Greetings Balsz Families,

Wow!  I can’t believe that we are already concluding the third quarter and Spring Break is near.

The last quarter of school is one of my favorites.  The months of March through May offers excitement and celebration, but also offers a time for our students to show off their excellence in our state assessments and other school related tests, like the NWEA.  We understand that for some students, tests can cause worry and anxiety which is understandable.  However, these assessments offer us at schools and the district the opportunity to properly understand the learning needs for each individual student.  While raising my own kids, I would tell them to do their best on everything that has their name on it.  Now, I am asking that all Balsz students give their best effort in reading and answering the test questions to help us become the best school and district for each student.  Please keep an eye out for any information regarding testing at your schools.

Recently, the state was able to give school districts a moment to catch their breath in the conversation regarding the funding issue known as the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL).  While we have this moment, we are busy reviewing the budget for 2023-2024 as the AEL is set to come back into conversation next year. 

You will be seeing lots of “new” throughout the Balsz Elementary School District and that is all thanks to your Bond dollars!  All schools will be getting new outdoor activity areas and several schools will see fresh paint and building upgrades to improve the daily experience in schools for all.  Thank you all for your support of Balsz in the past and can’t wait for what is in store in the future!

George J. Barnes, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Balsz School District