Hilliard City Schools is leading the way in innovation, excellence and efficiency. We have opened the doors for this school year and are building upon the success from last school year. We are positioning ourselves to take on the challenges of tomorrow through resourceful educational leadership today.

Last year, Hilliard City Schools celebrated 11 students recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program, Newsweek magazine ranking all three high schools among the best in Ohio and awarding more than $15.7 million in scholarship money to the class of 2012. Outstanding educators were recognized for their hard work, including Cheryl Gehres who was named the top elementary math teacher in the state by the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

The district also led the way in energy-efficiency efforts. Eleven schools met the federal criteria for an Energy Star rating and the district received approximately $130,000 in incentives from American Electric Power for 31 energy-efficient enhancement projects.

This school year, we will build upon that success and sound fiscal stewardship to help ensure that our students have the skills and tools they need for a complete 21st-century education.

We also will plan for the opening of the Innovative Learning Center (ILC) in the fall of 2013. The district will use this year to prepare a flexible learning environment for students of all ages that provides a variety of coursework, experiences and teacher support in a cost-effective manner. The ILC will be a place for students to customize the type of educational support and experiences they want, without adding staffing costs.

The district isn't just about educational excellence; further operational efficiencies are already well under way. This school year, student handbooks were made available online rather than a printed booklet for every student, and parents were encouraged to update necessary forms and other important information online rather than sending multiple sheets of paper home with students. These moves save the district thousands of dollars in printing expenses.

Hilliard is an excellent district that offers a complete and high-quality education. The district has caring teachers who support student learning. The leadership is constantly striving to make our day-to-day operations even more efficient while ensuring that students have the necessary skills for life after graduation. It is because of this strategic vision and our incredibly supportive community that we are ready for tomorrow.

Dale A. McVey is superintendent of the Hilliard City Schools.