when we use local funds to compensate for the loss of state funds, we are unable to implement innovative programs and activities that set our system apart from most others.

Fortunately, we have another funding source that greatly supports our system. I am speaking of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation. The Foundation has provided additional funding in support of special classroom projects, teacher training, and technology for the past decade, and in 2010 the innovations will continue to happen because of the Foundation's commitment to our students.

The Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation and its strong base of donors exemplify community leadership and service in all they do for the school district. The families who donate are "walking the walk"of community involvement. Foundation volunteers are in the midst of a major campaign to raise the Foundation's secure endowment to two million dollars and are reaching out to the community for help.

I would like to encourage each of you to join me in supporting the Foundation in this effort. In times of economic hardships, your support will help our system continue to provide our children with the 21st century education they so greatly deserve. I commend all community members who contribute to the VHCS Foundation. We can be positive examples for our children and real life models of community involvement and sacrifice.