Highlights of the Education Forum
A Strategy for Cooperation Among Itasca Area Schools
- Ideas for Today and Tomorrow -

Itasca Economic Development Corporation
May 10 , 2006

Guest Speakers: Mark Adams, Deer River Superintendent - Palmer Anderson, Floodwood Superintendent - Joe Silko, Grand Rapids Superintendent - Dr. Mike Johnson, Itasca Community College Provost

The Education Forum was the eighteenth in a series of forums held to inform the public about issues of local concern. The purpose of the Education Forum was to provide the opportunity for Itasca area superintendents to talk with area business owners, professionals and interested community members about successes and challenges faced in their respective schools today and in the future.

In the fall of 2005 seven Itasca area schools and Itasca Community College formed the Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC). The purpose of the collaborative is to provide an opportunity for two or more districts, along with other education entities, to most efficiently use their resources for effectively educating all students throughout the region.

Four of the eight-member IASC group agreed to speak at today’s forum and participate on the panel. Tom Watson , principal of The Watson Consulting Group, who has been working with the IASC members also participated. Other schools in IASC are Greenway, Hill City , Nashwauk/Keewatin, and Remer. Each of the four participating panelists shared achievements and problems/challenges facing their districts. Key components of each presentation are outlined below:

Itasca Community College – Dr. Mike Johnson

Challenges:

• Changes in funding allocation by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has meant less money for smaller schools
• Higher tuition costs – the divide between students who can afford college and those who cannot is increasing
• Aging population in Itasca Area
• Still in the “agricultural era” with classes running September through May
• Rural America is being left behind - 57% of white males are not in higher education

Successes:

• The formation of the Northeast Minnesota Higher Education District (NEHED) of which ICC is a member helped improve cost efficiencies through shared services, programs and administration
• Belonging to a larger group like NEHED and IASC makes for a stronger voice with more clout legislatively
• ICC received “ Center of Excellence ” award
• Successful Engineering Program
• Research indicates that students who start at ICC before continuing on to a four year degree do better academically
• Open door policy

Mike Johnson said that IASC is unique and his hope is that the organization can get a long-term structure in place and have a Pre-school through Grade 14 seamless model for the Itasca area.

Deer River – Mark Adams

Challenges:

• 57% of the students in Deer River school system live in poverty
• High minority rate
• Declining enrollment
• District re-organization: class sizes getting smaller (105 students in 9th grade; 57 in 2 nd grade)

Successes:

• Received “Reading First” grant (reading scores have improved)
• Invest Early program
• Fiscal improvements
• Regional partnerships established
• Technology infrastructure is in place
• Relationships with area schools has improved
• Award winning teachers

Floodwood – Palmer Anderson

Challenges:

• Floodwood has a limited self-identity
• Small rural population
• Families do not encourage their children to go on to higher education
• Only 8% of graduating students receive associate degree; only 4% earn bachelor degree
• Low income families; 25% of households earn less than $10,000/year; 39% of the total households earn less than $15,000/year

Palmer Anderson explained how school districts should forget about “turf wars” and be proactive to develop a ‘rural-plex’ of specially-related neighborhoods. Upper mid-west students are still desired employees across the nation. It is important to “break the mold” and work to develop leadership skills in young people.

Grand Rapids – Joe Silko

School District 318 filled out 1,500 W2 tax forms in 2005 and has a $ 43 million budget. Joe Silko compared schools to big business and emphasized the need to run them as such.

• Customers (students): Declining enrollment can mean closing schools just as business would have to close stores if they had fewer customers
• Competition: Schools face competition from post secondary options, home schools, alternative learning, charter schools etc.
• Overhead: Need to be fiscally responsible; next year retirees health care will cost the district more than current workforce
• Raw materials: Children are not starting school ready to learn (50% of kindergartners are not ready to learn). Many children live in poverty and those children statistically do not achieve at the same level as other students
• Future Market Options: Children needing to be educated will tax the system
• Advertising: Community must be more aware of what is needed and parents need to be engaged in children’s education

Joe Silko also emphasized the need for schools and parents to break the molds and maybe learn to do things a different way to become more collaborative and efficient and turn out a better student. The community needs to provide input as to what they want for education.

Mark Adams led a Power Point discussion of the IASC initiative. IASC’s mission is to provide an opportunity for two or more districts, along with other education entities, to most efficiently use their resources for effectively educating all students throughout the region. The Collaborative vision is:

• Realize the highest achievement for all students in the region
• Develop a “menu-driven” approach to providing services
• Create opportunities not otherwise available
• Share areas of skill and need
• Implement changes for mutual benefit of the wider “economic” region

IASC partners believe reality is that they can be more efficient and cost effective by working together, rather than by standing alone. By working together IASC members can:

• Sustain effective instruction and curriculum offerings
• Maximize benefit to cost for services and resource allocation
• Overcome limitations of operating alone
• Provide opportunities to access curriculum, resources and expertise to enrich services to all students

As Itasca area schools face major challenges, IASC provides a way to break down district boundaries and find opportunities that will benefit all. IASC is not about eliminating school districts, but rather it is about finding ways to collaborate.

Time was allotted for questions from the audience following the presentations.