Coeur d’Alene Reservation, ID

Names of Action Team co-chairs: Chris Meyer, Gerald Green
Number of people on this Action Team: 7

1. What is the need or issue your Action Team is tackling in your community?
Provide coordinated, comprehensive processes whereby members of the local communities, whatever their age and financial standing, can pursue their personal education.

2. Who else or what existing projects are you partnering with?
Coeur d’Alene Tribe Department of Education
Plummer/Worley Parent Teacher Organization
Plummer/Worley School District
Plummer City Library
Coeur d’Alene Tribe Natural Resources Department
Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
University of Idaho Tutors, Moscow, Idaho
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington

3. What goals does your Action Team have? (What do you want to accomplish in the next 2-3 years?
Incorporate a professional/technical career program in grades 6-12
Provide effective GED program for adults
Increase the proportion of graduates from the Plummer/Worley High School classes
Establish job shadowing and internship and visitation experiences for high school students to explore the many career opportunities in the communities
Pass a bond for the construction of a new school
Pass a bond for the construction of a new library
Improve the quality of education in grades K-12
Provide a continuous learning clearing house through establishing connections with local universities, community and technical colleges and through establishing a format for visiting speakers
Identify and address factors that contribute to a student’s increased probability of dropping out of school

4. What do you want your Action Team to accomplish by June 30, 2008?
50% completion of the school and library bonds
Graduate the entire Plummer Worley Senior Class
Define a process for identifying factors that contribute to the high dropout rate in the Plummer/Worley School District
Begin the a career program for middle and high school students that will eventually include job shadowing, internships, and college visitations

5. What impact do you want your actions to have and how will you measure that impact?
We wish to increase an appreciation of the local communities and natural surroundings by bolstering the optimism of residents through education.
We will measure the impact of Lifelong Learning efforts through monitoring the proportion of graduates in the Plummer/Worley Senior Classes, by monitoring the number of people involved in continuing educational programs

6. How will these actions reduce community poverty and/or build community leadership?
Through a variety of educational processes the Lifelong Learning Committee hopes to alter the basic perception of the Plummer/Worley/DeSmet/Tensed communities as oppressed by poverty. Opportunities exist within the communities and the quality of life can be attained that far surpasses the populace’s current expectations. Through educational involvements, we hope to raise the level of appreciation for the local community and its natural setting.

7. What initial action steps have you taken?
Monthly meetings with school district administrators to discuss curriculum, instructional practices, enrolment etc.
Completed a grant to support professional/technical education for high school, GED and adult learners
Established a meeting between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe Council and the Plummer/Worley School District School Board

8. Other information you would like to share:
Basically, we would like to increase level of optimism and appreciation within the local communities through involvement in educational activities.