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October 6 Minutes: Schools of the Future Committee

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm 
Location: Ed Center Auditorium
Present: Members:  Susan Ban, Phil Barnhart, La Homa Bautista, Bonnie Costabile, Paul Duchin Mike Fox, 4J Beth Gerot, Dave Hauser, Bern Johnson, Mac McFadden, Bob Nardo, Jan Payton Oliver, Art Paz , Chris Pryor, Emily Schue, Craig Smith, Marilyn Thielke, Virginia Thompson, Jim Torrey, Ann Vaughn.  Staff:  George Russell, David Piercy, Tom Henry, Les Moore.  Coordinator and Facilitator:  Evie Matthews, Margot Helphand.
Absent: Marty Kaufman
Notetaker: Donna McNeil
Time Topic Presenter

Opening Remarks

Co-chair Virginia Thompson opened the meeting.  Mayor Jim Torrey introduced himself.		 Virginia Thompson

Public Comment

Co-chair Thompson invited public comments.  There were none.

Review of Proposed Agenda 

  1. Review SFC work plan and meeting schedule
  2. Draft Guiding Principles and Vision
  3. Confirm Task Groups
  4. Develop/define working relationship with Task Groups
 Margot Helphand

1. Work Plan and Meeting Schedule

Discussion: It was noted that all Task Group members should be invited to the 11/9/99 presentation on future trends and their implications for the SOF process. 
Consensus: The work plan and meeting schedule was approved as presented. 
     
 Evie Matthews

2. Draft Guiding Principles & Vision Statements

Discussion: Margot described this part of the process as answering the questions: ‘What are the results for kids we’re looking for?’  ‘ What would it look like?’  Several examples were given of guiding principles or core values.  The vision and principles developed by the SFC are intended to guide the entire process - SCF, CCA and Task Groups. 

The committee members were asked to spend time thinking and to come up with statements that they then talked over in groups of two or three.  The results were posted on sheets, then discussed and regrouped until a consensus seemed to form around several statements that were designated guiding principles and another set that were designated as elements of a vision statement. 

Guiding Principles  (We believe that education for the future must):

  • Build Community with diversity.
  • Provide equal access and opportunity.
  • Focus on the ‘whole child’ providing a broad-based, comprehensive education.
  • Be accountable; always put what is best for kids first.
  • Engage the community in education and educating, and explore opportunities to collaborate.
  • Acknowledge the connection between people and the environment.
  • Be responsive and flexible, giving consideration to the changing needs of the child, the community and society.
Preceding the group discussion of individual vision statements, Margot read a vision statement from another school as an example. 
Vision of Eugene 4J’s Schools of the Future (What success will look like):
  • Students are valued. 
  • Total health of students is supported. 
  • The educational experience is positive, engaging, rewarding, useful, affirming, creative for all students. 
  • Students are equipped to pursue their personal choices in life. 
  • Students are equipped to face the issues of the future, and participate in their communities as good citizens. 
  • Students have developed values of the heart and the ability to live a compassionate life; to have respect for self and others, and to develop positive personal relationships. 
  • Students are lifelong learners. 
The committee agreed to work with these statements again at the next meeting, providing opportunity for the CCA to comment on both the principles and the vision statement.  In particular, the committee wants the vision statement to be more concise. 
 		 Margot Helphand

3. Review Task Groups

Evie reported that approximately 48 applications have been received to date.  She estimates that about 30 of those are community members, neither teachers, administrators nor classified staff.  The deadline for applications has been extended to October 15.  She is suggesting that groups of at least 10-15 would be desirable.  There has been no assigning to specific task groups yet. One group was the preferred group for only five people. 
Concerning the diversity of applicants, Evie noted it seems pretty good; however, there are no students yet.  More work will be needed.  Committee members are encouraged to invite people they think should be included, keeping in mind the need for broad participation. 
Margot reviewed the six task groups and the topics the Board suggested they address.  Discussion of task groups addressed the importance of issues of diversity being taken into consideration by all the task groups.  George Russell suggested that there will likely be significant overlap on issues among task groups; however, each one will bring a specific focus.  The guiding principles are intended to apply to all task groups; therefore diversity will be something that each task group must deal with in the context of their particular focus. 
There was discussion of creating more opportunities for the SCF and task groups to come together, as well as task group clusters to meet together to ‘cross-pollinate.’  The SFC may be the group in which the varying task force perspectives on issues can be pulled together. 

George Russell suggested that if there were no other task groups, there would still be a need to talk about ‘Resources.’  It was suggested that the ‘Resources’ task group be encouraged to dream and be creative, to consider the groups and individuals in the community as resources, and to look at capital improvement investments that the school district already has as resources.  The bulleted list prepared by the Board is not intended to limit the task group. 

Decision:  The list of task groups (6) will remain as presented.  The committee will address SFC expectations or charge for each of the task groups.  Margot, Evie and the co-chairs will develop a draft charge statement for the SFC to react to.  A list of the facilitators and staff resource people and their committee assignments will be brought to the next meeting. 

 Evie Matthews, Margot Helphand, George Russell

4. Working Relationship: SFC and Task Groups

Discussion: The committee discussed need for a sense of what is going in the task groups, and how to set up a linkage.  The question of whether SFC members should participate as members and be liaisons from the task groups to the SFC was discussed. 
 

Decision:  The majority voted for a linkage; An SFC member will be assigned to all six task groups and function as voting members.  Committee members are free to attend any task group meeting and provide comment as a member of the public. 
 

Next Meeting:  October 13, 1999, 7:00 p.m.

Margot proposed that the first part of the meeting be set aside to work with the CCA on the guiding principles and vision.  The balance of the meeting will center on task group expectations and direction.
9:00 Adjourn 
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