Community Listen & Learn - PTA Council

Thank you to all of the individuals who invested the time to engage in our Listen & Learn sessions regarding the Structural Deficit Reduction Plan.

Meeting summaries were created to provide increased transparency across the community and to provide insight as to the perspectives and thoughts across various stakeholders.

Robust conversation took place across sessions and content from the meetings were summarized based on high level themes that emerged. In community and parent/caregiver advisory sessions, the responses to questions 1 and 2 were transcribed directly from the chart paper provided from the various groups. Identifying information has been removed and responses to question 3 are provided in summary form (not verbatim quotes).

An asterisk indicates that the idea was supported or named by other individuals within the session. The total number of participants does not include district facilitators.

Meeting details:

• Date and time: December 20, 2024 at 7 p.m.
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Number of active participants: 19

Question 1: As difficult decisions lie ahead to balance the budget, what are the top three priorities that you believe must be protected?

Maintain curriculum and high quality of education*

Keep inclusive, equitable aspect of education*

• Receiving great education in every form that students need it in
• special education programs as high priority*

Overall school experience (eg field trips, assemblies)

Differentiated instruction for students to maximize growth (giving each student what they need)

Well rounded curriculum (math, science, English Language Arts, fine arts)

Creating safe spaces for all students and more specifically thinking about Black and Brown students that will remain in other schools once Foster opens. Diversity in other schools is largely achievable because Foster School hasn’t existed, namely Orrington.

How do Black and Brown students that remain in these schools remain in an environment with peers and staff that look like them?

Regardless of budget implications, PTA and Foundation 65 remain whole and in place to build and maintain community within the district.

Social emotional and mental health resources within the schools, also need to be available for teachers and staff.

Address critical capital needs to ensure safe learning / instructional environments. 

Evaluate buildings in extreme dis-repair along with enrollment numbers and make adjustments/consolidation if/where needed

Question 2: What programs or services do you consider most essential to maintain the quality of our students' education?

Arts

Social Emotional Learning***

Paraprofessional support within classrooms

TWI*

STEM

Teacher retention and recruitment

Staff within schools not necessarily teachers - social workers, nurses, therapists, etc*

Core subjects - ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies. Fine Arts - Drama, Art, Band, Orchestra, Instructional Supports/Specialists, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Accelerated Programming. Re-emphasizing instructional staff with direct impact to students

Question 3: Please share any additional information that should be considered as we prioritize budget reductions.

Do we need 1:1 devices in K-2? Tech gets expensive and don't necessarily want my kindergarteners on ipad in school and at home**

Whatever changes we’re making with respect to transportation and various services, we  need to understand the impacts to families, especially working parents?

Understanding the costs coming out of the pandemic and what are the new costs that didn’t exist before?

Helping people to understand the cost per pupil (dramatic rise in recent years)