Reminding district families that the St. Joseph Public Schools “Want to thrive, not just survive,” Superintendent Dr. Thomas Bruce has dispatched an update to the entire district addressing the tough budget situation the school is facing going forward, while also taking time out to salute the Senior Class of 2020, setting the stage for a July Graduation ceremony and an upcoming Senior Class Parade this Sunday evening at 6pm.
Dr. Bruce says, “We are living in an unprecedented time and the impacts of COVID-19 will affect our district’s financial planning and instructional environments this fall.” He asks school district families to continue to check in throughout the summer as the school board works to be as transparent as possible.”
The Superintendent adds, “There is a saying, ‘innovate in times of difficulty.’ This phrase offers one to think past the crisis but also to be positive about its outcome, likely because it affords change. We are in an unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. State tax revenues are down 43-percent from April 2019 to April 2020 (Detroit Free Press article, May 2020). Therefore, the state will likely take drastic measures to balance this 2019-2020 budget, with more to come in 2020-2021. Current projections show that this current downturn could last three years. For SJPS, we realize that economic reductions of this magnitude could drastically affect us. Our district leadership team is planning to do everything possible to preserve our classrooms. The Board of Education will hear potential areas of financial reduction this week. We will need your support as we address this crisis. We want to thrive, not just survive.”
Bruce says if the school system had a choice they would not consider any financial reductions, but like other schools, St. Joe will “likely have to do more with less.” He calls that a temporary situation, and adds that the schools will make adjustments for the “short term storm.” He also points with pride to the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, saying, “We are fortunate to have a Foundation that aggressively supports our district. Our Board of Education has shown great leadership and has been good stewards of our money. And, most of all, our families are behind us, realizing the strength of a great education and its many positive impacts on a community. We will weather this inconvenient squall. We can pull together and support each other. We are Better Together!”
Turning to the 2020 Senior Class, Dr. Bruce tells families, “I want to share how proud our staff and administrators are of our Senior Class, 2020! We cannot wait to celebrate their accomplishments with their friends and family. This is truly a special group with an incredible story. We are planning their SJHS Graduation for July 26th, 2020. And, this graduation will be more special than any we have organized before. We intend to honor students for a variety of achievements as part of the ceremony. It will be a great event. Remember we postponed the date as late as possible to give us the best odds allowing our Seniors to cross the stage and receive their diploma. We continue to plan for this event and cannot wait to celebrate their 12+ years of education!”
Meanwhile, the school’s parents who had been planning for the tradition of the Senior All Night Party have been coordinating plans for a community parade to honor the Senior Class. Bruce says that this coming weekend, on Sunday, June 14th, they will host a St. Joe Car Parade for the Senior Class “right through town, and it will end with students returning to their elementary schools to see old friends and special staff members,” and concludes, “Locate a cool ride and get ready to decorate it for cruzin’.” The Sunday parade will start at the Kelly’s Bowl parking lot at 2705 Cleveland Avenue and head onto the Lakeshore Drive business loop northward past the stadium eventually looping back to Niles Avenue through the Southtown neighborhood to make their way to Lincoln, then Maiden Lane to Upton Middle School before breaking up to go to each student’s elementary school for group photos.
Bruce reflects on the current state of affairs across the nation, closing his letter to families by saying, “It’s tough to say Better Together knowing many of our families have struggled with the racial inequities that have played out in our country. We are better when we recognize what makes each of us unique and we celebrate those differences.”
