The 2011-12 school year concluded in exciting fashion with a day-long dialogue called the “Greenhouse Project.” Over 250 individuals participated, including staff members, students, parents, university representatives, and community leaders.

The Greenhouse Project served as the culmination of numerous community forums, focus groups, and faculty input sessions – each designed to solicit input with regard to current and future strengths, weaknesses, and critical issues facing our schools. The charge to this diverse group of educational stakeholders was to review the current reality and desired future, and to create a set of shared beliefs to serve as the foundation for the district’s direction.

The shared beliefs included the following:

• Belief in a “Growth Mindset.” This belief supports the notion that all students can increase their intelligence, given appropriate instruction, a high level of student effort, and time to learn. This belief is critical if we desire to challenge all students and ultimately eliminate the achievement gap.

•  Belief in the importance of an equity focus. This belief accentuates the importance of rigorous classroom instruction that incorporates culturally relevant components. An emphasis on the whole child, including character traits, should be evident.

•  Belief that accountability and responsibility for implementation of the district goals is critical. This is a reaction to input from all groups that district goals have not been implemented uniformly or with the appropriate oversight.

• Belief that professional development should be embedded into the culture of the organization. This belief addresses the need to create a common language regarding instruction and a clear picture of what best practice looks like in classrooms.

•  Belief that a culture of collaboration, civility, and mutual trust – as well as a collective commitment to do whatever it takes to improve the learning environment – is critical to our success. Positive change will be difficult if the culture that exists in our schools is not addressed. The interactions among and between students, parents, leadership, and staff need to be open, honest, and focused on improving the academic achievement of all children.

We areworking toward a new long range strategic plan and this information will serve as the cornerstone.

In other news

Our redistricting process is under way.

The Redistricting Advisory Council has been working on four different plans. Every family living at an address under consideration for redistricting has been sent a postcard to let them know how they can provide feedback and stay informed.

Two public hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks: Monday, Dec. 3 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Carrboro High in the Café Commons; and Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Chapel Hill High in the auditorium.

In addition, the community can offer suggestions and feedback electronically at redistricting@chccs.k12.nc.us or by calling 919-960-1897.

The Board of Education will hold a work session on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Center and is expected to approve one of the plans at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, at 7 p.m. at Chapel Hill Town Hall.