Good morning.

It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the Leon County Board of County Commissioners to welcome you to this kick-off event for the Leon County School Readiness Coalition.  Local entities have been very busy over the past few months trying to get the best people possible to serve on this important coalition.  This coalition has been charged with a monumental task: to prepare our community's at-risk children for obtaining a quality education in the new millennium.

This coalition has an important and unique tasking for a critical part of our population: children with disabilities, those at risk for abuse, neglect, and exploitation, those at risk of dependency on public assistance and whose parents are participation in the WAGES Program, and children whose family income is at the poverty level.  The coalition will be charged with preparing this group of children for kindergarten, and ensuring they have the resources and community services that they will need to succeed.

The impressive list of coalition members who have been invited to participate in this tasking are individuals who have demonstrated a strong level of commitment to children and to this community's future.  There will be many challenges within this great challenge, but I feel confident that by working together and staying the course, the School Readiness Coalition will succeed in providing this critical service to Leon County.   My fellow commissioners and I wish you the strength, perseverance, and vision that you will need to accomplish the task that has been set before you.  We want you to succeed because all you do and put into place will shape the direction of our community in years to come.

Again, best wishes and continued success with this growing endeavor.