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What's in the Future for Our Small Schools and Rural Communities?

As demands on rural public schools and small towns escalate, what are the strategies that will help us obtain both the education and community vitality that we need? The theme of the 5th Annual Symposium on Small Towns is "Leveraging Resources to Improve Schools and Communities" and will be held June 5 - 6, 2007 at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Participants traveling to west central Minnesota for this event will have opportunities to explore the dynamic operating environments and interrelationships between schools and communities, along with ways to leverage resources that can help improve both.

The Symposium is dedicated to creating awareness of small town issues and celebrating rural living. Activities this year are designed for participants to consider the way we learn; the changing roles and structure of our learning institutions (encompassing p-12, two-year and four-year higher education, along with community and continuing education); and how schools can fulfill their academic mission in a way that's beneficial to communities. At the same time, communities represent sometimes overlooked resources for schools.

For just $65 you will enjoy two keynote speakers (Charlie Kyte and Joe Graba), along with participatory conversations on a variety of topics (listed on our website), great networking opportunities, a local food and wine reception, an evening of musical entertainment by Peter Ostroushko, and the popular legislative forum.

The Center for Small Towns at the University of Minnesota, Morris is partnering with Minnesota Campus Compact, Minnesota Public Radio, and the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships to plan and present this year's two-day event.

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