Burnsville Community Conversation Forum Results
THEME 2: Engage community in conversations around expectations for education and build consensus.

How would a community with shared expectations for a child’s education impact that community?

• National expectations (math, reading, etc.)
• Interpersonal skills.
• Collaboration, not just math and reading.
• Activities and learning opportunities that motivate.
• Families are key but are often a barrier.
• Need mentoring programs.
• How to engage parents around expectations.
• Reinforce message (Brand) and build off that.
• Family support for school.
• Kids and reading at home.

How would we go about engaging the community in conversations around expectations for education?

• Do greater outreach, especially risk families.
• Need to ensure that all students get high school education and at least two years beyond.
• Racism and poverty remain a problem.
• Strategy:  Require students to eat and congregate in different groups (maybe just encourage involvement in a new activity).
• Be intentional about creating greater connections.
• Need to educate existing adult population about today’s student mix.
• Craftsmen and trades are being lost because of “high tech” – promote trades and Tech Colleges.
• Bring together “focus groups” representing all demographics (School District has already done) that feed into strategic planning.
• Electronic tools to engage community.
• Electronic surveys.
• Marketing opportunity for Public Internet Access.
• Technology is critical.
• Wi Fi – Social Networks.
• Partner with the school district – survey.
• Embed surveys through city, school, chamber, etc.
• Community needs to own school success, not just the districts.
• 70% of people do not have children in school, how do we engage them?
• People do not know how to contribute and be involved.
• Engage people face to face and use technology.
• Discuss the importance of education.
• Kids need to be in school.
• Mentors, partners
• Meet where people are going.
• Messages at sporting events, concerts.
• Calling every new family.
• Utilize Garage concept
• Have mentors support systems, make lasting connections.
• Get businesses involved by giving employees time off to volunteer, and some kind of reward for the businesses who give time off for volunteering.