Appendix II: Input

Early County School System

Community Engagement Session

Virtual Community Forum – February 7, 2022

To assist the Strategic Planning Team with their work, the Early County School System engaged its community in a process to gauge the thoughts, feelings and perceptions that stakeholders hold regarding the district – before the plan was developed. The engagement initiative included a community conversation. A genuine effort was made to make the process as inclusive and transparent as possible.

Participants of the community engagement initiative responded to the following questions:

1. To be the best it can be, what should the Early County School System preserve/keep?
2. To be the best it can be, what should the Early County School System change/do differently?
3. As a community, what are our hopes and dreams for our school system?
4. What do you think are the top challenges faced by the Early County School System?

The intention of this report is to provide a collection of the best thinking of school and community members regarding the four questions presented. The information gathered is qualitative and seeks to focus attention on those areas that generate the most energy. Members of the strategic planning team will use the input of the community to assist them in developing a plan to move the district forward.

The Format

Community Forum

During February, the district worked to recruit participants to attend the community engagement session. A great deal of effort went into inviting all segments of the community. Notices were advertised in the paper, on the district’s website, through school announcements and at meetings throughout the district.

At the virtual community forum on February 7, 2022, participants heard a presentation on the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) strategic planning process, educational issues, school district achievement data and the process for small group discussion. The facilitator helped to keep the group focused, make sure every person had an opportunity to be heard, and ensure that what was said was properly recorded.

The facilitator did not ascribe any individual’s name to comments written in the notes of the small group discussion. At the conclusion of the discussion, the facilitator asked participants to prioritize their lists of comments by marking the ideas or comments they thought were most important for each question asked.

The Response

Community members, teachers, students and staff participated in the community forum.  Attendees of the community forum were not asked to identify themselves, but there was a good mix of parents, teachers, staff and community members.

Reasons to be Proud and Assets to Build Upon

When asked, “To be the best it can be, what should the Early County School System preserve/keep?” the following represents the areas of greatest agreement among community conversation participants:

1. Family atmosphere,
2. Always looking at what we can do to support students and staff,
3. Being in constant contact with our legislators,
4. The community is very supportive, and
5. Strong collaboration with community organizations.