the Gates Foundation Community Initiative

This site was last updated on September 13, 2002

The San Juan Island community and Friday Harbor High School have been honored by the Gates Foundation by their selection as a finalist for a significant grant from the Connecting Schools and Communities Initiative. If successful, the school would be awarded nearly $250,000 to incorporate more projects and applications into the curriculum. In addition, the community could be awarded up to $400,000 for support of a community project. The school and community would integrate around this project with students taking a lead in it's organization and implementation.

On August 17, 2002 the high school sponsored an evening forum, facilitated by students and members of a community steering committee. The purpose was to describe the opportunity and to brainstorm possible projects. The results of this forum are summarized below.

What is the next step? We need to prepare a proposal to the Gates Foundation by October 15, 2002. This proposal will outline how FHHS will accomplish the principles of a "high tech high", will describe the community project, and will describe how the students will assume leadership and responsibility for its mission..

This site will serve as a center of information and communication both during the final stages of proposal, and during the formation and implementation of the project.

This site will be updated regularly. If you have not received email notices about this site, and would like to receive notices, send us an email request here.

BACKGROUND

View the February 2002 press release from the Gates Foundation, with Governor Locke, announcing the Connecting Schools to Communities Initiative by clicking here.

View the "Request for Information" from the Gates Foundation asking for information from interested schools by clicking here.

Part of the possible award would involve incorporating principles of a "High Tech High" View those attributes by clicking here.

View the FHHS response to the Request for Information by clicking here.

OUR COMMUNITY FORUM

View Dr. Alison Olzendam's PowerPoint presentation from the Forum here.

View a list of of community members on the initial Steering Committee and of students who helped facilitate the small groups here.

View the Needs and Challenges that were identified at the forum here.

View an overview of the Forum's results here.

View the brainstormed ideas and their preliminary categorization here.

THE NEXT STEPS

We have received a "Request for Proposals" from the Gates Foundation. View that RFP here.

Briefly, the RFP requires a detailed description of how we will meet the objectives of a "High Tech High" and a detailed introduction to our community project. While the Gates Foundation is willing let the details of the community project evolve over the next several months, we owe it to ourselves to maintain August's momentum by continuing with an intense exploration of the alternatives. This site, more than anything else, is designed to facilitate and encourage that.

We have formed a Steering Committee that will assist us in organizing and synthesizing the brainstormed ideas (click here to review) for our proposal. This group will be meeeting on Mondays, September 16, 23, 30, and October 7 at 3:30 in the High School Library. Dr. Olzendam, from WSU's Center for Bridging the Digital Divide and representing the Gates Foundation, will join us on September 30. Feel free to join us and participate in the development of the community project. The high school staff will also be meeting and reviewing strategies to accomplish the high tech high mission.

CURRENT LIST OF PROPOSED COMMUNITY PROJECTS

This list is just a beginning, to stimulate thought and comment. Please use the email links freely to pass on your comments and ideas. We will be posting summaries of the comments received and we will assume to have your permission unless you state otherwise.

Cultural Center:
A facility, run by students, that consolidates all art, history, and societal issues for the Island. Mission – to inform, promote, and create
email your comments here

Teen Center:
A place where student activities are consolidated. After school activities, weekend dances, games, field trips…
email your comments here

Affordable Housing:
Student participation in this issue. Politics, fund raising, “clerk of the works”, ...
email your comments here

Gravel Pit Project:
Student organization takes the lead in addressing critical issues and their resolution
email your comments here

Parks & Recreation:
Student organization seeks short term and long term ideas for recreation and parks
email your comments here

Alternative Energy:
Develop and promote alternative energy prototypes
email your comments here

Digital Divide:
Student organization that drops the digital divide by distributing computers and providing training in their use.
email your comments here

Manage a Networked Community :
Students create and manage a community network that would distribute learning, economic development, and cultural tools
email your comments here

Would you like to add a project for community and Steering Committee discussion?
Send your idea here.

This Site is Maintained by Student Webmaster, Lizzy Herbert
email Lizzy here