07/17/09 - Learning Link lays out goals

AUBURN — Concerned local people met Tuesday evening and brainstormed ways “to improve the quality of life for all in DeKalb County.”

 

Learning Link, an initiative of the DeKalb County Community Foundation, sponsored the event at Bridgewater Golf Club and brought in consultant Jay Connor of the Collaboratory for Community Support. Learning Link has met several times to discuss ways of improving DeKalb County.

 

Each Learning Link committee — or action team — focuses on a specific age group and ways to help the people in that age group. The early childhood action team said its goal is for all children in DeKalb County to enter kindergarten ready to learn. By this fall, the group would like to see all county schools adopt the same definition for kindergarten readiness.

 

The school-age action team, which addressed concerns of students at all grade levels, said its

goal is for the county’s students to “attain outstanding performance as measured by academic, vocational and civic achievement.”

 

DeKalb Central superintendent Dr. Sherry Grate, who serves on the committee, said she would like to see children exposed to careers as early as kindergarten. By the time they are in high school, she would like to see them mentored at area businesses and be focused on curriculum that would help them succeed in college.

 

The lifelong learners action team hopes to encourage all adults to be a part of the community through education and civic activities.

 

They also would like to see businesses and organizations offer more educational opportunities.

After each team’s presentation, those who attended the event brainstormed more ideas about the direction each team should go.

 

Following the event, many individuals said that while they are excited about the ideas brainstormed during the meeting, they are anxious to take action.

 

People also said they would like to see more people from outside Auburn and from a variety of backgrounds sharing their thoughts and ideas.