Ideas, Teamwork Emerge at Community Brainstorm

  • Brainstorming was enthusiastic and focused May 3 at Cuddy Hall about ways to help the community’s  schools.

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    Brainstorming was enthusiastic and focused May 3 at Cuddy Hall about ways to help the community’s schools.

  •  About 65-70 people worked together May 3 to assess how the community may be able to pitch in to provide teamwork in helping to provide enriched educational opportunities

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    About 65-70 people worked together May 3 to assess how the community may be able to pitch in to provide teamwork in helping to provide enriched educational opportunities

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  • Michi Knight reminds tables that the goal is to find positive solutions to school challenges (l-r) Chandra Mead, FFA advisor Nicole Patterson, parent and coach Jose Flores, and a concerned neighbor.

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    Michi Knight reminds tables that the goal is to find positive solutions to school challenges (l-r) Chandra Mead, FFA advisor Nicole Patterson, parent and coach Jose Flores, and a concerned neighbor.

  • President of the Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce Rachel Unell and Kelly Franti discuss the need for a grantwriting committee for the school district.

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    President of the Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce Rachel Unell and Kelly Franti discuss the need for a grantwriting committee for the school district.

Mountain Schools at a Risky Crossroad, Part 7:

By Patric Hedlund with reporting by Michi Knight

Four of the five El Tejon Unified School District trustees and the ETUSD superintendent saw about 70 neighbors roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help May 3 at a community brainstorm.

They answered a call to demonstrate the creative collaboration ready to assist in building rich educational opportunities for Mountain Community children.

In March The Mountain Enterprise began a series of stories to alert the community to an impending “tilt point” being approached by the El Tejon Unified School District that the trustees were not talking about in public sessions.

Declining enrollment and California’s “deferred” school financing tactics have led to chaotic administrative challenges for rural schools, and perhaps a need to consider intelligent downsizing. We wrote that the health of local schools would impact every property owner and business proprietor on the mountain, as well as parents and students. Studies show healthy schools raise real estate values and stabilize the economies of small towns, attracting strong families devoted to their children’s futures.

Cuddy Hall filled on May 3 with parents; business people; teachers; students; ETUSD Trustees Anita Anderson, Ken Hurst, Stephan Kiouses and John Fleming (only Trustee Paula Regan did not come). Superintendent Katie Kleier observed.

The event was coordinated by parents, led by Michi Knight of Piñon Pines, (a former PTSO president at Frazier Park School, a substitute teacher at Gorman School and parent of a Pine Mountain Learning Center student). She invited people to bring their favorite dessert to share. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. there was friendly but intense brainstorming, followed by reports to the large group from the smaller break-out work pods.

Brief Summary of Ideas

One group focused on afterschool and ‘outside school’ opportunities for youth using the unique resources of our area.

Activities listed included gardening; learning about green energy and technical skills for renewable energy; hiking groups; astronomy safaris; biking, cooking/ nutrition exploration; a zombie apocalypse-themed club (that explores emergency preparedness); a choir; and homemaking classes. It was suggested that local business owners might contribute unused space for classes and meetings, including a Teen Drop-In Center.

Ideas to be Implemented In the Schools:

Greater exploration of using what has been learned from successful charter schools was desired. For instance, there was strong interest in seeing the schools implement a means to accept the many volunteers that have stepped forward to assist, from local university professors to local businesses, which have offered to mentor or tutoring that ETUSD administrators have not accepted. They want to make it easier to volunteer at the schools, and to work with unions on the legalities.

They want to see educational benefit come to students for internship programs, job-shadowing and online study opportunities; and to include teachers in helping to set the direction of the schools. Docent taught art classes in the elementary classrooms was proposed, for instance with five projects a year, and a gallery in the spring.

Aggressive independent study was another theme; as was the notion of ‘4-10s’—four day, 10- hour school weeks. A year-round school year was also mentioned. The middle school needs to learn keyboarding skills, with K-8 access to technology.

Some said “categorical funding” sources such as Title 9 need to be better explored. A grantwriting coordination committee was suggested, and grantgofer.com mentioned as a resource.

It was asked if teaching teams could offer more programs. Two groups said they wish to discuss consolidating students into kindergarten to 6th (K-6) and 7th to 12th grade (7-12) sites.

Utilities savings through energy conservation and alternative solar and wind were suggested. Bus schedules were under scrutiny. A “Pay to Ride” bus program on a sliding scale based on income was proposed.

Combining grade levels on the bus to save money (“full buses save money”) and the need to keep buses on the published schedule were raised. Parents said that will raise school attendance income.

Another group proposed building a community-wide Code of Ethics for the district that everyone signs—students, teachers, administrators and parents. Developing student learning communities to prepare students for post-secondary education or the work force was a goal.

Others saw the need for positive public relations to motivate students and parents to market the schools, to retain students, with the role of the newspaper to raise awareness and be a positive influence was mentioned.

A desire to keep the Com- Tech Academy at the high school was strong, with questions about ways to offer vocational education for college-bound and non-college bound students and ‘workability’ programs for all FMHS students to gain work experience. There was also a desire for greater sports opportunities for girls, “not just boys.”

Fundraising through use of El Tejon school as a movie location, for instance, and through bookselling agreements with a private company were presented.

Some want to investigate the “roof situation” at the high school. A student said they want more teachers who specialize in their subject; and (again) more mentorship programs.

Kat Fair agreed to become a Volunteer Coordinator. Michi Knight said, “I will do my best to facilitate implementation based on the response we get to our call for volunteers.” The group agreed they wish to see more community-led meetings throughout the year, with results.

This is part of the May 11, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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