Close to 100 United South Central District residents attended a Community Engagement meeting held at Nasinec Event Center on Oct. 13.
The event was held to provide district residents with an opportunity to learn more about the district’s facilities planning efforts. The event also gave attendees a chance to ask questions and share their thoughts on possible solutions for the district to be able to continue to meet the needs of the district’s students.
One attendee stated they no longer had children or grandchildren attending USC and hadn’t been in the building for years so they appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the situation.
Two common thoughts seemed to prevail during the meeting. Most people seemed to understand, or agree, that USC currently was short on space. Another common thread was the positive feeling of the people at the meeting towards USC staff, not just the teachers but all staff from custodians to kitchen workers.
One of the most common questions raised during the meeting was about future population and enrollment numbers.
Jacqui Coleman of InGensa, a consulting firm hired by USC to help guide the district through their planning efforts, told the crowd that enrollment and population trends will be a part of the discussion during the next community engagement meeting.
“I believe the next meeting will be held sometime in January of next year,” USC superintendent Taylor Topinka said. “It is one of the reasons we are working with InGensa. They have the knowledge and ability to pull those numbers together.”
District residents at the meeting also encouraged the School Board members to explore all possibilities for a solution.
“It was good to hear the concerns and questions that people have so that we can give them the answers they are looking for,” Topinka commented.
Topinka also emphasized that no decisions have been made at this time.
“The board remains committed to a thoughtful, inclusive, and transparent process that reflects the values of the entire community,” Topinka added. “That means that educational needs, facility limitations, financial responsibility and community input will all be considered.”
