Most people know the phrase, “hit the ground running.” For Michael Vierra, recently appointed as interim superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District, he’s starting off his tenure “hitting the ground listening.
” While not officially taking up the role until Monday, Vierra has been taking some time to meet with district staff and his executive cabinet to see what the district has been doing well, what can be changed and what needs to be added. “We want to make sure that we have that open dialogue, not only internally within the district, but outside of our community,” Vierra said. Part of that communication is bringing the district back to pre-pandemic levels for average daily attendance, one of the key statistics used for funding school districts.
Vierra said that may not be known by everyone, so it’s important for the district to communicate the importance of being in school every day, not only for the district to get the funding it needs, but also for students to grow academically and socially. That starts with getting to the root of why students are missing class and trying to break down those barriers, he added. Students being in class also helps the district to meet its mission of having every student be opportunity-ready, Vierra said.
“To me, that means that a student has received the education so that regardless of what they want to do when they leave our district, they can do whatever they want,” Vierra said. “And so that mean.
