This is an unusual step for us, but not unprecedented. We feel this is necessary and appropriate.

They worked every penny of it, ... They told me they would have done it for free. You could feel the love in the room.

I think that's an additional tribute to him, that in a small district he was able to do something that stands out.

Instead of just stopping for lunch the kids swooped in and grabbed a handful, ... These guys all worked like Trojans.

At a time when they can't properly fund education . . . now is not the time you start trying to figure out how to take money away from those institutions the state has the largest responsibility towards.

If you can just cut out all the stuff you're doing to try to avoid stuttering in the first place, you're halfway home - if not more so.

You could tell they had done a good day's work, ... I almost started crying. They kept saying, 'Mr. Ellis, it's going to be OK.' That was so cool.

His goal is consolidation of school services, not districts. If so, I think we have something to talk about.

It was mind-boggling, ... I just adore these kids. They are just so special. These are the future leaders of the world. I'm so proud of them.