Notes from the May 9, 2007 Public Input Meeting

Agenda

1. Welcome, Introduction of Members, and Introduction of Facilitator
2. Overview of  Strategic Planning Process
3. Foundations for the new three year Plan
4. Community Comments and Recommendations
5. Developing Our Strategic Goals

Facilitator Jim Brown of Leadership Associates welcomed attendees, which included parents and Core Team Members.

Mr. Brown asked the group to review the 2002 Strategic Plan and the 2006 Board Adopted Goals and to identify the differences between the two.  He noted that the Board goals are similar but not identical to the 2002 Strategic Plan. Superintendent Ken Benny explained that, while significant progress has been made in the 2002 Strategic Plan, there is still work to do. The Board has used the Plan as its guide in establishing the District’s main goals.  Mr. Benny said that it will be a three-year plan 1) because education is changing at an ever-increasing pace (our district’s move from a revenue limit district to a basic aid district, for example and 2) because the plan is intended to be a realistic action plan. 

Comments from participants regarding the Strategic Plan and the 2006 Goals

1. Goals have more measurable items; greater sense of direction and clarity
2. Goal 5: facilities and finance integrated; enrollment growth especially felt at Strawberry Point School
3. The Plan emphasis is more on social/psychological aspects (“fuzzy/touchy”), not so much on academics, which is the big topic now
4. Communications goal in Plan seemed to address some of the concerns with non-parent community (small percentage of parents in the district); ’06 goal more for school community; should be a big goal
5. Communications going well, but don’t want to lose the importance of it
6. Facilities: with budget constraints and enrollment growth, this is a key area; need long-term plan
7. Communication important; need more emphasis on all the good that is happening
8. Deferred maintenance plan is crucial
9. Communication should be ranked first: with the need for more money, voters need to buy into what the district is going through; keep schools important to all the community, including parents no longer in the district and new parents
10.  Middle School an important issue, where you can really keep students engaged, or you may “lose them”
11. Difficult to even communicate with local school community
12. Strategic Plan: Technology – teachers in various states of knowledge; need to share expertise
13. With more and more space constraints, need to use space efficiently (’06 goal)
14. Concern about gap in math at 6^th grade; “either bored or not getting it”
15. Applaud Middle School alternative program; perhaps expand and incorporate GATE
16. Social/emotional issues across the board important

Questions asked of participants and led by Facilitator Jim Brown:

What knowledge, skills and values do we want our students to acquire?

1. Be good human beings who are academically challenged; potential for learning with good values and how they fit into the world; community service and relationship to others
2. Be able to work in groups and individually; be critical thinkers; compassionate; life long learners; “create something from nothing”
3. Be confident in own abilities; joy/love of learning that is continually nurtured K-8; go into the world knowing how to do things, find answers
4. Know that school is work; be creative thinkers; be resource savvy
5. 6^th grade is a pivotal time for stress management, time management, organizational skills; be confident in these areas
6. Time management important, especially with capability to spend so much time on technology (doing research, etc.); need to prioritize time and resources
7. Another language is important; world becoming smaller; some understanding of other languages
8. Know the limits of technology
9. Have enthusiastic, knowledgeable teachers; student peer teaching, especially with other languages (students as resources)
10. Be provided with teachers who are not just disseminators of information
11. Be environmentally aware

What is the critical work we do to make that happen (cause student learning)?

1. Great, creative teachers
2. Integrated curriculum; curriculum strategies
3. Time for teacher collaboration
4. Positive teacher/student relationships
5. Teachers as models of collaboration, creativity; with parents’ cooperation, maximize time spent with teachers
6. All adults modeling good learning
7. Have best school principals possible; instill trust
8. Build capacity for all to do best work, with accountability
9. Teacher enrichment outside of local school; collaborative teaching
10. Decide what to do with GATE; is it going to mean anything in the district?
11. Greater collaboration within pods at Middle School (regarding homework)
12. Explore ways students learn
13. Recognize differences in children
14. Good overall program
15. More interested in using finances to further education; buildings are secondary
16. Facilities play a part in students’  education
17. Facilities important; how we model regarding facilities as learning environment also important
18. Public areas in schools important

What are the five most important things the District should do in the next three years to support powerful teaching and learning? (Top five goals and strategies in rank order)

(Individuals were asked to write out and share one of two with the group, with all comments below; line spaces between individuals’ comments)

1. Technology: reliable infrastructure/good working environment; education; communications
2. Facilities: maintenance/aesthetics
3. Maintain education excellence: staff development & retention
4. Financial stability
5. Math curriculum re-evaluation

6. Maintain and enhance quality of teachers that are hired; give reasons to stay
7. Technology that’s reliable and used by all to better the overall educational experience
8. Foreign language
9. Collaboration of teachers to ensure/assist a unified learning process

10. Continue to recruit and retain highly qualified certificated and classified staff.  Once hired, continue to provide staff the support it needs to succeed, as well as the professional development to focus and sharpen its skills
11. Focus on developing more focused intervention programs, not just for academics, but to include needs in social, emotional areas
12. Work as a professional learning community to develop strategies and focus on finance to achieve goals, given the challenges of increasing enrollment in a basic aid district

13. Teachers/Administrators: hire and retain the best, most creative teachers and staff
14. Communication with the parent community and the greater community
15. Facilities: improve and maintain; make environmental improvements (i.e. solar)
16. Technology: get it into hands of students; make it reliable; get it used by staff and teachers in a way that filters to students and makes the staff more effective
17. Middle School: continue to improve the programs, the way they are taught (i.e. innovative teaching) and the communication to parents

18. Review and evaluate the potential for increased enrollment; how will our schools be impacted
19. Build the road for financing MAJOR facilities repair, improvement and expansion
20. Do not be afraid to “go for it”.  Bonds take a lot of time, money and energy.  Show the community how a world-class school district impacts the community: from education to real estate values
21. It is fiscally prudent to repair and build low maintenance, ecologically viable environments
22. Encourage student councils in each school to become more active; take on community service programs and collaborate with other student councils in the district
23. Enhance and make the GATE program something; Middle School should incorporate a solid program
24. Teacher enrichment: collaboration on educational topics/projects

25. Foreign language K-8
26. Parent agreement/pact to know and follow parent guidelines and district rules
27. Longer day at Middle School
28. Less homework for 7^th grade
29. Teacher workforce housing

30. Develop a vision that resonates with everyone (how big do you want to dream?)
31. Find a way to improve partnership between parents, schools and community
32. Support “learning to learn”, not “learning the facts”
33. Expand training/support for teachers so they can model “future behavior”
34. Improve facilities to the  point that they are not a negative (relieve overcrowding, do maintenance, etc)

35. Hold parents responsible for students’ performance in school
36. Exchange of ideas among the different campuses
37. Autonomy at the local schools to achieve mutually agree goals
38. Collaborative learning environment; sharing ideas; peer instruction
39. Hire and retain capable teachers and principals

1. Implement community service requirements to ensure a more well rounded student
2. Children become global citizens- environmental consciousness
3. Engage new families in the District- get families involved early
4. Maintain positive environments for both students and teachers
5. Continue positive interactions between teachers and parents