Do we really want to compete? Sure we do! You can see it in our players and fans. We support the athletic teams and travel all over the state to see our teams excel on the playing field. We love our Dillos! How can this be replicated in the classroom? The Academic Booster Club at the high school is on the right track. We saw them at football games supporting high standards in the classroom. It seems like the cards are stacked against some of our students in the class, but we need to look for opportunities for all students and especially those that are serious about academics. A new elementary will provide an awesome opportunity to provide an atmosphere serious about learning. It is a start of something great. Our students have many needs, and those needs will only become greater in the years to come. The state has mandated a new assessment, STARR, and the students will need to begin in earlier grades working on high academic skills. It seems that as soon as we feel that we are getting a hang of it, the standards change. In the next three years, the state math standards will be revised. Honestly, education will always be evolving. There are a number of challenges facing our education system, but we must keep the children’s best interest at heart and compete.