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"The biggest challenge we face remains the same, and that is to continue to provide our students with a high quality education in spite of declining financial resources," Hansen said. "Over the past few years we've become accustomed to having less money to do the things that need to be done, so we've worked together as a school and a community to find different ways of doing business, a strategy that has allowed us to maintain our curriculum and co-curricular programs."

EJPS will continue to focus on student achievement and financial parameters. During the past two years East Jordan educators have been comparing school districts across Michigan that have similar demographics. The object is to identify any districts that have exemplary academic performance and then to engage in dialogue with those districts in an effort to improve student achievement in East Jordan.

Hansen is enthusiastic about this performance measures project.

"Refining our curriculum is a constant process and we're really pleased with all of the efforts that our faculty and staff make to continually improve instruction in the district," Hansen said. "There's a lot of good teaching and learning going on in our classrooms."

Special programs and events are an ongoing part of the school year in East Jordan.

"One event that we're particularly excited about is the upcoming Young Americans Outreach Tour which will be held at the EJHS Community Auditorium Nov. 8-10," Hansen said. "We're expecting that nearly 200 young people from East Jordan and the surrounding area will participate."

The tour is actually a three-day performing arts seminar for students in grades 4-12. Workshops are scheduled in dance, voice and other aspects of performance and attendees will participate in the Young Americans concert show on Nov. 10.

There are three new teachers this year at EJPS. Evelyn Thompson will teach special education in the elementary school, Adam Poel will teach special education at the middle school and Patrick Ryan is the new director of bands and choirs at the middle school as well as the high school.

Although the numbers may adjust slightly once the semester begins, Hansen projects the kindergarten through grade 12 enrollment to be approximately 1,150 students.

"That's down about 30 students from a year ago," Hansen stated. "A drop that was anticipated given the economy and the subsequent movement of people out of the area and out of the state."