Vote Expected on Parkway - Rockwood Education Partnership

A recommendation on the proposal to combine the Parkway and Rockwood community education programs will go before school board members this month.

Community education offers classes to residents of all ages on a variety of subjects.

The plan is set to be presented to both school boards at their September meetings. The Parkway School Board meeting is September 11 and the Rockwood School Board meeting is September 5. Both boards are then expected to vote on the proposed combination September 19, according to Parkway's website. 

If approved by the boards, the partnership would begin July 1, 2014.

According to the Rockwood School District's website, there is currently little overlap in staffing between the two districts' programs, so they do not anticipate any loss of jobs due to the partnership.

Find out more details on the proposal and answers to frequently asked questions here.

The following information was provided about the combining of the programs by the Parkway School District in a news release. 

Both Parkway and Rockwood School Districts have a proud history of providing high quality Community Education programs that enhance the quality of life for district residents.  Since April 2012, the districts have been discussing the feasibility of a potential Community Education partnership as a way to improve upon opportunities for patrons and ensure viability of Community Education for the future. 

According to Parkway Superintendent Keith Marty, “Both districts are always interested in identifying opportunities that can allow us to better serve our patrons.  We believe a Community Education partnership has the potential to offer enhanced programming opportunities for patrons while doing so in a fiscally responsible manner, which is important given that Community Education is a self-funded department of both districts.”

Rockwood Interim Superintendent Terry Adams agreed, adding “These discussions have been about taking a proactive approach aimed at ensuring we have a sustainable Community Education program that can continue to meet the needs of patrons in both districts for many years to come.”