As we prepare for the start of another school year, I want to thank so many of you for the wonderful welcome you have extended to me as the new superintendent for the Laurel School District.  The Laurel schools have a rich tradition of both academic and extra-curricular excellence.  Please know that our team is dedicated to taking this tradition to even newer heights.

Our theme for the school year is “Expect Greatness.”  However, it is really more than a theme. It is a philosophy that will permeate everything we do in the Laurel School District. We are blessed to have so many talented students in our district and we will not be scared to expect greatness from them.  Research clearly shows that when you set high expectations, students will rise to the occasion.  By expecting greatness, we begin to change the conversation and start the process of eliminating excuses. 

There are already several reasons for us to be excited about the upcoming school year and the direction of our school district. The Mississippi Department of Education recently released the graduation and dropout rates of the state’s schools, and Laurel High School saw a 12.5 percent decline in the number of students dropping out over the previous year going from 30.9 percent to 18.4 percent. Along with a decline in the number of students dropping out, Laurel High School saw an increase in its graduation rate, which is those students who complete high school in four years. The 2010 graduation rate was 71.7 percent, while the 2009 graduation rate was 60.4 percent. 

Another area of great pride is our commitment to providing first-class facilities for our children.  Throughout the next school year, we will continue working toward the completion of the district’s strategic facilities plan. We are excited about several building projects that are about to begin. These include renovations to the Stewart M. Jones building that was damaged by fire, construction of a new baseball field at Laurel High School and new science labs at the high school. Every project completed will only enhance the opportunities provided to our students.

In a few weeks, the Mississippi Department of Education will release the official MCT2 and Subject Area test scores from the 2009-10 school year. The district anticipates several areas of positive growth in regards to student achievement as measured by these more rigorous assessments. However, there is still much work to be done.  Our ultimate goal is to exceed the state average in every measurable category. Our ability to accelerate student performance will hinge on making sure our curriculum is aligned to state and national standards, making sure our students are comfortable with the style of questioning used on the state tests, and pausing throughout the year to test where our students are in regards to mastering the course objectives.

The greatest lesson we can learn from the recent economic recession is that education is more important than ever.  When you have to compete against four other people for every job out there, you better have the right education and communication skills to separate yourself from the crowd.  We will work tirelessly to make sure every child in Laurel has an advantage over the competition.

Last but not least, I would be remiss if I did not talk a little football as we enter August in Mississippi.  We love our football and I invite all members of the community to come out “Between the Bricks” and support the players, band, and cheerleaders as the Tornadoes set their sights on another state championship.  Working together, there is nothing we can’t accomplish on the field or in the classroom.

May God bless all of us as we begin another year of serving the children of Laurel.

Dr. Chuck Benigno

Laurel School District Superintendent