The Board of Education will hold three community forums in the fall as part of a new process to involve the public in the early stages of the development of the school system's operating budget.

The forums will reach out to a broad group of stakeholders, including groups that typically are not involved in the planning and budgeting process. The meetings are specifically designed to provide the public with the opportunity to give input about the future of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) through its annual update of the strategic plan, Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence, and to discuss budget issues related to the plan.

The forums are scheduled on September 9, September 23, and October 7, 2004, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., in the auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.

Each forum will focus on specific goals and initiatives from the strategic plan.

· September 9 - Goal 1: Ensure the Success of Every Student

· September 23 - Goal 2: Provide an Effective Instructional Program

· October 7 - Goal 3: Strengthen Productive Partnerships for Education
Goal 4: Create a Positive Work Environment in a Self-Renewing Organization

Participants will have an opportunity to submit written testimony as well as discuss the goals and initiatives in facilitated breakout sessions. Each group will report out their summary comments, and information from all three forums will be compiled, reviewed by the Board of Education, and shared with the public.

The forums will be videotaped and cablecast at a later date on MCPS Channel 34.

The public can participate in several ways:

· Attend one or all three of the forums. No advance registration required.

· Post comments on the school system web site at the link below.

· Mail comments to the Board of Education at 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

The Board of Education also will conduct its regularly scheduled budget hearings on January 13 and 20, 2005, to provide the public with opportunities to comment on the superintendent's recommended budget.

The current strategic plan was updated and approved by the Board of Education on May 24, 2004.