March Action

Stephanie Loiselle April 11, 2017

This post is not pretty, but I want to get it in before too much time goes by! I still have meetings with the PTO, rescheduling one at the high school after we got a snow storm and had to cancel, and with our state rep. I feel that there's a willingness, but not a particular group that is looking to move forward.

  1. Who did you talk with? (4 potential community partner minimum)

Susan, a community organizer and member of the PTO

  1. Who seems to be a promising Community Partner?

Susan seems to be promising as a partner, but perhaps not for the Future Ready project

  1. Why?

Initial conversation focused on having a Science Fair at the library or school, grades K-8. The library would host weekly work sessions to assist children who don’t have support at home with working on projects. Each session would feature a local scientist assisting and speaking for a bit about how they go into their respective careers, culminating in a big name speaker to either come in person or Skype the day of the science fair. Subsequent conversations saw the focus swinging to the K-4 end of the age group.

  1. What did you learn from the community partner - what are their needs, how do they “fit” within the world of middle school college and career readiness, what do you still want to know about or from this potential partner?

I learned that in fact the parents of younger children are concerned with CCR being an ongoing thing starting from the beginning of school. I think this will be an excellent thing to pursue outside of the Future Ready scope

  1. What expectations did the Partner seem to have of you?

The use of library facilities, planning of facilitators, scheduled work time

  1. What are your expectations of how you would like to partner with them?

Pretty much as described, but definitely as a facilitator. She has a strong vision, which I will be happy to support as much as possible

  1. How much input did their staff have on meeting/working with you?

No staff in question, but the PTO seemed very supportive

  1. How much input did your staff have in your decision to seek this Community Partner?

Not really any, this was a sporadic conversation that lead to the idea.

 

  1. Who did you talk with?

Jennifer B, community organizer, commissioner of the Wilton Conservation Commission and Chair of the Wilton Economic Development Team.

Harry D., school board member, Wilton Economic Development Team member, School budget committee rep. and the libraries liaison to the town Budget Committee

  1. Who seems to be a promising Community Partner?

Harry seems a promising partner, with Jennifer’s energy and creativity as well

  1. Why?

Harry is widely influential in town politics. Not only has he been on all of the committees for a decade at least, he also has the ear of the town manager and the ability to open many doors. He spoke at length about how unfortunate it is that the board really never speaks about education. All of their time is locked up in speaking about laws, regulations and policies. He is very excited to work together, and has put me on an upcoming school board meeting agenda, however he doesn’t have a plan or idea for a program at this point. Also! After meeting with him, the superintendent (who I had emailed previously asking for a meeting) called me within 4 hours asking if he could come stop by the library to talk about the project. Go team!

Jennifer is so creative and motivated and really a doer. She has zero experience with children, however, so is not the front on this partnership experience. Once I have a project, I will be sure to tap into her experience with other things though! She also has a good deal of insight regarding what the local businesses want and need from an employee. She shared with me that one of our state reps had mentioned something about the local manufacturing companies and intern/apprenticeships of some sort, so I am looking forward to getting in touch with him.

  1. What did you learn from the community partner - what are their needs, how do they “fit” within the world of middle school college and career readiness, what do you still want to know about or from this potential partner?

Harry knows the school system from both a board member and a parent perspective. He actually said that when he fills out the assessment sheet he will fill out two to reflect his different perspectives, which I found interesting. I should be hearing from him again by the end of the week.

  1. What expectations did the Partner seem to have of you?

No specific expectations, beyond refocusing the school board with a conversation about something actually education related.

  1. What are your expectations of how you would like to partner with them?

Unknown at this time. Certainly to get in the door, which is important in this community

  1. How much input did their staff have on meeting/working with you?

NA

  1. How much input did your staff have in your decision to seek this Community Partner?

My director reminded me I should bring Jennifer in on this project based on some things she had been doing with economic development. Jennifer brought Harry in on her own to network us together, I actually had no idea he was going to be there. I think it’s a great thing, ultimately.

 

  1. Who did you talk with? Superintendent Bryan Lane
  2. Who seems to be a promising Community Partner?I think he will be a great partner for other things, but perhaps is not ready to engage with middle school at the moment.
  3. What did you learn from the community partner - what are their needs, how do they “fit” within the world of middle school college and career readiness, what do you still want to know about or from this potential partner?

As superintendent, Bryan is a pretty huge stakeholder here. His interests, particularly as a brand new (4 months?) superintendent, are on improving the school performance and education system as a whole. His particular focus is on the youngest children, partnering with initiatives that will bring children into the school with more skills, as our current numbers show that 25% of 1st graders entering the Wilton Elementary School have NO LETTER RECOGNITIONG SKILLS!. He is also very open to encouraging staff members to work with me if necessary. He did seem to have written off the older kids “The middle schoolers already have their bad habits.”

  1. What expectations did the Partner seem to have of you?
  2. What are your expectations of how you would like to partner with them?

In early literacy initiatives directly, I think we can work together well on a variety of things. I believe if I approach with a defined vision or plan that the response will be positive.

  1. How much input did their staff have on meeting/working with you? I believe Harry from the school board promoted this meeting.
  2. How much input did your staff have in your decision to seek this Community Partner?NA
  1. Who did you talk with? Wilton Main Street Community Organization ( all of the business owners in town that showed up to their after hours event) This is mostly an elevator speech moment.
  2. Who seems to be a promising Community Partner? (note: this assessment may change-that is expected)
  3. Why? (This is really the most important question)
  4. What did you learn from the community partner - what are their needs, how do they “fit” within the world of middle school college and career readiness, what do you still want to know about or from this potential partner?
  5. What expectations did the Partner seem to have of you? NA
  6. What are your expectations of how you would like to partner with them? At least if they are able to sit in as a panel member if we end up doing that program. They have offered to help me with whatever I need, but had not interest (as yet) in partnering on a specific program. Still waiting to hear back from several members who did ask for more information and evaluation sheet.
  7. How much input did their staff have on meeting/working with you? NA
  8. How much input did your staff have in your decision to seek this Community Partner? They are on board with whatever comes out of this meeting. I have to follow up this week with those who wanted to have a conversation.

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