[Speed Gibson,
Friday May 9, 2008 at 4:48pm]
Community Education
With the departure of District 281's award winning Community Education director to the Wayzata schools, it seems a good time to discuss the concept and future of Community Education.
It seems that every public school district has a Community Education program, even the smallest like Brooklyn Center (#286) and St. Anthony (#282). They vary in breadth and depth, but they all offer classes and activities for those of us over 18, i.e., beyond the K-12 zone.
Question: why is this a Public School District function? I ask for two reasons. One, there is obvious duplication of services. Two, there doesn't appear any significant connection between K-12 and Community Education. You could graduate from Robbinsdale and then take Community Education classes at Osseo (#279) or elsewhere. Or vice versa.
Having just returned from the St. Petersburg, Florida area where the school district is a massive county wide operation (17 high schools!) suggests that we could do the same here, make Community Education a county wide operation. That alone should provide better efficiency and consistency.
Since this is my fantasy, I'll further require that my County Education operation be run as a county agency, like the library system. The latter is also a "community education" service, so a merger seems desirable as well. Furthermore, a number of city programs that overlap in this area could also be supplanted by this agency.
What I don't want is a joint powers arrangement amongst the school districts. It would be too messy and besides, my goal is for the school districts not to worry about it at all. I want them to focus on K-12 exclusively. (I'll look at ECFE in a later post.)
Part of my reasoning is to avoid the co-mingling of funds and related resources. It will often work out that the County Education agency will rent space and facilities here and there, a source of income for the school districts. They could employ district staff as the district deems them available as well, but under separate employment arrangements including payroll.
Now of course, some of you would simply abolish the current Community Education system, the politicians letting the private sector take over. That's your fantasy.
It seems that every public school district has a Community Education program, even the smallest like Brooklyn Center (#286) and St. Anthony (#282). They vary in breadth and depth, but they all offer classes and activities for those of us over 18, i.e., beyond the K-12 zone.
Question: why is this a Public School District function? I ask for two reasons. One, there is obvious duplication of services. Two, there doesn't appear any significant connection between K-12 and Community Education. You could graduate from Robbinsdale and then take Community Education classes at Osseo (#279) or elsewhere. Or vice versa.
Having just returned from the St. Petersburg, Florida area where the school district is a massive county wide operation (17 high schools!) suggests that we could do the same here, make Community Education a county wide operation. That alone should provide better efficiency and consistency.
Since this is my fantasy, I'll further require that my County Education operation be run as a county agency, like the library system. The latter is also a "community education" service, so a merger seems desirable as well. Furthermore, a number of city programs that overlap in this area could also be supplanted by this agency.
What I don't want is a joint powers arrangement amongst the school districts. It would be too messy and besides, my goal is for the school districts not to worry about it at all. I want them to focus on K-12 exclusively. (I'll look at ECFE in a later post.)
Part of my reasoning is to avoid the co-mingling of funds and related resources. It will often work out that the County Education agency will rent space and facilities here and there, a source of income for the school districts. They could employ district staff as the district deems them available as well, but under separate employment arrangements including payroll.
Now of course, some of you would simply abolish the current Community Education system, the politicians letting the private sector take over. That's your fantasy.
Because public schools have the infrastructure, the buildings and whatnot, and the staff, teachers and whatnot, to do it.
I am a little bit of a voice crying in the wilderness on this, but I think the schools should be finding ways to increase the engagement of the community, not decrease it.