Community Engagement "Halftime Report"
It’s hard to believe we’ve just wrapped up another school year in the Southwest Local School District. The 2022-2023 school year was jammed pack with activity and numerous success stories, both on the academic and social growth fronts. We also did something a little different this year - we launched a comprehensive community engagement campaign focused on listening to you. We realize that our district, like most, is faced with a number of hurdles and a general uncertainty for the future. We also understand that the only way we can tackle these problems and allow our schools, and ultimately our kids, to thrive is to continue to foster a culture of partnership with the community.
Through three Town Hall Meetings at our elementary schools this spring, and nearly 600 responses to our community survey, we received an immense amount of input, perceptions, and questions which have helped shape the priorities of our district. At these events, we listened to community members share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas about our schools. It is through this wealth of feedback that the needs of our community are brought into focus. I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in some way. Every bit of information is important.
I encourage everyone to visit our website at southwestschools.org/community to read our community "halftime report." This report provides an overview of our engagement efforts in the spring, including answers to the most pressing questions and issues posed at the town halls and on the survey. It is a snapshot of the work we've done and the progress we've made.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that we will have two more town hall opportunities this fall. The first will be on Thursday, September 14 at Harrison Junior School, and the second will be on Tuesday, October 10 at Harrison High School. Both will run from 6:00-8:00 PM. We are looking to pack the room and have productive discussions about school safety, academic excellence, our facilities, and more. These events will be an opportunity for us to continue the conversation with our community, and we strongly encourage you to attend and share your thoughts with us.
In closing, I am proud of the progress we've made this year through our community engagement efforts. We have heard from our families, staff, and community members, and we will continue to prioritize your input as we move forward. Together, we can strengthen our schools and continue to build into the success of our students.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer, and we look forward to continuing this work in the fall.