Halloween will be here by the time you read this article. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and Christmas and New Year's Day is closer than we all think.

Just in case you have not seen it, we have finished our multipurpose building on the campus of Indian Creek High School. That, along with masonry and window work on Wintersville Elementary, is the major improvement to our physical operation of the last two years. Better yet, we will not be on the ballot this November asking you to continue your support.

With the passage of the combined bond issue permanent improvement levy passed by the voters of the district last November, we will be able to continue to maintain our buildings in an acceptable manner and provide continued support for our building needs. We are most appreciative of your support.

We will still have to address the financial problem that has provided us with the other issues that we and other school districts will continue to face - the continued requirement by the Ohio Legislature that local taxpayers carry the burden of the responsibility for operating expenses, that translates to salaries and wages. Until the second leg of our problem is addressed we will have to continue to beg for your support to meet these requirements.

As stated before, our goal is to insure that 100 percent of our students graduate from high school. When we have students who are in need of intervention, we will provide that intervention to make sure that they graduate. Whatever it takes, we will provide. This we will ensure.

We will be putting in our bids for construction of our middle school by the end of this year. It will take about 18 months to finish the new school.

Hopefully, you can see why we feel our cup is half full. We are planning for the future of public education in the Indian Creek School District that will be paid for by funds that are currently available. As stated before, we know we are on the right track and cannot wait to bring these projects to successful completion. Stay tuned. It will take time but we know the wait is worth it!

And remember, GO CREEK!

(Watkins is superintendent of the Indian Creek School District.)