Educational Partnership Ventures

Grant Money. Resources. Knowledge. Services. Best Practices.

Each of these assets within school districts, and their individual school buildings, could be deepened under new platforms of collaboration - crossing city, county and regional boundaries. Even more, new venues in cross-sector collaboration could serve schools at an even more profound level.

Would would our schools look like if - among and between peer institutions - such assets were mobilized?
What would our communities look like if - between schools and community partners - such assets were mobilized?

The words that arrives in my mind: they will SURVIVE and the will SUSTAIN and they will support LEARNERS.

It's hard to envision this depth of sharing and cooperation. Having talked with educators throughout NE Ohio, everyone agrees it is essential for long term financial viability and for learners, themselves. But - for some reason - we can't seem to speak this language of collaboration beyond the nod of agreement.

Blocking this approach to sustainability in education are two factors: 1) the shear magnitude of demand schools are now experiencing related to performance and financial management and 2) the unwillingness to change and relinquish domains of power. These are huge blocks to educational regionalism and require schools to examine how they do things and why. Most likely, it will require cultural and operational change.

Supporting the new venture platform are national best practices and initiatives such as STEM, P-16 Councils and other reform efforts. However, these are targeted efforts that have not yet been translated into an industry norm.

Given the excitement and efficiencies that could ensue from CROSS SCHOOL and CROSS DISTRICT collaboration, resource and knowledge sharing -- it certain seems like an idea worth enhancing in the Advance NEO Government Collaboration agenda.

The beautiful thing about this is.....

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

And sparks ALWAYS rise from conversation.