Oklahoma State School Boards Association

3 comments (Add your own)

1. KATRINA DEAL wrote:

Let me begin by saying "Thank you!" to all at the OSSBA for the massive amount of valuable information you provide to our schools as well as the services you offer to Oklahoma Schools. You are greatly appreciated.

As a member of the Board of Education of Shattuck Public Schools, I would like to explore the pilot program regarding Community Engagement. We live in a top-notch community always ready to help the school with any project. The support we receive from our community is priceless and irreplacable. The school is the heart of the community. It takes both working together to succeed for our students.

We are a small rural community located in northwest Oklahoma. We do not have access to many of the tools which the larger city schools have available. Without our community backing, we would never be able to offer our students the superior education and extra-curricular activities which are available through Shattuck Schools. We are truly blessed to live in such a supportive, active community. We continuously look for better ways to improve our school-community relationship. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to participate in your Community Engagement Pilot program.

Sincerely,

Katrina Deal
Parent/School Board Member
Shattuck Public Schools, Shattuck, Oklahoma

Wed, February 25, 2009 @ 11:38 AM

2. Cindy Swearingen wrote:

Our community supports our school in every aspect. One way in which we are focusing on community engagement is the "Give Back Program." For each fund raiser request, each group must plan for a "give back." This may be as simple as placing coloring pages or "I am a Demon Supporter" posters at various businesses, WITHOUT asking for a donation, while other organizations offer services, such as cleaning the community. It is very important to teach students that in order to GET, they must GIVE.

Tue, November 10, 2009 @ 11:16 AM

3. Nicolle Franklin wrote:

I am working on a project funded by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the EPA, aimed at educating school districts and the public on the importance of neighborhood schools. Decisions are currently being made across Oklahoma in regard to the closing or consolidation of neighborhood schools, or the building of new schools outside of neighborhoods. A new report released by the Center for State and Local Policy at the National Trust shows how the impact of these decisions goes far beyond the education of its students.

This report, Helping Johnny Walk to School: Policy Recommendations for Removing Barriers to Community-Centered Schools, also recommends changes to ensure that the educational, environmental, health, community, and fiscal considerations are weighed by communities when school districts make school closing, consolidation, and site selection decisions. A copy of the report can be downloaded here:
http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/historic-schools/helping-johnny-walk-to-school/.

Please read the report and forward to anyone you know in Oklahoma who may be involved in the decision making processes regarding the locations of current and/or future schools. This could be district officials, architects, teachers, school board members, or just concerned parents and citizens. Many neighborhood schools have been saved by the actions of informed individuals, so it is important to get this research into the hands of as many individuals as possible.

Thank you in advance for sharing this important research.

Sun, April 18, 2010 @ 5:39 PM

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