Dist. 57 hopes for vigorous discussion at community meeting

Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 hopes to talk more regularly in the coming year with the people it serves.

Toward that end, the district will host the first in a series of "community conversations" later this month.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. The primary topic will be the present and future of District 57's buildings and grounds.

There will be a short presentation at the start of the meeting, followed by small-group discussions and then a more general conversation.

School board President Karen Nejdl said the meeting is part of a larger effort to improve two-way communication between the district and the community.

"It's been on our radar for awhile," Nejdl said. "I really hope the public turns out for this. It should be a great opportunity for the exchange of information and concerns."

The district plans to try other ways to generate dialogue. Nejdl said that once a month, two board members will be available for a half-hour of informal chat before a school board meeting. And the district is exploring the idea of audio taping the meetings and posting them on the district's website.

Nejdl said it can be a challenge to get the larger District 57 community talking to, and about, the district. A large portion of district residents do not have children in its schools.

"We've sent invitations out to specific parts of the community for the upcoming meeting," she said. "I'd love to see a nice cross-section there."

District 57 plans to hold additional community meetings on different topics later in the school year.