It marked the first official day of the 2008-09 school year for Spencer teachers and support staff members.

After being treated to a catered breakfast sponsored by the Spencer Community School Foundation in the middle school commons area, "class" began at 8:15 a.m. in the building's gymnasium.

Brief "lessons" were offered by representatives of the foundation and two local unions, and new staff members were "initiated" with introductions to the group.

School board president David Schlichtemeier reminded those gathered that they'd be handed the community's greatest asset, its children, next week when classes commence on Aug. 19 and 20. He then said, "Push them. You have my permission. We expect more from them than we ever have before."

With a smile, Schlichtemeier then told Spencer's educators and support staff members that if the students' parents complained, to send them his way.

The welcome-to-the-new-year message offered by Superintendent Greg Ebeling, which was offered next, differed from the one articulated last year.

At the start of 2007-08, the district's CEO told educators their new focuses would be on reading and improving special education students' scores by 10 percent in reading comprehension and proficiency from the year before. Thursday morning, Ebeling reported progress was made -- with a 5.6 percent improvement in IEPs (individualized education plans) being returned last year.

His new rallying cry, "We tend to make an impact where we focus our attention," encouraged more change for 2008-09.

"My message to you is this: We're going to do a few things -- and do those few things real well," Ebeling said, outlining a new set of goals.

The district's first goal for 2008-09 is to create a singular focus on literacy.

Its second goal is to concentrate on growth being made from all students.

"We're going to be thinking about where they are and where we want them to go," Ebeling said. "So we're going to try and give up a little bit of the proficiency piece: Because being proficient is not enough."

The Spencer superintendent then said the district's third goal will be to sustain this focus for all students over multiple years.

"It's not easy to get the literacy improvements that we need to make," Ebeling told those gathered. He then acknowledged that literacy can -- and will -- be taught in all disciplines.

"That's the direction we're headed," he said. "Now the good news is this: You can accomplish this if you really believe it. But, you have to believe that we have the collective ability to reach the students that we may not have been reaching in the past."

As Ebeling acknowledged the district's biggest asset is its caring staff, he then challenged them by saying, "But if we keep doing the same thing we've always done, we'll keep getting the same thing we got in the past. ... Don't let that be good enough, because it's not. ... I'm asking you to get on the bus and go this direction with us, because I need you to. And, we need to head this way in order to really do justice for all our kids."

"Class" was dismissed at 9:45 a.m., allowing staff members to break into inservice sessions.