School and Community Planning Workshop II
Conversation
Michael: I’m interested in hearing from you what you learned. What did you learn?
-- The sky is the limit.
-- There are 50,000 home school kids in Nebraska who could use our services.
-- There are lots of challenges
-- It’s all going to work out fine.
-- The challenges and changing perceptions are more with the older generations and not with the students.
-- Looking at last year to this year: Last year I had the feeling that everyone was cautiosu about working together. This year I’m seeing comfort in the way things are. We have to keep looking.
-- It’s all in the attitude.
-- We have a lot of innovative educators in our community.
-- Education is a vector quantity. It requires magnitude and direction. [Is this guy a physics teacher or math teacher?]
-- It’s easier to brainstorm in the groups this year. It’s contagious!
-- There was a lot more trust than last year. There was an element of fear, but now we’re together. Last year there was some anxiety.
-- Staff and the administration should be commended for what they’ve done this year. How about we give them a hand? [Applause] A lot of courage has been demonstrated. You all deserve a round of applause.
Michael: Did anyone have an insights tonight? Aha moments? Any surprises?
-- Our demographics are going to force us to change our educational model. The traditional sit-in-a-class is going away. We’re going to have to be way more flexible. We’re going to have to adjust to get our children educated.
-- A couple months ago some of us attended a conference in Lincoln. The governor bemoaned the traditional educational model. I wish the governor had been in Laurel.
-- I think we are four schools but we are one community.
Michael: When I wrote the design for tonight’s activity it said put a booth for each school, but the administrators said, “No.” They said, “We are one community so we'll make booths about what we've done together.”
-- I was in the Wynott system last year and I was a substitute teacher this year. I had a freshman class and I asked them, “What do you think of all this?” They really like it. They see that they have more opportunities. They do see the advantages down the road.
Michael: None of us have looked at the results of the 3 surveys. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you all have to say. Along that line, there is a group here tonight who are not coming back tomorrow, what do you want the group working tomorrow to hear and what do you want them to do?
-- I am extremely proud of what they have done. I have a lot of faith in them that they will continue to grow and develop so our schools will still be viable in the next century.
-- I have a daughter who was able to get FFA this year. In the past she could not have done this. It gave her a huge opportunity. I want to thank the various communities. It was amazing the way they came together as a team.
-- We need to make sure we continue to have these opportunities available to the students.
-- I think people are more open-minded.
-- The students have been open-minded that is for sure.
-- We have some tremendous educators. Let’s not overload the educators and force them to leave.
Michael: Thank you all very much for coming tonight. This would not be happening without your participation. Thank you for contributing your energy, your hearts, and your souls!
Click here to move on to the documentation from the next round of work.
© 2008 InnovationLabs LLC and the Coleridge, Laurel, Newcastle and Wynot School Districts
This process facilitated by InnovationLabs LLC.
