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