Meeting recap and thanks

This from Gary Steele:

I just wanted to express my thanks to everyone for their efforts to pull off last night. It seems to me we are finally on our way to seeing some of the ideas implemented that have been kicking around Steller for the past few years. We had 88+ people (students were harder to account for as they were the ones that moved around). That is very positive participation and bodes well for building a really strong school.

As I walked around listing to the groups, it sounded to me like there are areas of consensus emerging. There are also areas of clear disagreement with the position paper. These include strong feelings about not wanting a smaller school, nor a lottery preference for Open Optional Elementary programs. I also heard a clear sense that emphasizing the schools mission, and an on-going, every year effort to orient everyone towards it- students, parents and staff - was important.

I continue to be impressed by the student leadership that emerges. Robin and Cooper did a excellent job of facilitating and were very poised, articulate and clear when they made their presentations. "High Chancellor" David Breen continues to provide constructive leadership - and as Charles pointed out - What a well written statement he presented - see under "Op Group Update" below. (Do we also have a female Senator/Princess Amadea at Steller?) I don't know about you, but these kids inspire me to work for the best school possible to allow them to explore their full potentials.

A special thanks to all the facilitators/ recorders - Julie Alfred, KJ Farley, Cindy Lankford, Treva Steele, Ken, Nina. And to Barbara Wohlforth and Cheryl Himes who organized the materials as well as facilitated. I'm always impressed that those who do school all day, also can do more "after hours." While we all have very full lives, at last for some of the rest of us this is a change of activity.

Thanks to Charles Wohlforth for helping manage two meetings in one night and at the same time - at Steller and at Chugach. Does he believe in Open Optional education or what?

A big thanks to Alyse Galvin for the 300 cookies, and flyers that went out Wednesday afternoon. The Galvin family continues to be exemplary public servants. Not only have they "deployed" there dad for the sake of our larger state community, but "single parent" Alyse stays actively involved in two public schools while also home schooling - truly amazing!

We had participation from half a dozen staff - Jen, Natalie, Bob, Ken, Nina and Larry - which shows a continuing commitment to go above and beyond for the school. As a parent, I want to do everything I can to support teachers with this kind of commitment.

Thanks to Karin for lining up the MPR for us and participating in the meeting. She was also able to wander the groups, and I'm sure has her own impressions to share.

I look forward to hearing others perspectives, seeing the results when they are posted on http://www.renewsteller.org/ and moving forward - building an ever stronger and vibrant learning community.

In the spirit of Georg Wilhelm Steller - "independence, love of knowledge, courage, and a pioneering spirit",

I am sincerely yours (pardon the archaic expression :-) ),

Gary