In a message dated 1/25/2005 10:28:18 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
What can we do to see that funding stays in Saint Paul? Although not motivated by funding, NEAT identified two related priorities in its 2004-05 Action Plan. 1. Strengthen parent-school-community (neighborhood) connections. This came out of the school choice - transportation conversation. The challenge is that in the context of magnet schools/school choice it's hard to have strong neighborhood connections. A walking field trip to the neighborhood library might include very few who live close enough to use that particular branch. A field day at the local recreation center might include very few who would sign up for a sports team at that center. One idea that came up recently in support of this objective was the need to survey the district councils to find out whether or not they have education committees and/or what education-related efforts they engage in. We know of a few - the schools supply drive, puppet drive (library, but education!), after school programs(?) on the west side, ESNDC sponsorship of the family center at Johnson Elementary. The thinking is that if we're really going to accomplish education reform/close the Achievement Gap we need to pay attention to all three legs of the stool - schools, families, community. We need strong, safe neighborhoods where children and families thrive. It would be great if district council boards were to invite local school principals/parent group-site council leaders to a meeting to learn about what's going on in the schools and talk about what the district council/neighborhood could do to support reform efforts. 2. Help parents/parent groups/local community learn how to do a better job of promoting our schools. We have a lot of excellent schools with excellent teachers and programs. The parent-school-community connection would be stronger if we had more kids going to the schools in their attendance area. How can we collaborate to promote our schools within the neighborhoods? Another priority comes out of the site council effort - engage local community members in school improvement efforts. Every school has a site council with community member seats. District councils could support school improvement efforts by "adopting" local schools and helping to recruit / increasing communication with community members reps on site councils. These people could conceivably be the communication link between the schools and the district councils. There are lots of connections, for example strong block clubs are instrumental to building thriving neighborhoods. It would be great if we could find ways to increase parent/family involvement in block clubs. All groups - district councils, block clubs, and school-based parent groups and site councils - face the same multicultural challenges - how do we recruit, engage, listen to, and meet the needs of the families from our various cultural communities? Am wondering if there's a group out there that feels like they've "done it" - fully embraced diversity in all aspects of the group from composition of the board to embedding diversity in planning, priorities, programs and outreach/communication. Last month (December?), a few of us were talking about grassroots leadership in Saint Paul and we came up with a tally of ~250 community advisory boards. It would be fascinating if we were to all come together to talk about how we could work together to build strong neighborhoods where children/families thrive. Just some food for thought. --Jennifer Armstrong Payne/Phalen also president of NEAT - independent, citywide association of parents and community members working to improve public education in Saint Paul. _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
