Schools, Neighborhoods and Cities....
The recent Boundary and Facility Usage Review process that we are currently undertaking has once again served as a reminder of the central and essential part public schools play in a community. It was very clear with the Robberson Elementary discussion that it is the staff at Robberson and their relationship with their community that anchors that neighborhood.
Personal relationships are vital to the success of a public school, neighborhood and city. While individuals may have differing opinions as to the placement and future of the physical structure at Robberson, there is no denying that school and community relationships are built upon a solid foundation of trust and caring. I think you will find that is true throughout our system.
Based on the support expressed for Robberson, we will be working with that community to further define a vision for their school and neighborhood. It occurs to me that perhaps part of the struggle in discussing this type of emotional topic results from not being visionary enough. SP5, our strategic plan, has produced for our community a clear focus on what our stakeholders want to achieve for our district. What is needed now, for not only the Robberson community, but for all our neighborhoods, and our community as a whole, is a bold vision that reflects the dreams and aspirations we share for all students.
What if we did not just stop the discussion at whether a building from a distant era is suitable or not, but created a vision for the Robberson community that captured the imagination of not only the parents and students but of the entire city? What program and facility could exist that not only teaches the basics well but creates an environment which transforms a neighborhood and a school?
This discussion has reinforced for me that it is time, now more than ever, to be bold in creating an educational environment that meets the educational needs of our students as well as ignites the drive and innovation of a school, neighborhood and community.
With this in mind, I am asking Marc Maness to pull together a team of engaged citizens, a blue ribbon team if you will, to help us create this vision. The main goal of this team will be to take SP5 and propose ways to achieve the clearly stated goals in ways that will help transform neighborhoods and have a positive impact on our entire city. I will share with you in upcoming blog entries more specifics, but needless to say, this is an exciting time for public education in Springfield!
Personal relationships are vital to the success of a public school, neighborhood and city. While individuals may have differing opinions as to the placement and future of the physical structure at Robberson, there is no denying that school and community relationships are built upon a solid foundation of trust and caring. I think you will find that is true throughout our system.
Based on the support expressed for Robberson, we will be working with that community to further define a vision for their school and neighborhood. It occurs to me that perhaps part of the struggle in discussing this type of emotional topic results from not being visionary enough. SP5, our strategic plan, has produced for our community a clear focus on what our stakeholders want to achieve for our district. What is needed now, for not only the Robberson community, but for all our neighborhoods, and our community as a whole, is a bold vision that reflects the dreams and aspirations we share for all students.
What if we did not just stop the discussion at whether a building from a distant era is suitable or not, but created a vision for the Robberson community that captured the imagination of not only the parents and students but of the entire city? What program and facility could exist that not only teaches the basics well but creates an environment which transforms a neighborhood and a school?
This discussion has reinforced for me that it is time, now more than ever, to be bold in creating an educational environment that meets the educational needs of our students as well as ignites the drive and innovation of a school, neighborhood and community.
With this in mind, I am asking Marc Maness to pull together a team of engaged citizens, a blue ribbon team if you will, to help us create this vision. The main goal of this team will be to take SP5 and propose ways to achieve the clearly stated goals in ways that will help transform neighborhoods and have a positive impact on our entire city. I will share with you in upcoming blog entries more specifics, but needless to say, this is an exciting time for public education in Springfield!
posted by Norm at
1:40 PM
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