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Posted: 12:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012
Five Questions for the Superintendent: Middletown’s Greg Rasmussen
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By John Bombatch
Staff Writer
As the new school year begins, Middletown City Schools Superintendent Greg Rasmussen sat down with the Middletown Journal to answer five questions about the district’s plans.
Q: What goals have you set for your district for the 2012-‘13 school year?
A: Specifically: 1. Enhancing instruction in the classroom by providing a broad range of professional development for our teachers and other staff; 2. Promoting a positive climate in our schools with “Positive Behavior Supports” or Middie PRIDE activities; 3. Examining all district departments to ensure we are operating in a fiscally responsible way while at the same time, protecting the programs we offer or students.
Q: What changes in technology are coming to your district’s classrooms?
A: You will see a large number of iPads being used in our classrooms. You will also see Student Technology Leadership groups in each school. These students will help support technology projects, develop websites and assist teachers and other students on how to best utilize this powerful learning tool.
Q: What are the biggest challenges or areas of improvement in your district?
A: The public perception of our district. We have outstanding teachers who don’t get enough credit for the work that they do each day. Middletown is a great place for kids, and we need to do a better job of letting the public know that we are an inclusive, caring and academically engaging learning community. There is something for everyone in the Middletown City Schools.
Q: How would you summarize your district’s financial situation?
A: Finances continue to be a challenge, but I’m proud of our staff, board and community for the way they have made thoughtful budget cuts while at the same time protecting all of our student programs. We have a tremendous amount of opportunities for students. Other districts can’t say that.
Q: What advice would you like to offer the parents of your students?
A: Get involved. Ask your children questions about what is happening at school. Contact teachers and the school principal just to introduce yourself. Let them know you have high expectations for your children and you want the staff to have high expectations too. Expect nothing but the best from all of us, including me as the superintendent.


Standardized answers that we would have heard from Price, Eastridge and the others for the last two decades. Safe....non-incriminating.....positive. The question concerning the biggest challenge for the district and the answer......PUBLIC PERCEPTION should tell the school folks something. Rasmussen didn't go into detail as to why, but he and the rest of the district must be aware that the academic performance is the key culprit here, coupled by the continual test scores reported in the Journal that don't exactly paint a pretty picture. Haven't for many years. Perhaps taxpayers are tired of giving money to the district through levies and not seeing viable results. If there is one consistency in this district from one Super regime to the next, it is that the scores have not improved enough to open ones eyes.....and it remains so, even though many attempts at new programs have been tried. So exactly what is the answer to raising the bar in this district since so many programs have been tried and have not been successful?

Q: How would you summarize your district’s financial situation?
A: Finances continue to be a challenge, but I’m proud of our staff, board and community for the way they have made thoughtful budget cuts while at the same time protecting all of our student programs. We have a tremendous amount of opportunities for students. Other districts can’t say that.

I'd have to say Middletown is better off than Monroe at this time.
Also I would like to say I have respect for Superintendent Rasmussen. He came into a very difficult situation and has been able to maintain high levels of respect from the board and the community.

Can't say that about his predecessor.