Fremont schools to address concerns raised in surveys

At the beginning of the 2007-08 school year, Fremont Public School officials posed the question: “How do we prepare students to be ‘World Ready’?”

That question and several others were posed to teachers, administrators, staff, students, parents and community members. The school system received more than 100 responses to key topics, such as the district’s strengths, areas in which the district should improve, critical issues FPS will face in the next five to 10 years, and preparations needed for students to be “World Ready.”

School Superintendent John Kingsnorth said that the survey responses provided a wealth of information, which was used as district and community members met to build a “Strategies for Student Success” (or “S³”) strategic plan. Volunteers divided the recommendations into four categories, forming year-long committees including: World Ready, Technology, Community Connections and Facilities.

The World Ready committee focused on the 21st Century skills needed for student success. The committee explored such topics as learning at FPS and beyond, early childhood investment, experiential learning to teach problem-solving, attention to learning styles, alignment and transition between buildings, foreign language in elementary grades, credit acquisition, extended-day options, the need for education plans for all students, and Career Pathways. They recommended piloting a “school within a school” model that would remove “seat time” as a method to earn credit.

The Technology committee also reviewed several areas of concern, making several key recommendations to the Fremont Public Schools Board of Education. These recommendations included: Offering one to one computing, moving core technology skills to kindergarten through eighth grades, going wireless and paperless, using the Internet as a transfer medium, exploring video and graphic manipulation, becoming a 24-7 virtual school district, having access to 24-7 software, and utilizing “classrooms of the future.” For high school students, the committee recommended web design courses, advanced technology skills, virtual learning opportunities (including hybrid classroom and on-line classes), and courses focusing on the use of digital cameras.

The Community Engagement committee began by exploring community engagement, communication and trust. After six months of dialog and research, the committee also recommended to the school board that the district “partner with the Community in Schools (CIS) organization to provide a variety of opportunities targeting the middle school students.”

The committee specifically chose to target the middle school after committee members identified a distinct need for mentoring and other “young teen activities.” The committee found the CIS program to provide the structure and support for the needed opportunities. The committee recommended pursuing funding for a local CIS director and a 2008 implementation of the program.

The Facilities committee began its discussion by developing a master plan for the district, focusing on needed repairs and areas of improvement.

One concern that kept arising in each meeting was the need for an updated high school facility. The concern was so prevalent that the committee decided to explore possible options for a new facility. More than 50 people became involved, exploring options and possible locations for a new facility. In the end, the committee found four favorable locations: the location of the current high school, the fair grounds near the school football field, land behind the Newaygo County Career Tech Center, and a site on the Fremont Quest/Middle School property.

At press time, the committee was considering requesting that the school board allow the committee to continue reviewing the district needs and possible solutions.