Focus Group Meeting
Mountain Group
8/23/04

As a whole we found their recommendations positive and advantageous for our school. The Mountain Group's particular lens was math resources and parental support, and these aspects invoked a lively discussion with our group members. Our group developed some additional suggestions for these two areas of our
lens:

  1. Take a poll of parents requesting their suggestions for a list of core classes to be offered by our school before the school year begins to enable #6 below.
  2. We recommended our classes of core subjects definitely be taught by credentialed teachers enabling high school credit be given to students taking them.
  3. These core subject classes be offered at learning center sites and at locations closer to students in distant areas, enabling attendance by a broader base of students.
  4. Regarding culture: it must be remembered we are addressing students with a vast array of extra needs. Many of our students failed to learn in traditional environments. Our students reach a broad scope of one extreme to the other end of the spectrum. It was agreed that accommodations and allowances must be made to reach these students.
  5. Regarding Parental Support: we agreed that the list serve, newsletter, curriculum training, EduSoft, and Parent Counsel meetings were all a definite resource for our parents.
  6. Regarding "expanding the available course offerings at the centers," in the Recommendations: the Mountain Group again recommended that core math classes (taught by credentialed teachers) (along with all core subjects) be formed, and in place, for students to enroll without delay for setting up classes on an "as needed " basis. As one ES quoted "If you build it, they will come."
  7. Our group also advised that these core classes be subsidized by CWCS so as to be affordable to students taking several and also students on AESS status.This being part of our "Culture" needs listed in #4 above.
  8. Finally, our group recommended that these four core subject areas be taught with a set of texts common throughout the school.