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September 2007
Thanking Those Who Choose Our Schools
A Message from Superintendent Carl Cohn
Superintendent Carl Cohn Welcome back! I hope you had a restful summer and are ready for a remarkable school year.

As we start the new year, I have some encouraging news that I’d like to share. This fall, hundreds of parents are taking another look, seeing our improvements, and they like what they see. There are indications that hundreds of students from private, parochial, and charter schools have recently enrolled in our schools. Although we still expect our total enrollment to be down from last year, the decline is slowing.

Our recent parent survey contained more good news. Our parents–our most important customers—told us what they think about our schools. Take a look at some of the results:
  • 95% said their school respects parents
  • 93% said they feel welcome at school
  • 90% were satisfied or very satisfied with their children’s school
  • 90% said their child’s school is safe or very safe
These positive responses are a direct result of your good work. You are the ones who do your best for our students and show families how much we appreciate that they have chosen our schools.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending welcome-back events for our transportation team and school police. I am very impressed at the commitment of classified employees in making sure the start-up of school is as smooth as possible.

I also had the opportunity of greeting hundreds of new teachers and again, was very impressed. Many are choosing to come to San Diego Unified after a successful career in another field. The life experiences these “new” teachers will share with our students are a valuable gift.

In closing, I ask each of you to continue to do the right thing for students. All of the children we serve today are part of this nation’s hope and future. We will continue to serve them all and turn no child away.

That is one way we can become America’s Best. Have a great year!

To read the superintendent’s address at the recent Management Team 2007-08 School Year Kick-off, go to http://www.sandi.net/superintendent/speeches/082707_2020.pdf Acrobat PDF.