Focus+Groups

Retired Educators 11/10/2011

1. All children learn differently. What are the educational needs of our community? Technology to all content areas-tool to apply Job skills Job readiness-real world application Ready for universities/tech schools Open up possibilities to students-world views, languages

2. What is your vision of a charter school for the community of Antigo? Help the communities to chart their course and acquire necessary skills to succeed in life

3. What are the limitations of our current educational system that could be met through a charter school?(time, calendar, minutes of instruction, attendance, non-instructional time) Intrgration of content areas, funding, parent involvement, volunteers, community member more available, business members, teaming, student led instruction, flexible scheduling, interest based education for students

4. How can businesses or other community members be included to best meet the needs of students? Visitations, come into school to work with students, eliminates schedules-

5. What needs to be done in order to ensure the sustainability of the charter school? How does this happen? Meticulous record keeping-marketing from the beginning-invite public in to school-public relations Plan for sustainability of funding enthusiasm base for the school-strong foundation for the community

School Board 1/20/2012 1. All children learn differently. What are the educational needs of our community? not enough prepared workers for our community teach kids how to think combined classes-elements more memorable-connections students express selves differently s need to be resourceful fundemental principals of reading writing and math, multiple tables and write paragraphs

2. What is your vision of a charter school for the community of Antigo? teach students responsibilites of life, social responsibilities, long term planning G/T students in the field of Math and Science-advanced placement Environmental Education-take off of technology-school forest-outdoor STEM school

3. What are the limitations of our current educational system that could be met through a charter school?(time, calendar, minutes of instruction, attendance, non-instructional time)

length of class depth of instruction, work time keep the school in Mattoon open Compartmentalization 4. How can businesses or other community members be included to best meet the needs of students? asking them to help out for lecturing, tours teach kids to have work ethics opinions of field experts

5. What needs to be done in order to ensure the sustainability of the charter school? How does this happen? no shortage of interest but finance research to know expenses plan for financing other than state community support -like the wood technology interest not on the school district itself

HS Students

1. All children learn differently.What are the educational needs of our community? banking entertaining, not every classroom white less tests

2. What is your vision of a charter school for the community of Antigo? hands on math with money-connecting to snowboarding, with the snow banking

3. What are the limitations of our current educational system that could be met through a charter school?

(time, calendar, minutes of instruction, attendance, non-instructional time) out of the book, one on one is less, lack of explanations from teachers,

4. How can businesses or other community members be included to best meet the needs of students? job at the school during study hall meetings with business leaders

5. What needs to be done in order to ensure the sustainability of the charter school? How does this happen? Boys and Girls Club 1/23/2012 1. literacy-better, diversity-cultural, preparedness-STEM, technology, social maturity 2. teach kids differently-techniques, technology-based high interest, integrated model 3. contact time, instructional time, waste time, school calendar not relevent, work geared toward interest levels, physicial education activities, 4. pep grant, collaborate more, ieps, help more students, lend expertise to students through thematic units 5. write a realistic charter, meet expectations, outside governing counsel, supported by the public, well informed about the finances,

Optimist Club 1/31/2012 Machinists, electricians, plumbers, in the wanted ads Compete globally in math science and socials studies Teaching students to adapt to changing globally at an accelerated rate Enrollment in MIT should be a focus for everyone Emphasis on Arts 2. What is your vision of a charter school for the community of Antigo? Comes from the educators Curriculum about ethnicities and cultural experiences-diversity Act with or socialize with different ages, groups, religion Local city history community history 3. What are the limitations of our current educational system that could be met through a charter school?(time, calendar, minutes of instruction, attendance, non-instructional time) Parents limiting the children interacting with other cultures and groups Students are lower socially, what will be done in the charter school to help children understand Educating the parents Verbal communication-complete sentences <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Team building <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">5% hitting students4. How can businesses or other community members be included to best meet the needs of students? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Instant communication through social media the positive aspects of the charter school <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Community members have loud voices and only share what they want <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">5. What needs to be done in order to ensure the sustainability of the charter school? How does this happen?
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">All children learn differently. What are the educational needs of our community?

Larry Kind-NTC 2/20/2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Basic manufacturing skills, tech skills, occupation, welders, machinists, electronic careers <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">General supporting academics math, communication, process, teamwork2. What is your vision of a charter school for the community of Antigo? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Technical HS-auto, metals, electronics, career bases, four year students get a good education <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Middle of the road students do not have the track brighter kids would be interested in <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Hands on3. What are the limitations of our current educational system that could be met through a charter school?(time, calendar, minutes of instruction, attendance, non-instructional time) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Middle population that does not get the attention-focus is lost <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">20% of top population <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The 40-50% is lost and a good technical program would help out <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Step back and look at education and change to more project based <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Get away from class periods of 40 to 50 minutes classes <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Not learning how to work as a team when in classes as above <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Work in teams-change up the whole format4. How can businesses or other community members be included to best meet the needs of students?
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">All children learn differently.What are the educational needs of our community?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Advisor program-benchmarks and targets-to get feedback to the school-assessment piece <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Advisor committee-new technology, graduates last year <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Given authentic assessment to the students from the business people <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Real world projects to do from the community <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Project mentor for assistance to students and school <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">5. What needs to be done in order to ensure the sustainability of the charter school? How does this happen?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">If you have benchmarks and community feedback that are being met, that the feedback will help sustain school <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Collect the correct data that will help assure the school is being essential <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Keeping students in the community <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Students meeting to higher level education <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Community –priorities of the school goals clear and measurable goals

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Six sigma

Tours 2/23/2012

My thoughts on the tours.... I was impressed by how excited the administration was about the schools. It was easy to see that they believed in what they did and had a good grasp on what was going on in their classrooms.

How Vesper's was organized was also rather impressive. Being a non-educator most of the terminology went over my head, but after looking at Vesper's website and their Responsive Classroom Philosophy, the idea of project based and the Big 6... WOW! I can see why the administrator was so excited. This seems to be almost and ideal sort of school. It was also good to hear that all of the teachers and administration was on the same page as far as philosophy.

The East charter school was a bit more difficult for me to get a grasp on. The idea of the project based was good, the energy from the administrator was also good. After thinking about this I wonder are AP courses offered? Are AP courses or lack of something that a college bound student needs to consider when selecting a high school? What about social studies and literature? He said it was tied into their projects but at what level? How (maybe a question to ask East) are social studies and literature handled at their charter school?