With summer half over, the signs of a new school year fast approaching are everywhere.Students and parents are reviewing lists and checking out supplies that are now prominently displayed at local stores. Work crews are busy putting the finishing touches on summer building and maintenance projects.For R-III administrators, teachers and staff, the signs of a fresh start also are evident with a new leader — Dr. Jim Chandler — who is taking over the reins as superintendent of the school district, a brand new central office and meeting space, expanded early childhood special education classroom space, and the district’s soon-to-be-completed centralized IT hub.For Chandler, a WHS alum, starting the 2013-2014 school year, which begins Aug. 14, is especially exciting as he prepares to lead the school to new levels of success.“I think anytime you’re starting in a new district, it’s a fresh start for everyone who’s involved,” said Chandler. “I come in with different perspectives from the outside and bring that into the district to look at what we’re doing right, what we can do differently to improve and take our schools to new heights.”Greater Transparency to CommunityProviding greater transparency in how the school operates for the community is a top priority for Chandler.At the June board of education meeting, he introduced a recommendation to begin using a cloud-based paperless technology called “Board Docs” that will enable anyone in the community to go onto the district’s website to see all board packet information the day of board meetings and beyond.The technology – which was approved by the board — also will significantly reduce staff time in managing these lengthy documents as they go through review and approvals.During board meetings, key documents will be projected on screens for audience members to see as the board is discussing them.“As a superintendent, I think it’s important to keep our community informed,” he said. “We’ve got to do a better job in expressing what we’re all about, which is student achievement, so people are going to see more and more discussions in board meetings and beyond along those lines.”‘All About Student Achievement’Chandler said that his intent is to focus more on student achievement and data related to learning performance, student discipline and attendance, which are all related.“You take that data, study it and see where you’re strong and where you need improvement and you work on those areas to become better,” Chandler said.“We’re here for our students to help them get the best education they can as they move forward into college and career,” he emphasized. “We’re all about student achievement.”Chandler stressed that his definition of “student achievement,” varies from student to student.“Growth and achievement for one student is going to be different from growth and achievement for another student at all levels,” he said.Under Chandler’s leadership, the district will strive for better alignment of K-12 programs with common language and voice to help students better transition year to year.New ProgramsChandler said he is excited about new programs such as the Middle School Concept which will launch this year.The program is an innovative program aimed at better meeting the full range of needs – academic, social, physical and emotional — of students as they transition into young adulthood and prepare for the complexities of high school.The traditional framework of middle school has been a mash-up of sorts between grade school and a “junior” high school. The new model looks at the particular requirements, challenges and opportunities for students at this life stage and builds an academic environment that prepares them well for high school and young adulthood.The school also is entering its second year of Singapore Math, a new teaching method from Singapore that expresses math concepts through a few words in a cartoon to help elementary students better grasp the lesson.Attendance and DisciplineChandler says the district will place greater emphasis on attendance and discipline this year and in the future, noting that the district’s overall 93.62 percent attendance last year fell short of the 95 percent goal and the state average of 94.7 percent. R-III high school attendance was 91.5 percent.“We need to explore why we’re off in attendance, because if kids aren’t here, they’re not learning,” said Chandler.Student discipline numbers were up last year, which is a concern since there is a correlation between discipline and attendance, he said.“As discipline numbers go down, attendance numbers tend to rise and that bodes well for achievement, so it’s important that we address this,” Chandler said.Chandler