Digging for nuggets

Today I called a superintendent to ask whether his district planned to be on the ballot in February. After he answered no, I went ahead and asked what's up with his district.

After a brief discussion on such things as the high school play he told me that the district's high school's technology program had become nationally certified. He also quickly mentioned that the district had gone through something called the Ohio Improvement Process, a topic that I had reported upon while covering another district.

I would have never had either story idea if I didn't fish for some nuggets.

It would take me years to do so. Maybe it would just take me years to care. But now I'm trying to make it a habit.

Every time I talk to a school official I try to find the time to inquire about what's going on. Sometimes I come across people stories. Other times I get a nod on some fiscal hiccup coming down the road or a bit of information on a new program that the district hopes is the answer to meeting state and federal academic standards.

Sometimes I get nothing, but at least the school official knows I'm interested. Down the road the official will hopefully remember to give me a ring when something comes up.

Now it isn't always as easy. There is homework involved. I would not know to stop him and ask for additional information such as the improvement process and the technology program if I did not do my homework and realize the stakes involved.

I also have to be confident enough to ask the questions. Sometimes the person on the other hand may sound rushed, or at worst bored. But there is always the chance that if I didn't go digging I'd never know.