Help us choose the best ideas

Should Manchester schools expand project-based learning or offer universal Pre-K? Is there value in limiting elementary classes to 20 students?

These are a few of the questions community members and educators discussed and voted on at our first workshop to finalize our plan for remodeling education in the city. (See below for an opportunity to weigh in if you could not attend.)

We will hold two more public sessions this month

  • On Dec. 12 we’ll invite feedback on ideas for financing our schools and rethinking our school board structure from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Memorial High School.
  • On Dec. 18, we’ll focus on our schools’ connection with community non-profits and the culture and priorities of our school district. That session will be at the Institute for Art and Design at New England College from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Dec. 3 workshop at West High School addressed professional development for educators and how the district educates students and assesses their learning. We shared 17 ideas proposed by our Community Planning Group members, most of whom are Manchester parents, students, community members and educators. Following a rich discussion, attendees were asked to choose the eight ideas they favored most.

If you missed the session, the proposed 17 ideas shared at this session, as well as those that will be shared Dec. 12 and Dec. 18 are available here. The voting forms for all categories are on our homepage. Voting will be open until the end of December.

The workshop was led by our planning partner 2Revolutions and four members of our Community Planning Group, all with deep connections to Manchester: two school district educators, a principal, and a community member.