DAYTON-Innovia Foundation brought together about 25 Dayton community members to continue the discussion on the two-year initiative project “Say Yes to Education.”

The group met in the first of three public forums held by Zoom on March 11which was hosted by Innovia Foundation as part of a two-year initiative project Say Yes to Education. The goal of the research is to measure the impact of support from community leadership on the educational success of its students including the pursuit of post-secondary education and training. Dayton School District is one of five rural school districts in Eastern Washington chosen to participate. Say Yes to Education says it “centers around a belief that the responsibility for preparing and inspiring our children rests with the entire community.”

Many who attended are or have been involved in education or other community entities. Innovia Representatives Meg Lindsay and Mason Burley facilitated the discussion of the first forum “Taking the Pulse” to share the purpose of the project to gain insights about rural students and their strengths and challenges and how the community can support educational growth. Also, the forum is designed to familiarize community members about the Center for Educational Effectiveness and Innovia and their role in promoting community support.

Two specific goals for the forum is to “identify local education priorities” and “share goals for youth and help us to build a message to share with others.” The format of the meeting was a brainstorming of ideas around a topic.

One topic was around the best outcome for educational goals. One community member contributed with “the burden is shared.” Lindsay replied, “Sharing the burden is what community means.” Others mentioned the importance of listening to each other. Lindsay also led into the topic within education of equity for rural students which she said is often forgotten.

Another topic for idea sharing was “Our community and the education is at its best when...” One idea brought forth was listening to the students. Lindsay validated that point to say that if we just ask the kids, they will tell what they need. Too often the student need is discussed and decisions are made in adult meetings with little to no input from the students.

Another question was “What is our community capable of?” Some said “getting on the same page” and “putting aside individual agency differences and working towards the best needs of our children.” Others expressed that our community has a history of working together towards something for the kids.

Lindsay expressed the importance of everyone taking care of each other when someone said that we need to support parents struggling with their kids.

Some of the ideas finishing the statement, “We will be successful if we are able to...” were to reach all kids, share resources, collaborate, honor and support each kid as a unique individual, rally around a common goal, and be open to new ideas.”

Another topic posed was “We will need to overcome challenges such as...” Attendees answered budget shortfalls, mental health needs, lack of parent involvement, generational biases, drop in volunteerism, inequality, apathy, lack of trust, the political divide, negative community members and connecting rural students to the big world.

Lastly, the question was asked, “What can I do in the community to further the effort? Who should be at the table?” Answers included were to open communication between post-secondary and K-12 schools, advocate for trade and vocational schools, recognize the importance of early learning to the outcome. Students and parents should be at the table.

The next step will be the distribution of a survey invitation. The survey is administered by the Center for Educational Effectiveness to a random sample of half of the households in the Dayton area and all parents of children and staff in the Dayton School District. The data collected will guide planning of additional forums with the purpose of increasing community support of education.

The second forum is expected to be by the end of the school year or early this summer according to Burley. The purpose will be “Sharing Results” of the survey and “student outcome indicators from the district will be shared in a community education data walk. The data walk includes small group conversations around relevant topics followed by a facilitated conversation to talk about future community-school partnerships.”

The final forum will happen in the second year and will be about “Building Lasting Partnerships...which will solidify school-community partnerships and establish commitments. The goal for this forum will be to launch a sustainable ‘education roundtable’ that can advance community education priorities and expand commitment of time, treasure, and talent for local schools.”

From the results of the research, a strategic plan will be given specific to Dayton to increase community educational support while providing a path forward for school improvement promoting equity for students.