[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Community Education

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Community Education
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210369734.shtml


   With the departure of District 281's award winning Community Education
   director to the Wayzata schools, it seems a good time to discuss the
   concept and future of Community Education.
   It seems that every public school district has a Community Education
   program, even the smallest like Brooklyn Center (#286) and St. Anthony
   (#282). They vary in breadth and depth, but they all offer classes and
   activities for those of us over 18, i.e., beyond the K-12 zone.
   Question: why is this a Public School District function? I ask for two
   reasons. One, there is obvious duplication of services. Two, there
   doesn't appear any significant connection between K-12 and Community
   Education. You could graduate from Robbinsdale and then take Community
   Education classes at Osseo (#279) or elsewhere. Or vice versa.
   Having just returned from the St. Petersburg, Florida area where the
   school district is a massive county wide operation (17 high schools!)
   suggests that we could do the same here, make Community Education a
   county wide operation. That alone should provide better efficiency and
   consistency.
   Since this is my fantasy, I'll further require that my County
   Education operation be run as a county agency, like the library
   system. The latter is also a "community education" service, so a
   merger seems desirable as well. Furthermore, a number of city programs
   that overlap in this area could also be supplanted by this agency.
   What I don't want is a joint powers arrangement amongst the school
   districts. It would be too messy and besides, my goal is for the
   school districts not to worry about it at all. I want them to focus on
   K-12 exclusively. (I'll look at ECFE in a later post.)
   Part of my reasoning is to avoid the co-mingling of funds and related
   resources. It will often work out that the County Education agency
   will rent space and facilities here and there, a source of income for
   the school districts. They could employ district staff as the district
   deems them available as well, but under separate employment
   arrangements including payroll.
   Now of course, some of you would simply abolish the current Community
   Education system, the politicians letting the private sector take
   over. That's your fantasy.