IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating David A. Hackett upon his retirement as Superintendent of the Grain Valley R-5 School District at the end of the school year in June 2002.
Intro
RESOLUTION #14068, March 11, 2002
INTRODUCED BY Terry Young, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Grain Valley R-5 School Superintendent David Hackett is retiring at the end of the school year, June 2002, after having served in that position for 15 years, which is longer than any currently serving Superintendent in Jackson County; and,
WHEREAS, during his time as Superintendent of the district, David has seen many improvements within the district, including increases in ACT tests scores, but the achievement of which he is proudest is that "Test scores were elevated and, kids began to walk with a swagger;" and,
WHEREAS, in an Examiner newspaper interview, David said, "I think the kids have to feel good about themselves, that they are worthy and capable. And, I think our kids feel that way now. And they compete on a whole different level than they did 15 years ago;" and,
WHEREAS, other accomplishments during his tenure include:
- Grain Valley ranking among the top 10 high schools in the state of Missouri in science for the past two years.
- Decreasing dropout rate from 8% in 1986-87 to 3.3 percent in 2000-2001.
- Increasing the average daily attendance rate from 92 percent in 1988-89 to
96.1 percent in 2000-2001.
- Receiving a School District Accreditation with Distinction for Performance in 2001, a significant achievement, from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- Raising the School District's assessed value of the district's facilities, through a series of successful bond issues, from $20 million in 1986-87 to nearly $111.5 million today.
and,
WHEREAS, "David Hackett has given his heart and soul into making Grain Valley the best school district it can be," said Stacey Childress, Grain Valley Board of Education President, "His persistence and patience have made it a place every child can grow and mature;" and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Hackett's work experience in the field of education includes his start as a social studies teacher at Pleasant Hill High School in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, from 1974-76, High School Principal at Appleton City High School in Appleton City, Missouri, from 1976-1980, and Superintendent of schools for the St. Clair County R-II School District, also in Appleton City, from 1980-1987; and,
WHEREAS, David graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education in 1974 and a Master's Degree in Education in 1976, and in 1981, he received his Educational Specialist Degree from CMSU with a major in Superintendency; and,
WHEREAS, he is recognized by his peers, not only in the metropolitan area but across the state as one who understand the intricacies of financing public schools; and,
WHEREAS, in the Examiner newspaper interview David said what he will miss most about being superintendent "are the boys and girls," and that one of his favorite things is "drinking chocolate milk with the kids;" and,
WHEREAS, "I'll miss the hay rides I would take the kids on Sundays, and I'll miss being Mr. Zero (a clown character who appears on the 100th day of the school as part of a math illustration for primary grade students), and I'll miss school lunches. Can you imagine that? I've' been eating school lunches all my life. I'll miss walking through the cafeteria and talking to the kids about their ball games, talking to them about what they did on the weekend, " he said,
WHEREAS, David and his wife, Patty Carla, have been married since 1968 and they have three children: Michael, a service coordinator for a computer business system firm, Angela, a Independence school teacher, and Matthew, a Blue Springs school teacher; and,
WHEREAS, David says he is not retiring at age 54 - just choosing another challenge - and his goal is to become a minister in the United Methodist Church; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature congratulates David A. Hackett upon his retirement and commends him for his dedication and service to the students in the Grain Valley R-5 School District.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ________________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution # 14068 of March 11, 2002 was duly passed on ____________March 11_______________, 2002 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______9__________ Nays ______0________
Abstaining ______0_______ Absent _____0_______
______________________ _________________________________
Date Mary Jo Brogoto, Clerk of Legislature