By Patric Hedlund

In a high-octane exercise some compared to speed-dating, about 50 parents and students showed up Wednesday, March 16 at Frazier Park School’s cafeteria to share their ideas about how El Tejon Unified School District can become the excellent place most believe it really can be for educating the community’s children.

There was very little talk. All participants, including homeschool parents and students, were divided into five to six focus groups. Parent facilitators rotated the groups rapidly, at about 8-minute intervals, between stations around the room. At each station there was a focus board, pens, post-it notes and a general question to which all were asked to respond, such as: “List areas of concern about FMHS” or “What programs and services would be of interest to you or your child at El Tejon?”

Participants began at 6:30 p.m. sharp, writing responses, placing their post-its, and then moving as a group to the next station when an alarm bell rang. The entire exercise was over by about 7:30, and families were on their way home within 70 minutes.

Jennifer Hallowell of Lockwood Valley was one of the facilitators. Her children are at Frazier Park and El Tejon Schools. “It went very well. The people were very happy to give input to the school,” she said. “I think they may have been expecting more of a discussion. But when we came in [teacher] Paula Harvey explained what they were going to do and how it was going to work and that it would be quick—and it was!”

Some homeschool parents felt that they would have liked more interaction in the process. They were the only group that did not get to rotate. A delegation from Pine Mountain Learning Center (PMLC)­— which is the highest-scoring school in Kern County—wanted to know if they would be able to volunteer at El Tejon middle school “for more than just bake sales.” They said they wanted to offer support with academics in the classroom, as they do at PMLC.

Throughout the room, there seemed to be numerous mentions of a desire to challenge students more. Homeschool parents said they use much the same curriculum, but can cover more material and work at a more accelerated pace.

Hallowell said parents facilitated (rather than teachers or administrators) so that other parents would feel comfortable giving their input. “People were earnest. People have a lot of ideas and want to be able to share them. I think most everyone felt it was a good beginning— a good first step—but just the beginning.”

This is part of the March 25, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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