An education is when you learn from your mistakes.
And the overwhelming defeat of a 2014 bond issue to build new schools has forced members of recent strategic planning sessions to go back to square one.
After meeting several times since last fall, the members — local citizens and district staff — rolled out a plan on Monday that makes district schools more efficient and up-to-date to provide a better learning environment.
As to whether that includes new facilities for USD 257, that’s still an unknown.
At the top of the list is getting public input.
“You need to find out what people think,” said Steve Parsons, former superintendent of schools in Humboldt and Chanute, who has served as a moderator.
Second, is a reassessment of facilities.
“What has happened since the bond issue,” even in so short a time, “is important,” Parsons added. “You need a completely new set of information,” to decide steps to take and propose to patrons, including the purchase of land.
Ahead of any proposal for building new or remodeling, the district should look at ways to partner with Allen Community College and other schools to share resources and combine programs, the plan iterates. “The CTE (career and technology education program in the works with area schools and community colleges) thing is a step in that direction and there may be others,” Parsons said.
If the public expresses renewed interest in building new schools, plans must be in place for abandoned properties, Parsons said.
“That’s important,” Parsons said. “People want to know that old schools are not going to just sit there and be a place where kids might get into and hurt themselves.”
Also changing the dynamics from 2014 is state funding for renovations or building anew.
For years state funding helped retire bonds issued for facility improvements. In 2014, the state would have paid 51 percent of bond costs. Today, that funding has dropped to 36 percent, and legislative oversight could determine a project’s fate.
Currently, the state’s Department of Education reviews school plans. The legislative committee would be another layer.
Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent, said that could remove such things as football stadiums and fields, regardless of need, from consideration for funding, although gymnasiums, used as classrooms for physical education classes, might be included.
OTHER parts of the strategic plan are:
* Improving student involvement in academics and activities, with emphasis on soft skills and personal responsibility. Soft skills, in relation the work-a-day world, are such things as knowing how to interview for a job, showing up on time, and presenting oneself in an acceptable manner.
* Improve school, parent and community partnerships.
* Preparing students to be college and/or career ready.
* Recruiting, retaining and rewarding a highly qualified staff.
By fall, Koehn thinks the regional CTE center in the Diebolt buildings will be underway.
“We’ve asked each college to come up with one program for the start — if there are five, even better,” he said. The community colleges are involved because of Senate Bill 155, which provides funding to the colleges for vocational programming through state aid based on students served.
“It won’t cost us anything for students,” Koehn said of the district, although Tony Leavitt, board president, cautioned “it might cost us something, but it will be minimal.” A Thrive Allen County grant also is expected to come into play.
The lookout is to offer courses — initially in such things as building trades, cosmetology and welding — in half-day blocks, which would have students from seven high schools that have expressed interest. The schools’ daily schedules have moved close enough together that will not be a problem, Koehn said. Having the center just southeast of LaHarpe, nearly at the center of Allen County, also will be helpful.
Programming will be limited to juniors and seniors, Koehn added.
Koehn envisions the center expanding into a variety of courses and for it to demonstrate advantages of collaboration.
Susan Raines, director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, suggested collaboration and cooperation through the CTE center could lead similar programs in the arts being opened to students from elsewhere.
AS PART of the process that led to the strategic plan being fleshed out, focus group meetings were held with high school students and parents.
Several things stood out.
Students had little interest in school uniforms but were willing to upgrade their dress code. If there is a compelling reason for uniforms — civilian dress in colors and styles — several of the plan’s framers mentioned “dressing for success” should be impressed on students.
“Uniforms would make dress code enforcement easier,” Koehn said. And, “if you do have a reason (for uniforms) it is to prepare for the work force and life after school,” Parsons observed.
Also, Parsons pointed out, “it’s hard to enforce a dress code if students see staff not dressed well.”
Students didn’t have overriding objections to community service projects, proposed as a requirement for graduation, because most do something now. Parsons said group activities would let students be involved in such things as picking up trash, which was a success in Chanute.
New facilities and the CTE expansion drew favorable comments from students.
Parents had mixed feelings about uniforms, and pointed to better dress codes for teaches and non-certified personnel would help set good examples for students.
Job shadowing and CTE initiatives drew good reviews. Parents also favored new facilities.
PARSONS lauded the district for its plan. “The easy part is what has been done,” he said. “The hard part is getting it done. It’s a great plan that will make the district better,” with the realization that “it can be adjusted, modified and changed as need dictates.
“But it’s just wasted time if nothing happens,” he concluded.
