Wanted: Community input

The St. Charles School District will launch a year-long discussion with the community at-large to set goals for the school system and its students.

Members of the school board on Monday approved Superintendent Donald Schlomann's proposal for a "community engagement process," which is intended to produce recommendations by September of 2009.

"You should have a clear understanding of where the community wants you to go," Schlomann told board members.

The process will involve thousands of community members, Schlomann said.

To help with the process, and improve district communications generally, Schlomann asked the board to hire Rod Wright, president of UNICOM*ARC of St. Louis, Mo., for a fee of $11,000 a month.

Board members continued discussions on Schlomann's proposal late into the evening, but were expected to have approved the superintendent's recommendation before the night was over.

Wright told board members that his firm would provide the board with a plan for the community engagement process, including the selection of leadership and helping the district avoid potential pitfalls.

"We'll keep you from making mistakes that would lessen participation," Wright told the board.

Wright said his firm also would evaluate the district's communications and develop a plan. The district is no longer employing a staff community relations spokesman.

Schlomann said a new district Web site will be up and running in a couple of weeks, and Wright said his firm will help the district make sure it continues to operate effectively.

In approving the community engagement process, the board also approved a series of goals for the current school year, as recommended by Schlomann.

These include a revised certified staff evaluation process, updating the software for the Business and Human Resources Department, and training for elementary and middle school students in conflict resolution.

At the request of board members, Schlomann next month will present an additional goal focused on the academic performance of students at the district's two high schools.

Meanwhile, Schlomann announced that the district's enrollment stands at 13,493, down 103 students from the last school year.

Judging by economic conditions, Schlomann said he believes enrollment will remain flat for at least another year.