Dowagiac educators focused on student achievement for school year

Monday’s afternoon of backyard grilling and outdoor fun gave way to a morning of books, schedules and assemblies for Dowagiac’s children on Tuesday.

Class is officially back in session for the students of Dowagiac Union Schools, as the area’s kindergarten through 12th-grade schools began the 2014-2015 year. Despite the shortened summer, the children quickly shook off any mental cobwebs that had developed during the break and were buzzing through the hallways Tuesday, administrators said.

“The kids are excited to come back to school, even if they don’t admit to it,” said Superintendent Paul Hartsig, who briefly toured the district’s buildings that morning.

Overall, enrollment this year is about on par with previous years, Hartsig said. The district projected 2,330 students to attend classes this year when developing their budget this summer.

“Our goal this year is hold steady from last, and build upon that,” Hartsig said.

The superintendent said the district has a number of other priorities they’re focusing on this year, ones that will benefit students, parents and the entire community.

“We’re really focusing on student achievement, making sure that students are succeeding the classroom,” Hartsig said. “We’re also focused on financial solvency, that we’re good stewards of our tax payers’ money.”

Like he’s done for the past 20 years, Hartsig began the school year by heading to the high school. However, witnessing the packed halls of Dowagiac Union High School as superintendent rather than principal was a bit of surreal experience, he said.

“Traveling around to all these schools, it’s different, it’s really different,” Hartsig said.

Hartsig wasn’t the only new leader in the building that morning, as Principal Kelly Millin welcomed students for the first time in her new role. Serving as the school’s assistant principal for seven years, Millin quickly adjusted to her new role.

“We had a calm start to the school year,” she said. “I’m excited to work with the kids in a new capacity.

Around 650 students have enrolled with the high school this year, which stacks up with numbers from recent years, the principal said.

Enrollment also appears to be steady at Dowagiac Middle School, with numbers estimated to be between 510 to 530, said Principal Matt Severin.

Like the rest of the district, Severin and his staff are prioritizing student learning this year, he said.

“I’m looking forward to a really great year,” Severin said. “We have a lot of things in place as a staff, and we have an incredible group of kids.”