Manatee Technical College hosts Educational Futures Conference

Parents, teachers, Manatee County School Board members and concerned residents gathered Sept. 24 to learn more about "today's classroom."

The Educational Futures Conference, held at Manatee Technical College's main campus on State Road 70, offered community education stakeholders to become a part of the master planning process district officials hope will improve the learning environment for students countywide.

The meeting was the first public input session offered, so attendees could learn more about the process of evaluating whether a district needs more schools, technology or other things to improve education.

DeJong-Richter, the firm that has been evaluating the district for nearly a year and will continue to until the end of the school year, Chief Executive Officer Tracy Richter lead the presentation, which stressed the importance of building facilities different than brick-and-mortar structure's from our grandparents' time.

"Where we're going, facilities are a major component in education," Richter said. "Schools must accommodate the learning students need."

Attendees were also invited to join the Steering Committee, which will play an active role in telling Richter and his associates what the county's greatest needs are moving forward.

Another community session will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 7. The location is to be determined.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].