In fall of 2014, the Blaine County School District superintendent launched a Listening Tour. One of the most prevailing messages heard during this tour was that a small but vocal group overly influenced district decisions. This was reported to the BCSD trustees in the superintendent’s first State of the District report, November 2014. From that point forward, a concerted effort has been made to gather input from a wider array of stakeholders.
This effort began immediately with the development of a Strategic Plan. Multiple meetings and multiple surveys were conducted from Carey to Ketchum to ensure our shared values, mission and goals reflected the entire community. These meetings included meetings conducted in Spanish to ensure all members of our community had access. Every idea shared was given value and considered. Over 2,000 participants were part of this work.
This work of involving the community continued with the Calendar Committee. Every school faculty and every Board of Trustees zone was represented. Multiple surveys were conducted. Not every preference could be included, but the committee worked through endless meetings to include as many preferences as possible.
This inclusive pattern continued with a year of meetings around a district Financial Plan. Again, meetings were held from Carey to Ketchum, in Spanish and in English, and at varying times for ease of attendance. Multiple surveys were also conducted. There were areas where large numbers of individuals agreed and areas with little agreement. We moved ahead in the areas where large majorities agreed, knowing that not everyone was in the majority.
This pattern of including as many voices as possible and with varying viewpoints continues in the work of the Secondary Education Task Force as we determine the desired course of study for our students in grades 6 to 12. The Task Force is using information gathered in the Listening Tour, the Strategic Plan, and the Financial Plan process to inform their thinking. Again, teachers from all disciplines, parents, and community members are working together to develop this plan.
As in all work that involves a wide array of stakeholders, the opinions and advice are rich and vary widely. This is the way it should be. We do not measure our students’ achievements by a single data point and we do not measure the values of our community by a single data point. The task of each of these committees has been to analyze and synthesize the wide range of data points and find the areas where there is the most agreement and where we can move forward on the journey of continuous improvement. There are areas that we must say there is no majority agreement and we have to put that aside while we work on areas with majority agreement.
We are proud of the work and planning that is being done in the Blaine County School District to include as many voices as possible. We have increased the opportunities for all staff to participate and give voice to decision making. We have increased the opportunities for all parents to participate and give voice to decision making, including our Spanish-speaking parents. And we have increased the opportunities for all community members to participate and give voice to decision making.
When all voices are heard, the conversation is richer and the decisions better. Thank you to all of the Blaine County community members who have shared their voices with us. Please know we continue to want to hear from you.
GwenCarol Holmes
Superintendent, Blaine County School District