In the first two articles of this series I observed that our School District priorities actually mirror the values of our community.  For our third priority it is especially true.  The overall character of a community can be judged by how well its members work together.  For every successful community event, there is a host of collaborating partners behind the scenes.  For example, the pinnacle of community events for Canyonville is “Pioneer Days” which happens in late August each year.  The collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce, Pioneer Days committee, Lions Club and businesses too numerous to list provides the leadership for this outstanding event.  The “Music in the Park” summer series which is primarily sponsored by the Myrtle Creek/Tri City Chamber of Commerce is a strong collaboration of its corporate sponsors (primarily Frontier Communications) and local business owners.  This event has been successfully run for 25 straight years making it the longest running event of its kind in Douglas County.  Last but not least the “Firemen’s” BBQ cook-off is a relatively new event based on the collaboration of five local fire departments, Tri City Citizens Alliance and Tri City Lions Club.  This year the event will be held at Tri City Elementary on Saturday, June 16^th.  These examples are but the tip of the iceberg but they clearly illustrate our community’s collaboration to insure this is a great place to live and raise a family. 

The South Umpqua School District (SUSD) also uses the power of collaboration to insure the success of each child. Teachers in every school work in collaborative teams.  School teams are usually arranged across grade levels and they insure each child is given the proper support as they master the essential outcomes for that grade level.  Students who need additional resources are assigned to interventions or enrichments depending on the child’s needs.  SUSD also organizes district-wide collaborative teams by a specific grade level.  For example all of the second grade teachers periodically meet to insure their coverage of the curriculum is consistent across the district.  This type of collaboration happens at all grade levels.  Additionally the district-wide collaborative teams meet with the School Board and administrators to review data showing how we keep our promise that all students will succeed. 

Collaboration also exists with organizations outside our school district.  Last year a team of Umpqua Community College (UCC) instructors visited our district and discussed our middle/high school essential outcomes.  The UCC teachers shared their perceptions of what makes a successful college student.  Currently SUHS is working with UCC to bring additional college classes to our high school.  After April 1, we will have a new automotive class which will be team taught by one SUHS teacher and one UCC instructor.  We hope to have similar classes next year in the culinary and fine arts.  It is our long range vision to simultaneously offer these classes to our community as well as our high school students.  This would not be possible without the collaborative leadership of UCC president Dr. Joe Olson and SUHS principal Ms. Kristi McGree and their outstanding staffs.

Last but not least I want to recognize the remarkable efforts of our current School Board members who are elected to represent the varied interests of our community.  Over the past two and a half years they have participated in hours of extra training, classroom walk-throughs and collaborative meetings with staff.  This type of interaction between the School Board and staff creates the foundation for meeting our district’s three priorities ….

1.      See Each Child

2.      Make and Keep the Promise (of success)

3.      Use the Power of Collaboration (to insure the success of each child).

I would like to personally thank board members - Dave Stevens, Bob Ankeny, Jeff Johnson, Kathy Andersen, Jerry O’Sullivan, Jeannie Weakley and Judy Coleman for their outstanding community service and support of its youth!!!!