This is just a reminder that the EMID board continues its discussion of our schools’ future at its work session this Wednesday, 10/12, at 6pm at Harambee. While there is no public forum time at this meeting, it important to be present as witnesses to the board’s conversation. There is also break time before and after the meeting when you can have an opportunity to talk personally with board members. We hope you can be there.

EMID-SOS organizers met this weekend and looked for ways to create a constructive conversation with board members. We understand the kind of pressure they face in their home districts and don’t think EMID should remain untouched by the budget woes inflicted on public education by the legislature. In fact, we decided to encourage the board to consider options that might decrease EMID funding somewhat over the next two years, but ensure the schools remain open through the 2012–2013 school year so that we have the space to work together on plans for the future.

We have had some feedback from the board and superintendent that suggest the options discussed on Wednesday will include more than just the member-superintendents’ recommendation for closure. We should get a better idea at that meeting of who might be willing to support a win-win solution.

If you can’t be at the meeting you may be able to get some updates via our twitter feed. Note, you do not need a twitter account to view this feed. Anyone who does tweet can add to this feed using the “#emidsos” hashtag.

I attended the high school options fair at Crosswinds last week and found it a helpful and energetic event. I was there both to check out options for my eighth grader and to share our experience with Avalon School with parents and students. While a few of the other charter schools I would have expected were missing from the event, the member districts were well represented. I’m not sure of numbers, but the event also felt reasonably well attended.

The event last week was aimed mostly at Crosswinds 10^th graders, but I also learned that Crosswinds is planning a high school Open House for its own 8^th graders this week. I have yet to get a ParentLink, but it did appear on the calendar this weekend and Principal Bass just confirmed it with me this evening. “We are calling it an Open House for 8^th graders to explore the 9/10 option at Crosswinds. There should have been a Parent link that hit homes on Friday. Also, our 8^th grade parents will be phoned by our 8^th grade teachers to personally connect on Monday or Tuesday evening this week.”

So if you have an 8^th grader, try to set aside Thursday (12/9) evening (no time on the calendar, but likely 6:30pm) to see all the reasons your soon-to-be high schooler would have a great time in 9^th and 10^th at Crosswinds.