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Learning Community Plans for 2010
As 2010 draws near, The Learning Community continues to play a considerable role in improving education throughout Omaha. In May, Harvard University’s Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice released a yearlong study on the Learning Community, and heralded it as a ground-breaking plan. The Learning Community was established to address the significant academic gap that exists between students of different economic status. In doing so, the LC has proven remarkably unique by establishing its own governing council, creating a common levy to merge tax resources for stable funding, and securing the commitment of 11 school districts across two counties to an inter-district socioeconomic diversity plan.
In the coming year, the LC will focus mainly on establishing two Elementary Learning Centers in the most poverty-ridden areas of the community in sub-districts #2 and #5. The Learning Community will distribute its given resources to bring the learning centers to full working order. “The primary need in all of our work is to address the academic gap and increase student achievement in both literacy and math,” describes Rick Kolowski, chair of the Executive Committee for the Learning Community Coordinating Council. “The eventual success of the Learning Centers will be determined by that stated improvement in student achievement.” Plans for the Elementary Learning Centers must be complete by June 1, 2010.
Additionally, the Learning Community will begin working directly with the school districts to implement its Diversity Plan. The plan is intended to provide educational opportunities for all students and encourage socioeconomic diversity within each district. Moreover, the plan includes a new open enrollment system for students residing within the community. “At this time, we’re not sure how many students will be impacted by open enrollment,” says Kolowski. “As signup occurs – then we will have a very good idea of movement around the two county area within the 11 school districts.”
Kolowski, who recently retired from a 41-year career in public education, was the founding principal of Millard West High School and continues his active membership in academic organizations. “I would encourage any Leadership Omaha member to consider running for and serving on a local school board,” says Kolowski. “The importance of intelligent, open-minded and creative school boards is crucial for the health and vitality of a school district and for the continued excellence of quality schools in our country. I hope to see many of our future LO grads serving on such boards in the future. The work is not always easy, but it is highly meaningful and greatly impacts our community.”
The following Education offices will be determined in the 2010 primary Election:
Arlington Board of Education #24
Bennington Board of Education #59
Board of Governors Metropolitan Community College - Districts 1, 2, 3, & 4
Douglas County West Board of Education #15
Elkhorn Board of Education #10
Fort Calhoun Board of Education #3
Gretna Board of Education #37
Learning Community Coordinating Council – Districts 1, 3, & 5
Millard Board of Education #17
Omaha Public Schools Subdistricts 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, & 11
Ralston Board of Education #54
For more information about these offices, qualifications, and filing requirements, visit Vote Douglas County.