It is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of summer. For all schools, including Lakeside’s four schools, there is the return of staff and all that goes on to ready our schools for the 25-26 school year. It is a time of preparation, anticipation and planning.
We use our summer months for renovations, repairs, painting, preventive maintenance, technology purchases and so much more. Our facility management staff are busy meeting the physical needs of our programs. Our technology staff are preparing over 800 computers and tablets for staff and students. Our educational and clinical directors are making changes in policies, planning new classes and strategies and training staff for the goals and challenges of this oncoming year.
We have already spent the last week orienting and training our new staff. It is always encouraging to have them learn our values and system of care as they begin their journey for this upcoming year. We are encouraged by the quality of character of our new staff this year and look forward to their impact in the lives of our students.
We also have significant challenges in this upcoming year. We have seen many of our public schools and other clients that we serve struggle with funding freezes or cuts which will impact their capacity to refer students to us and to contract for our trainings. Like most non-profits, this will provide significant financial challenges as we strive to support our programs and mission. How we adapt and innovate in this year will be important to the sustaining of our mission.
Another significant challenge which is becoming more of a reality is the need for cybersecurity. We recognize that there are real threats from hackers and those who would compromise our technology and private information. It requires that we educate our staff and set new policies for our computer use as these challenges intensify. We also are assessing the impact of AI and where it is a help and where there is a liability. Protecting our student and staff private information is an important priority as we move into this year. These are real threats to our mission which we know is being tested on a regular basis.
However, the most important thing to anticipate is the thousands of lives we will be touching in all of our programs. We consider all of our students and the thousands that we train to be a significant stewardship. In our 65 years of existence, we have felt privileged to be a huge source of help, support and hope for so many. As I address our staff when they return, I always am encouraging them to think of the impact they will create in every new year. The stories of life change and hopefulness are always inspirational as we meet new students, take on new clients for training and have the amazing impact that we do that vitally changes students, families and communities.
This is such a great time of readiness. We have caring staff, clients who have many significant needs, and a valiant mission of caring for thousands of individuals. It all begins this week as we prepare for another school year and all the impact that Lakeside will have in this year to come, challenges and all. I look forward to all that will be coming our way in the 25-26 school year.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
