W-E Schools seek input from families

Willoughby-Eastlake Schools recently invited families to ReI-magine 19.

Held at South High School on April 11 and North High School on April 12, the ReImagine 19 the event was designed to get input from people who have a vested interest in the school district, according to Assistant Superintendent Charles Murphy.

The district is seeking the input in order to help it reimagine, reshape, and have some vision, according to Murphy, who noted three new buildings — Longfellow, North and South — are opening in 2019.

“We want input from them and are trying to explain to them how we can do school better and what are your needs as we look to the future,” he said.

During the ReImagine 19 event, parents and community members participating in hands-on problem-solving activities.

Parents were divided into groups and given a paper circle with one of the schools visions — such as technology and rethinking the school day — written on it. And they were asked to write down what they thought it would take to achieve that vision and what they would like to see happen.

In a group discussion towards the end of the event attendees brought up some of their concerns and what they would like to see happen. Some of the suggestions were more multigenerational interaction such as students working with residents at the retirement community Breckenridge Village.

Also mentioned were more partnerships with businesses, and the school being more open to the community. Other suggestions from parents included emphasizing to students why they need to learn a specific subject matter and how it can be applied to daily living,

Superintendent Steve Thompson addressed some of these concerns.

Thompson announced that Cardinal Community Credit Union has partnered with the schools to place banks in both the new high schools.

The banks, according to Thompson will be run by the students and it will be part of the curriculum so all students will take part in it.

The new high schools will also have stores to be operated by the students. They will receive start up funds from a grant and a low-interest loans. The first-year students will be operating the store and by the second year they will be managing it.

Also the schools will have health and dental clinics on site in partnership with Lake Health.

“We are trying to make this as real world as possible, so the idea of having the clinics on site is to make sure the kids who don’t have access to healthcare can get it,” Thompson said. “Kids who have health insurance instead of missing a full day of school they can take some responsibility for themselves.

“ReImagine 19 is a vision for the future for our school district it’s about meeting the needs of our students and getting ready for the future.”

KRISTI GARABRANDT — THE NEWSHERALD Taharka Ankhenaton, a parent of a child at Willoughby Middle School provides his suggestions on modern facilities at the ReImagine 19 event at South High School.