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With the voices and values of Orange County citizens in hand, Count Me In! is taking action. The Community Agreement has been circulating and generating dialogue, ideas and action within the community for the past year. In March 2007, Count Me In! again reached out to citizens to ask them to rank priority areas that emerged from the Agreement – areas in which to focus action. The topics of Parental Involvement/Responsibility and Teaching Quality/Evaluation were overwhelmingly the two primary areas that are important to citizens and where they want to take action and make a difference.
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As a result, Count Me In! has formed two citizens workgroups which are working to develop and implement actions focused on these two priority areas. Count Me In! will provide regular community updates on the work of these two groups and how citizens can get involved.
In addition, as a result of citizen interest and desire expressed in the Agreement, Count Me In! is pushing forward in supporting the School Board in developing a district-wide strategic plan with public input. Members of the Count Me In! Steering Committee have been meeting with members of the School Board to discuss plans, ideas and opportunities. The board acknowledges that its discussions and planning around a strategic plan thus far have been grounded by citizens’ values that are highlighted in the Community Agreement. The board also confirms their interest in working with Count Me In! to hold community meetings on the strategic plan.
There are numerous stories of action since the Count Me In! Community Agreement was unveiled in 2006. And there’s more to come as this growing civic brigade continues reconnecting citizens with our public schools to help make our children and community stronger. Here’s a glimpse at some positive actions that have come about over the past year:
Count Me In! Family Involvement Survey Results
More than 500 Orange County families completed the Family Involvement Survey to help Count Me In! learn three things: 1) how citizens define parental and family involvement; 2) identify the barriers that impede involvement and 3) ways to overcome them; and collect and share best practices. These results will help in the development of a parent-principal-teacher toolkit that will feature helpful and useful information for families and schools. To read the full results, click here.
Count Me In!’s Newest Initiative
Our newest public engagement project, the Hungerford Initiative, is now underway. At the request of the School Board, we are convening citizens across the district to provide insight on the question: “What types of educational programs located at the Robert Hungerford Preparatory High School site would attract students and thrive?” Our report on the collective public vision will be presented to the School Board in March 2008.
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Orange County Commission Meeting on Inter-Local Agreement
Answering a call from School Board Chair Karen Ardaman, Count Me In! participants attended an Orange County Commission meeting and shared their opinions on overcrowded schools. As a result of public input, county commissioners voted to approve the inter-local agreement and defined school capacity based on permanent program capacity.
Community Concern for Student Safety
School Board member Joie Cadle hosted a conversation to listen to the public on safety issues. At this conversation, citizens expressed their desire for safer schools and neighborhoods. They concluded that their responsibility is as simple as:
· Deliberately strengthening relationships with neighbors
· Revitalizing neighborhood associations
· Re-establishing Neighborhood Watch programs
CMI and the Orange County School Board
The Orange County School Board unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming its goal to partner with and engage the citizens of Orange County in opportunities that focus on shared values, including:
· Making the public education of our children a high priority of this community;
· Generating a new attitude and vision about public education; one that is nurturing and supportive and centers on building a sense of pride and accomplishment in our public schools and community at large;
· Continuing to build a widespread understanding that public schools belong to the entire community and that everyone has an important role to play;
· Continuing community conversations based on shared values and goals.
The Count Me In! Steering Committee and School Board are working on action items based on these values. Click on Resolution to view.
Middle School Kids Initiative
The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Inc. secured a $1.5 million grant for a middle school youth initiative entitled ... Middle School Kids. This initiative will focus on issues middle schoolers are facing and how families, communities and schools can better support them. Click on Middle School Kids for more.
The newly opened Avalon Middle School is incorporating Count Me In! into their mission and visioning with teachers, students and the community.
Count Me In! Community Grants Launched
To motivate positive citizen action for our children and public schools, Count Me In! has launched a grant program that encourages and facilitates projects that take action on priorities identified in the Community Agreement. Proposals focus on reconnecting the community with our public schools in ways that positively impact the well-being of our youth. Click on Community Grants for more information.
Public involvement. Public education. Public benefit.
Member, Public Education Network