Several districts, including Hillsboro's, have faced tough budget challenges during the summer. At USD 410, the money crunch resulted in both the loss of quality teaching faculty and a mill-levy increase-a double disappointment. Declining enrollment, and the state funding that declines along with it, will be a continuing theme in the foreseeable future unless current trends change in regard to local population or state funding formulas.

But the excitement of beginning a new school year offsets those gloomy projections-at least for a time. This week the slate is clean, everything is new, and a fresh adventure of learning begins.

Effective teachers and administrators are foundational to classroom successful, but this is a good time for parents of students to commit themselves to be supportive members of the team, too. Parental interest and involvement is critical-both at home and in the schools.

This is a big week for all of us. -DR