The listening session in Maple Grove took place Feb. 13 at St. Joseph the Worker Church. Here are some of participants' comments.

What’s working well?

• Staff is professional – good teachers and administrators, etc.
• Staff is committed to all kids/inclusive
• Students are learning (data shows this)
• Succeeding despite barriers—families, funding, cuts, class size, poverty
• Multi-cultural events
• Extra-curricular events offer important opportunities – enhance learning
• People like their schools and are tied into them (school closings are painful)
• Providing a lot of good services to our students—social workers, counselors

What are some of the challenges schools face?

• Transient student population – mobility
• Middle level (8th grade) perception that it doesn’t count – how to motivate that population – growing group of “refusers”
• Funding – issues of class size, assisting individual students need more attention
• Tolerance, lack of respect, bullying and violence; suicide
• Kids bring more issues to school
• Lack of diversity in staff (racial, gender)
• Level of special ed – high population, magnitude of child’s disability
• Need professional development to be more successful in meeting students' needs
• Poverty
• English Language Learners
• Time
• Experiences and exposure students bring this to school (e.g., knowing where guns are)
• Inequities across district
• Educating to be ready for global market
• Parent involvement (and lack of)

What do schools need to provide?

• Have a skill set to be ready for global market – math, science, reading, writing, problem solving, teamwork, critical thinking, social skills
• Teaching/modeling
• Early childhood programs – funded as part of public schools; parent education 
• Safe, respectful learning environment with options for all learners
• Strong arts component always
• Creative, flexible school year – different calendar options – arrange year to meet achievement challenges (year-round)
• Educate whole child

How can we all take part?

• Learn by visiting schools, educators, parents, etc.
• Be involved in local schools, volunteer, meeting staff, go to school board meetings
• Meet challenge of keeping people involved even when they don’t have kids in school