School District Continues To Seek Input For Community Education Program

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The school district continues to regarding their Community Education program. Those interested can fill out an online survey on the district's website. 

The survey has been open for approximately five months as the school district is hoping to generate as much input and interest as possible before revitalizing the program.

“We’re trying to get as much data as possible and give the community the opportunity to respond,” Assistant Superintendent Vanessa Clark said. “The first thing is to ascertain what the community wants first.”

Originally administration hoped to begin the program in September. With over 25,000 residents in Lacey, approximately 300 residents have taken the survey, which will be open until the end of September.

“The more input we have, the better idea we’ll have as to what the needs of the community are,” Clark said.

Once the survey is closed, administration will analyze the results and develop a plan to get the program up and running once again, Clark said.

The school district put the program on pause when enrollment began to decrease. Classes that were scheduled with instructors had to be cancelled because they were unable to meet the minimum number of participants, Clark said.

Music, art, personal enrichment, fitness and technology classes as well as trips are just a few examples of what the Community Education program can offer, Clark said.

“We feel as an educational body, our commitment is not only to our 4,700 students but it’s to the community at large,” Superintendent Richard Starodub said. “Some of the colleges use our space and it’s convenient to our Lacey residents. We’re not just here for the students but we’re here as an educational institution to the entire community.”

It’s important for the public to have access to what the school district has to offer because regardless, the buildings are open throughout much of the day, school board member Maureen Tirella said.

“[The program] may be small to start but the important point to note is that it would be at no cost to the taxpayer,” Starodub said.