Opportunities to Speak Highlight of Community Meeting

The priorities range from keeping academics consistent grade-to-grade, class sizes, improving communications between schools and reaching out to residents who don’t have children.

That’s according to the group discussions held during Monday’s Community Partnership Network meeting, which drew about 30 residents to Auten Road School.

The meeting, which was the group’s second, offered both an opportunity to meet Hillsborough Superintendent Jorden Schiff and to comment on the school district’s direction. 

The priority discussions followed a short presentation on creating the budget, which Schiff said was similar to the presentation shown to the Board of Education in January.

Areas for discussion included Academics and Technology, Budgets and Grant Preparation, capital Improvements and Health and Safety, Parent and Community Involvement and Community Relations, and Athletics and Extra Curricular Activities.  The groups rotated between each discussion topic, discussing the areas for ten minutes before moving on to the next topic.  District administrators and principals led each discussion session.

“I feel like I’m speed dating,” one resident commented as she moved from one topic table to the next.

Throughout the evening, Schiff and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Lisa Antunes would sit with each of the groups as they discussed the areas.

For Schiff, who is in his first five and a half weeks as superintendent, it was a glimpse of how residents see the school district, he said.

“I’m enjoying the talks that people are engaging in and the discussion and, in some case, debate,” he said.  “I think it is going to be very helpful for me and the board as we work on the budget development and in development in the district.”

The input would also be used to develop the district’s strategic plan for the 2011-2012 school year, he added.

At the end of the discussions, each of the discussion leaders compiled the information, naming priorities that recurred during each discussion.  The information will be passed on to the board’s Communications Committee and the full board during a future meeting.

For several of the residents, the meeting was their first experience with the Community Partnership Network.

“It was open to anyone and everyone, was all about open community dialogue” Rebecca Balaguer, who works at Hillsborough High School, said.  “It was making education a community affair.

Balaguer said the meeting was her first and that she decided to attend for the community aspect.

For other residents, the meeting was a chance for a new angle on budgeting and other concerns.

“I think the timing made the focus groups be very focused,” Jane Madonna said. “It really helped to bring out the ideas.   .   .I’d like to see the critical mass that’s needed to get actionable items into action.

“I think being in the small groups was very effective,” Mary Liotta said.  “You actually got more ideas down.”

“I liked that it was people of all ages,” she added.  “I’d like to see it offered during the day for parents with younger kids (too).”

Both Liotta and Madonna said they hoped for additional meetings and that the concerns expressed during the Monday meeting would become part of board discussions.

While a third meeting has not been scheduled, both those attending and administrators agreed it would be scheduled.

“I think this group is going to meet periodically throughout the year,” Schiff said.  “This is the beginning of a conversation, not an end point.”