Working with the Chamber of Commerce and other key stakeholders throughout the business and education community, the School District has developed the Culver City Compact – a signed document that outlines the community’s commitment and vision for a bright educational future.
“This document,” said Supt. Dave LaRose, “turns the phrase ‘Success for All Takes Us All’ into a visionary and collaborative commitment. The Culver Compact is another reminder that we must all work together to create an educational environment that tends to the whole child, that addresses student needs both inside and outside the classroom.
“We are all invested in and responsible for the future of our children, and this document underscores that investment.”
The Culver City Compact includes a wide range of signatories. Besides Mr. LaRose and School Board President Laura Chardiet, there are Mayor Jeff Cooper, CEO Steve Rose of the Chamber of Commerce, City Manager John Nachbar, President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, of West Los Angeles College, Shane P. Martin, Ph.D., Dean of Loyola Marymount University’s School of Education, Janice Pober, Sony’s senior vice president of Global Corporate Social Responsibility, Marcia Shulman, president of the Education Foundation Board of Trustees; Jody Reichel, president of the Culver City Council PTA, Audrey Stephens, director of the Office of Child Development, Principal Veronica Montes, Culver Park High School and the Adult School, President Debbie Hamme of the Assn. of Classified Employees, President David Mielke of the Teachers Union, and Marcia Antopol, executive director of the Fineshriber Family Foundation.
“The Compact is a formalization of commitments to the children and youth of Culver City that we already share,” said Ms. Chardiet. She initiated the effort to create the document. “All signatories of the Compact look forward to building on the existing close relationships, to leveraging the resources that benefit not only the School District but all stakeholders including the city, business, higher education.”
The Culver City Compact seeks three primary goals:
Goal One — All students graduate from high school.
Goal Two — All students graduate high school with the skills, passion and sense of purpose to succeed in higher learning.
Goal Three — All students have access to and experiences in pathways to relevant, sustainable jobs and careers.
“Culver City is an incredible place where everyone works together to achieve common goals,” Mayor Cooper said. “It is not surprising that we would all come together to sign a document like this.
“What really is special is that we now have a clear direction for how we intend to create these important educational pathways.
“I am encouraged that we are looking at students of all ages, addressing the critical need for us to develop a workforce technology savvy, well-prepared and engaged for what the future job market throws at them.”
The Culver City Compact outlines 10 specific strategies for working collaboratively among the School District, the city, the business community and throughout the community:
1. Build Collaborative Leadership Capacity.
2. Share Data.
3. Map Community Resources.
4. Identify, Celebrate and Expand Successful Practices.
5. Invest in, Develop and Reinforce High-Quality Teaching and Learning in All Classrooms.
6. Develop Inter-Agency Professional Learning Communities Focused on Student Learning.
7. Engage in a Purposeful Evaluation and Assessment of Current Practices.
8. Coordinate Advocacy for Educational Policy and Funding Issues.
9. Partner, Create and Enhance Student Pathways for Workforce and Career.
10. Ensure Support Services for All Students and Families.
Mr. Maleman may be contacted at gmaleman@aol.com
