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Cook County Stakeholder Listening Sessions

STAKEHOLDER GROUPS	DATE
School Board	8/4/23
Elementary Staff	8/28/23
High School Staff	8/28/23
Support Staff	8/28/23
Outside Coaches	8/28/23
High School Students	10/5/23
Grand Portage Community	10/5/23
Community Zoom	10/5/23
Open Community In-Person	11/1/23
Open Community In-Person	11/9/23

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What are the Great Things happening in the Cook County School District?

What are the Challenges facing the Cook County School District?

What does the Mission Statement “Success for Each-Respect for All” mean to you?

What would you like the Cook County School District to be Known For 10 years from now?

What are the Skills and Mindsets students need for success?

What are the Greatest Facility and Grounds Needs district wide?

What Advice would you give the decision makers as they work through this process?

What are your Expectations as we move through this process? (School Board Only)

What would you want your Younger Siblings to have in school that you didn’t have? (Students Only)

What is the best way for the District to Communicate with you? (Community Only)

Listening Session Questions

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Internal Common Themes

New and improved meal offerings
Teacher leadership program
Small class size
School forests/outdoor space
Great teaching/caring staff
Beautiful culinary arts facility and teacher
Unique and historic place to live
Top notch science facilities
Special Ed programs

External Common Themes

School garden and outside education
New administration and dedicated effort
Sports
Good teachers
Culinary arts class
Cooperation with playhouse
Safety and certification options for students
After school program
AP classes

What Great Things are happening in the Cook County School District?

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Internal Common Themes

Housing for staff and families
Budget
Storage in the classroom
Cafeteria is loud and crowded
Very loud building
Windows that don’t open and lack screens
Uneven heat
Bad bathrooms
How much homework teachers give
Lack of funding for certain sports

External Common Themes

People wearing so many hats
Limited options for alternatives/offerings
Vast distance within the county
Changing enrollment
Affordable housing
Retention of teachers
Bus driver shortage
Lack of childcare options

What Challenges are facing the Cook County School District?

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Internal Common Themes

Personalized Learning Pathway
Each kid reaches their highest potential in a loving and supportive environment
All students feel successful and teachers work with students to set up a plan for success if the student doesn't feel successful
It means that all students deserve a rigorous education and all students deserve to feel safe

External Common Themes

Diversity of people living in this community
That success looks different for each child/family
That every student matters
Fostering learning for each child in a safe and supportive environment
Students are able to be themselves and be respected for who they are
A goal that should be on everyone's mind

What does the Mission Statement mean to you?

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Internal Common Themes

Perseverance/Grit
Adaptability/flexibility
Critical thinking/problem solving and ask good questions
Communication
Collaboration
Strong work ethic
Time management
Growth mindset in all areas

External Common Themes

Open mindedness
Think for themselves
Financial literacy
Collaboration and analytical thinking
How to use technology
Value of community service
Resilience
A two or four-year degree is not required
Problem solving

What are the Skills and Mindsets students need for success?

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Internal Common Themes

Listen to the people who use the space daily
Walk through or try and perform the job that is in the current space to know why it is important for these updates
Think big picture
Consider effects on the environment with this improvement, consider solar, leads, net zero building
Be up front and honest with the community and building users from the get go

External Common Themes

Please keep in mind they are representing a diverse group of people and ALL voices need to be heard and at the table
Utilize experts/already created info (previous data etc.) so we can fill in gaps knowledge
Think big or go home
Be reflective and thoughtful of what will benefit the student & community
Stay engaged with all stakeholders
Build for the long term in quality and efficiency

What Advice would you give the decision makers moving through this process?

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What are the School Board’s Expectations going through this process?

Clarity
Full transparency
An understanding of what the community desires and will support
No BS
Full circle communications with the community
Attention to detail
Organize current state and future needs so we can make good decisions
A relatively objective look of the needs of the facilities

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Student Responses: What would you want for Younger Siblings?

Better bathrooms
Good food
Less stress, 4-day weeks
Nicer kids
Good coaching staff
Tutor opportunity
Gender inclusive bathrooms, and more support for the LGBTQIA+ students that go to our school
A track
Better football speakers and lights and turf
Less homework
Lights for the baseball field
Softball field with lights, closer to school

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What is the best way for the District to Communicate with you? (External)

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�Cook County Schools

Greatest Facility Needs

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