For roughly an hour, Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, hosted a Community Forum on Wednesday, February 24, at Newtown High School to discuss the district's long-term plans for education with residents.

The Community Forum was one of several hosted by the superintendent this school year, and he said  future Community Forums would focus on transportation, safety, and other topics.

Dr Erardi began the evening by listing some of the things the district is launching, like a Facilities and Enrollment Committee that will look at school buildings and enrollment, a shared services study with the town, building a new elementary school, and renovating the high school auditorium.

A video of a TED (technology, entertainment, design) presentation by L. Todd Rose called "The Myth of Average" was shared with the group to launch discussion about student needs. The video questioned designing learning environments for "average" learners, when no learner fits into the category. The video also argued for nurturing the strengths of individual students.

Dr Erardi asked participants to share their thoughts after watching the video. One resident said student work should not be graded, another spoke to technology that is available for students, one person questioned how much money would be needed to implement individualized learning, another said the video shared an idea, not a plan.

"I'd love to see it happen," another resident said. The next person said, "Let's do it."

Copies of a paper were passed around for residents to fill out what their greatest expectation is for students graduating from Newtown High School. Dr Erardi said an aspiring leadership group in the district will be assigned to read and study the responses.

People shared a number of top expectations for graduates, including math aptitude, critical thinking and problem solving skills, the ability to effectively communicate, an understanding of financial and money concepts, writing skills, and the ability to challenge themselves.

Dr Erardi also briefly talked about transportation and safety and security at the forum, while saying the topics would be brought up at future Community Forums.

While the district is designing a five-year safety and security plan, Dr Erardi said, "Leave this evening believing that… at this time there are no reductions in safety and security."

Dr Erardi did note that the Board of Education's 2016-17 spending plan is still going through the budget process.

After the superintendent asked residents for direction regarding transportation as a topic for a future meeting, residents shared concerns and comments, on length of bus rides, school start times, and ease of access for daycare.

Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander said Community Forums offer a way for the district to talk to residents about all of the educational efforts being made. The board, he said, is working on looking at a number of initiatives and topics.

While Board of Education member John Vouros said the school board's Curriculum and Instruction Committee is looking at school start times, school board Vice Chair Michelle Ku said that is a process that will take a long time. School start times will not be changed for next school year, according to Ms Ku.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jean Evans Davila said she heard a lot of good ideas from residents at the forum and she is available to discuss ideas further.

"We'll have to find out what the community is thinking and how they want us to help their children," said Ms Davila.