2003 NS School Collaboration Study a memorandum of understanding

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DRAFT • There is a sense among the boards that they are individually responsible and accountable for issues such as students' access to opportunities, which makes the idea of collaboration difficult. • The school systems have obvious differences, but the differences may be perceived as being greater than they really are. • It's old news that there are differences -let's focus on commonalities. • That this is not a prelude to merger -that's not what this group is trying to resolve. • One participant has talked with a parent adamantly opposed to collaboration, almost as if they'll be contaminated. Commitment • Collaboration is hard work -what will it take to keep people at the table long enough to identify and act on real opportunities for collaboration? • It is easier to tinker around the edges of collaboration than to tackle really important issues. Achieving meaningful collaboration requires win-win outcomes for all participants. • Collaboration needs to be meaningful, not just something to say we're collaborating. False collaboration could lead to mistrust of boards by constituents. • The hope that something positive will come out of the process. • Considerable ambivalence about jumping into the process because of doubts that there will be a meaningful effort by all parties. Potential Benefits and Outcomes • We need to agree on the big picture outcomes for collaboration and to identify what we want to accomplish (e.g., creating greater educational opportunities) before deciding how to accomplish it (e.g., pursuing greater funding equity). • We need to establish short-term objectives and achieve some initial short-term progress yet keep in mind that collaboration is a long-term and ongoing process. • How do we measure success, what are the boundaries of this effort, and what are reasonable timeframes? • How might this effort contribute to student achievement? • That all students in county have access to same programs. • There should be measurable outcomes, such as student achievement, not just a political exercise. • Increase equitable educational opportunities that create a greater sense of partnership among the jurisdictions and lead to more efficient, cost effective, and better use of existing resources.