The Portage County Business Council will host two public forums to accept written comments related to the operations and management of the Stevens Point Area Public School District on Monday, Oct. 1, and Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Monday's forum will be held at the Holiday Inn of Stevens Point and Tuesday's will be held at the village of Plover Municipal Center. Both forums are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. and end at approximately 8:30 p.m. Individuals unable to attend the forums can submit anonymous comments by visiting the Business Council's Web site at www.portagecountybiz.com.
MGT of America, Inc. will coordinate the forums. MGT of America, an educational management-consulting firm, has been hired by the Portage County Business Council to conduct an Audit of Operations and Management of the Stevens Point Area Public Schools.
Everyone is welcome to visit the forums and provide comments in writing and review other written comments made by other community members in the following focused areas: organizational structure, personnel, facilities management and use, financial management, technology and community involvement.
The purposes of the forums are to identify exemplary district programs and practices and identify ways the district can save funds, enhance management systems, and increase operational efficiency and effectiveness.
"MGT of America Inc utilizes public forums during the audit process to gather comments that will help in the reviewing of the district's operations," said Brian Doudna, executive director of the Portage County Business Council.
"The format of these public forums allows residents to provide their comments in writing on flip chart paper throughout the evening, allowing residents to come and go at their convenience, without having to spend hours at a meeting waiting their turn to comment," Doudna said.
"The objectives of the audit are to review areas of general business operations for methods to enhance the district's service delivery systems; identify and review effectiveness of current systems, procedures, and policies related to organization structure, community involvement, financial management, facilities use and management, technology, and personnel management; identify and describe mandatory (state and federal governments) educational programs and the levels of funding available to finance these programs; and to increase public and business awareness of school district facts, figures and benchmarks to enhance community awareness and increase the potential for community partnerships," he said.
Verbal comments will also be taken, if an individual requests to talk with a consultant from MGT of America Inc.