Ypsilanti Community Schools to host 3-hour public forum Saturday
Editor's note: Saturday's forum has moved from the Ypsilanti Administration Building to the high school. The story has been updated to reflect the change.
Do you have questions about decisions facing the Ypsilanti Community Schools?
The unified Ypsilanti-Willow Run Board of Education will host a three-hour public information session Saturday.
This meeting is an opportunity for the community to engage in a dialogue with board trustees about the development of the new joint district, according to a news release. Facilitated dialogue will take place at the start of the session, followed by several updates on the work of YCS' community advisory groups, the release says.
The meeting is in place of a previously scheduled board retreat.
Seven advisory groups were formed to research and make recommendations to the board on specific design aspects of the new district. The groups are:
- Early Childhood
- High Quality Teachers and Teaching
- Effective Leaders at All Levels
- Culture and Climate
- College Credit and Career Credentials
- District Naming and Mascot
- Co-curricular Activities
At Saturday's meeting, there also will be time allotted for questions related to upcoming decisions, the press release says.
Community members interested in attending have been asked to RSVP to ensure the venue is properly set up for the discussion and is an adequate space, school officials said. Email Washtenaw Intermediate School District Communications Director Emma Jackson at ejackson@wash.k12.mi.us to RSVP, or call (734) 994-8100 ext. 1321.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
L'chaim
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
Will there be an article about eh meeting...it was sparsely attended and aggravatingly "facilitated" I have heard.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 6:26 p.m.
The location of Saturday's community forum has been changed from the Ypsilanti Administration Building to Ypsilanti High School. This story has been updated to reflect the change. The time is still the same. Thanks for reading!
Heather
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 12:55 p.m.
I see an early childhood group, but where is the group that is working on the secondary level?
beardown
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.
Sorry, not the co curricular committee. Its the College Credit and Career Credentials. The Co curricular committee is packed.
beardown
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 2:43 p.m.
It is the co curricular committee, as well as the quality teachers one. There has been so little community interest in these two (but lots in the mascot and colors committee) that I think they may have merged.
pseudo
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 3:07 a.m.
why would we participate now? they hired 3 top-paid executives while they set up hoops for teachers to jump through. why would we come to get preached at by this board of unelected officials? talk about a top-down commuity-last approach.
beardown
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
You are 100% correct. The big decisions that they are going to make this year have been made or will be made by the three headed monster in private at a later time. This is a dog and pony show to throw a bone to the public and make them feel wanted while also acknowledging that they really aren't. Every single one of them should be removed when their terms end.
tom swift jr.
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 3:59 p.m.
I see the RSVP requirement as a means to stifle attendance. There is absolutely no reason that a "venue" can't be set up to accomodate a large audience, I doubt that attendance would exceed either of the High School's auditoriums.
Heather
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
Actually, I sent an e-mail to Emma Jackson telling her that I'd attend and just received a "thanks!" reply. I don't see how that stifles anything.
missypsi
Wed, Mar 6, 2013 : 3:46 p.m.
OK, so by facilitated discussion do they mean actual discussion? Or will it be another "public comments" fiasco. I want to see real substantive discussion, not just an opportunity for the board to give speeches on why they took the easy road a few weeks ago. Can someone from the WISD let us know if this will be any different than past meetings? I think community stakeholders should be able to participate as EQUALS in this discussion.
beardown
Thu, Mar 7, 2013 : 12:09 a.m.
"there also will be time allotted for questions related to upcoming decisions, the press release says." Upcoming decisions. That is the important part. With all of the big decisions done with, now they will answer questions. I doubt that they will cover school closings or anything like that, so it will just be a well regulated waste of time.