Grain Valley Schools schedules listening session for June 1st

     Grain Valley Schools has announced a community listening session to be held on Wednesday, June 1st from 6:30pm - 8:00pm in the Library Media Center at Grain Valley High School. The listening session is part of a process initiated by the district following the recent blowback following a board directive to remove "safe space" signage from classrooms at the high school.
     The Board approved an $11,600 contract with CESO Communications during their business meeting last Thursday. CESO Communications has been engaged to survey middle and high school students, facilitate conversations with groups of students and staff, and facilitate the community listening session on June 1st, with the goal of helping "inform decisions related to a positive and welcoming school climate at each of our schools, consistent with the goals of our district’s school improvement plan", according to Deputy Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle.
     Participants must live or work in the Grain Valley community and register ahead of time. To register, visit Ensuring a Welcoming School Community where Everyone Belongs (google.com). 
     Small table discussions, moderated by trained table leaders, will be the format of the June 1st meeting. CESO Communications will evaluate input gathered from student surveys, staff and student groups, and the community listening session to present a report approximately three weeks after the conclusion of these activities. 
     "School and district leaders will use the input to inform recommendations to impact school climate. Any recommendations will be shared with the Board for their review and consideration for approval as needed," Welle said.