MPR: The Future of Small Towns: Idea Generator: Idea detail and comments

Categories : People : Economic opportunity : Human services : Telecommunications : Transportation : Social/cultural opportunities : Education : Government & policy : Other

Idea for: Education

Turn the local school into a community school
Turn the local school into a community school to make full use its available resources:

- Providing lifelong learning programs
- Using the gym and PE equipment for community wellness
- Using the shop facilities for local machinery repair or to make woodcrafts
- Making the high-speed internet connections available to all
- Using facilities to create handicraft or art products
- Using the land to create a community garden
- Turning the school library into a community library

A community school may also lay the foundation for a school-based enterprise (edu-tourism, product-based, service-based) which can both impact the local economy and reverse the youth flight problem.

From Steve Lamb of Salem, OR on 05/27/05

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From VIctoria Ford of Saint Paul, MN on 06/07/05

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Hear-Hear! The more people we can draw into the school community to take part in an active way the better for the entire town. Small towns especially so often are centered on their schools so let's bring everyone in to be involved. I loved the suggestions in this idea and there are probably many more if we put our heads together.

From Lowell Liedman of New Ulm, MN on 06/04/05

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Rural schools are at the CORE of a community.
The fabric of a community is woven through the variety of experiences that occur at the school location. It is frustrating that rural school are forced to beg/plead for adequate $$$ for all the services provided.
For our state to be healthy we need to support and celebrate what rural schools accomplish.
Unfortunately due to societal changes rural schools need to provide a variety of services not directly tied to academic and physical education.

From Onida Paulbeck of Int'l. Falls, MN on 05/31/05

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Towns with strong schools are strong economically

From Jerry Cleveland of Spring Valley, MN on 05/29/05

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Our small town is looking really empty, though our school system is very solid regionally. The economic writing is on the wall, however. Will you share this forum with neighboring public and community media?

From Marta Ljungkull of Cumberland, WI on 05/29/05

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The school is often the hub of the community. This is a way for investment in a school to become an investment in the community.

From Joseph Mish of Pine Island, MN on 05/28/05

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