AUGUSTA — School officials are hoping to hear from nearly 100 stakeholders meeting over two days — Friday and Saturday — what community members want their schools to be, both now and in the future.
What school officials have dubbed a “Future Search” begins Friday in a facilitator-led session scheduled to take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and to continue from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Governor Hill Mansion at 136 State St. in Augusta.
A guiding question, sent out to participants in a letter, seeks to provide direction for the process. It states: “Recognizing all the challenges and opportunities that exist, how do we build a school system that is responsive to the current and future needs of our students?”
Kim Martin, chairwoman of the school board, said that during a previous goal-setting session, board members decided it would be good to seek input from stakeholders in the community to get their input on what they want their schools to do and be. That input then will be used to form a vision and set goals for the schools, to seek to become whatever it is participants it the Future Search say they want Augusta’s schools to be.
“This is an opportunity for the school board and administrators to really listen to what our community wants for our schools,” Martin said Wednesday, “an opportunity for our community to dream and let us know what they’re thinking.”
After Friday and Saturday’s sessions, Martin said, a committee will be formed to take the input from the sessions and work to develop a long-term vision and goals for the school system to pursue.
“Friday and Saturday, a facilitator will be leading us through a process of looking at where Augusta has been, what has been great, what has worked well, and what has not worked,” Martin said. “The biggest thing for me, and I think what most of the board wants, is that Augusta schools as a whole have a vision, a direction we’re going in. And through that conversation involving so many stakeholders and involving as much of the community as we can, we’re hoping that vision will not just be the schools’ vision, but belong to members of the community as well.”
The sessions are open to the public, but participants are asked to register by calling the district central office at 626-2468, ext. 3206. Participants are expected to attend both the Friday and Saturday sessions, which, together, total 11 hours.
Major issues local school officials have dealt with recently include concerns about test scores; drug, alcohol and tobacco use by students and controversy involving school polices on those substances; adequately funding education while limiting the effect of the budget on taxpayers; and conflicts among school board members.
Martin said the Future Search will be an interactive process in which all are expected to take part, not just sit and listen. She said participants were asked to register so officials could plan for the event properly.
Superintendent James Anastasio said the cost of the Future Search should be about $11,000 total, $5,000 to hire facilitator Judith Emery and about $6,000 to rent the facility and provide food to participants.
Martin said any member of the community is a potential stakeholder, including students, former students, parents, residents and those who might not live in Augusta but have a business there or provide services in the city.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
Twitter: @kedwardskj
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