Dear Murch Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your families in good spirits. I would like to provide an update on the school budget process and share a bit about how I approached this very challenging budget cycle. However, I will be sharing the details of budget decisions first with the faculty/staff and our Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) before sharing specifics publicly, so please be patient with me.
In mid-February, Murch received its initial school budget for the 2024-25 school year, after which the LSAT and I began reviewing the allocation and soliciting feedback from the school community via a parent survey and two LSAT meetings. As of this week, our budget has been submitted back to, and approved by, DCPS Central Office. While this is not necessarily the end of our budget process – things could change between now and when the DC Council approves all budgets in June – I am pleased to announce that while tough decisions had to be made, our budget continues to reflect our school vision, which states that, “Every child will feel safe and welcomed as they develop as a compassionate person and inquisitive learner. All children will be celebrated for their individuality and will be prepared to contribute positively to our school and the world.”
Every day, we strive to ensure that EVERY Murch student, along with their family, can see themselves in this vision. We also recognize that every decision made (and there are many) will not necessarily be reflective of individual priorities. I wish that our budget was infinite and that we were able as a school (and as a society) to meet every need of every student, but with what we have been given, I feel confident that we are continuing to move in a positive direction.
The following four areas of the budget are a reflection of our continued efforts to realize our school’s vision:
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Continued Investment in Academic Programs: We are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing our core academic programs to ensure that every student receives a well-rounded education that meets their individual needs.
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Support for the Arts: We understand the importance of a vibrant arts program in fostering creativity and receiving a well-rounded education.
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Maintaining Resources for Student Support Services: We are committed to providing comprehensive support services to help every student thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our budget allocates resources for counseling, special education, multilingual learners, development of our core principles as a member of the TRANSCEND group which focuses on the development of the whole child, and other support programs.
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Staff Professional Development Opportunities: We believe in the importance of ongoing professional development for our educators to stay updated on best practices and innovative teaching methods. Our budget provides resources for staff training and development programs.
I want to express my gratitude to our school community for your continued support and collaboration throughout the budgeting process, particularly to the Murch staff and our LSAT. The input and feedback from everyone has been invaluable in shaping our priorities and decisions. Planning for next year will be underway soon, and together we will make the upcoming academic year a rewarding and successful experience for all of our students.
As always, should you have any questions or would like more information about our approved budget, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Assistant Principal Hawkins, and/or the LSAT. As I mentioned, more budget details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Warm regards,
Principal Cebrzynski