LISBON

Thanks to a three-year Western Maine Educational Collaborative grant, the Lisbon School Department will gather as many as 70 people, representing a broad crosssection of the community, today and Saturday to create a shared vision for the district’s future.

Business leaders, municipal officials, students, parents, school employees and representatives from nonprofit organizations have been invited to participate in the event today from 3:30 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Philip W. Sugg Middle School.

Space is limited, but those interested in participating can contact the Superintendent’s Office to attend.

The administrative assistant to the superintendent, Sheila Clifford, can be contacted via email at sclifford@lisbonschoolsme.or g or by phone at 353-6711, ext. 205.

The Lisbon School Department’s Future Search will focus on answering this question: “All students learn in different ways and in different time frames. With this understanding, how must the Lisbon School Department evolve to meet the present and future needs of all learners?”

Judy Enright, a former public school administrator, will moderate the discussion using a process known as “Future Search.” She said many other Maine communities have made major, positive changes in their schools using a similar visioning process.

“The Lisbon School Department is about to embark on what we feel is the most exciting initiative since we have been a part of the school department,” said Superintendent Richard Green and Heather Wilmot in a joint statement. “This work will create the foundation for transformative change. As an outcome, we want to identify a set of themes that represent a direction for the Lisbon School Department; the big picture ideas that express the common ground and shared sense of direction of the community and school department. These themes, once polished, will eventually work into a well-written vision statement.”

Updated information about Future Search will be posted at www.lisbonschoolsme.org.