Meeting seeks ways to improve Poland schools

February 2, 2017 at 12:02a.m.

POLAND

Superintendent David Janofa told a crowd of about 100 residents, stakeholders and educators to remember one thing: “Moving this district forward is going to take difficult conversations and has its own challenges.”

Discussion at the second school board planning committee at Poland Seminary High School Wednesday night focused on more ways to improve the district.

For the first time dozens of residents attended to help reach a consensus about the district’s direction.

Chordas Studios, led by Youngstown State University Professor Ronald Chordas, led the group discussions and divided attendees into 11 groups to tackle six topics outlined at the first committee meeting Jan. 18.

The topics are finances, curriculum, facilities, communication/perception, technology and enrollment.

At the end of the discussions, representatives of each group gave more ideas about practical solutions to problems, ways to overcome obstacles and information to determine the feasibility of goals.

Lisa Weimer, a mother of students in the district, said she was satisfied with the discussion her group had about the district’s facilities. She noted that members of the public who attended lended a different dynamic from the last meeting.

“Last time it was more productive; this time I felt it became more about the past and personal issues and less about moving forward, and I hope that we can all focus on the task at hand,” she said.

Individual topic groups are to meet again to further discuss how to achieve improvements.