The Superintendent Decision

Selecting a superintendent is the most important decision a board member makes. No matter how solid the board, if the superintendent isn't effective, the results show up across the entire system.

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When I was elected in 2022, Goshen Community Schools was struggling. We needed intervention, but the kind of turnaround we required doesn't happen overnight. Radical change at every level would have been overly disruptive. What we needed was strategic intervention at key pressure points combined with steady, incremental improvement throughout the district.

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During the superintendent search, Jim DuBois presented a clear philosophy for turning an ailing district around and demonstrated a proven track record from his previous district. After his appointment, he committed to developing a recovery plan and worked with his team to create a focused strategic plan with measurable objectives in four key areas: financial sustainability, student achievement, operational processes, and people. His commitments provide a standard by which to gauge the district's progress.

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The Results So Far

While we're not where we want to end up, the numbers are starting to show the fruit of two years of hard work.

 

Reading proficiency is improving. Third-grade reading is one of the most important predictors of future academic success. District-wide IREAD-3 pass rates increased from 70.7% to 78.4%—a gain of 7.7 percentage points in a single year. West Goshen Elementary, one of our most challenged schools, jumped from 56.2% to 80.0% proficiency—a remarkable 23.8-point gain that shows what's possible when leadership, teachers, and students are aligned.

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Math achievement is building momentum. District-wide math proficiency jumped from 34.8% to 40.2%, while students passing both ELA and math increased from 24.8% to 27.1%. That 2.3-point gain exceeds the district's goal of 1% annual improvement. Grade-level gains were particularly strong in upper grades: sixth-grade math improved 8.7 points, and eighth-grade surged 15.2 points.

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We're doing it without a new referendum. These improvements came while preparing for the end of the operating referendum in 2026—proof that fiscal responsibility and educational excellence aren't mutually exclusive.

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How We Measure Success

Superintendent DuBois and his team established clear, measurable commitments across four areas:

 

Financial Sustainability: Retire long-term debt by 2040, maintain healthy cash balances without short-term borrowing, and reinvest in facilities at sustainable levels. No budget gimmicks, no kicking problems down the road.

 

Student Achievement: Improve attendance, reduce behavioral referrals, increase reading and math proficiency annually until we're in the top 25% of Indiana districts, and expand pathways to college credit and career certifications. Goal: 1% better every year through steady work.

 

Operational Excellence: Annual updates to strategic planning, regular policy reviews to stay current with best practices and law, and clear accountability structures at every level.

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People: Improve engagement among students, staff, and parents annually. Great schools require engaged teachers, supported staff, and connected families.

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These aren't aspirational platitudes—they're specific, measurable commitments with annual reporting. You can track our progress, and so can we.

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The Path Forward

The 2024-25 data shows that selecting the right leader and supporting his team's strategic vision produces results. Jim DuBois brought experienced leadership, clear goals, and a focus on fundamentals. The board's job is to provide accountability and support so that he can succeed. Good governance means measuring what matters and reporting honestly. We're making progress. Student achievement is improving, finances are stable, and the district has a clear direction. But progress isn't the same as arrival—there's still work ahead to ensure every student in Goshen Community Schools reaches their full potential.