Facilitating team and community engagement consultant to develop report on resident priorities

A “facilitating team” composed of community members, working together with a newly hired consultant, will soon be tasked with developing a report on the priorities and values of the Northport-East Northport (NEN) school district community. At its February 18 board of education (BOE) meeting, the board approved a contract with Discovery Works Collaborative for community engagement consultation services, for a cost not to exceed $140,000. All trustees except David Badanes voted in favor of hiring the agency. 

Discovery Works was the only one of four firms that responded to the district’s direct request for proposals (RFP). The advertised RFP yielded no responses. 

In its proposal, Discovery Works highlighted its expertise in helping school districts foster meaningful stakeholder connections, building trust and creating long-range plans rooted in community feedback. The firm has successfully partnered with over 300 school districts nationwide, including New York’s Bedford Central, Pelham Union Free, Ossining Union Free and Arlington Central school districts.

Current NEN Superintendent Dr. Dave Moyer resigned from his position as Arlington superintendent in 2023, just prior to joining the NEN school district. During Moyer’s time as superintendent, the Arlington community worked with Discovery Works to launch “Arlington Connect,” an effort to bring residents together to develop goals and priorities to improve the schools and their plan for the future. 

Moyer told the Journal that, from his vantage point, the work facilitated by Discovery Works was extremely successful, resulting in a $179.6M facilities referendum that will support a new school, modernized learning spaces and security upgrades in all buildings across the district, Moyer told the Journal. 

Discovery Work’s approach to engagement begins with a communications assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of internal and external communications, community outreach and district branding. The data gathered will inform recommendations for enhancing current communication strategies. Additionally, Discovery Works proposes an online survey to gauge community awareness of district challenges and opportunities.

During the start of the program, according to the Discovery Works proposal, the BOE will develop a “charge to the community” that outlines the planning parameters, timeline and goals for the process. As part of this initiative, a facilitating team – composed of district residents – will be assembled to oversee the community engagement plan.

The facilitating team plays a critical role in shaping the engagement strategy and developing a proposal to present to the BOE, reads the proposal. Discovery Works describes team members as “experts at living in your community,” emphasizing their ability to effectively understand, inform and engage residents. The team typically consists of 20 to 25 individuals, including district residents, staff, employee union representatives, district leadership, up to two board liaisons, professional advisors and an internal coordinator.

The goal is to ensure diverse representation across different age groups, backgrounds and areas of expertise, Moyer explained during a March 6 BOE discussion on the upcoming program.

Based on input from the facilitating team, Discovery Works will engage the community through work sessions, workshops, open houses and other forums to shape a final report that’s used to guide the district’s strategic plan. 

A “strategic plan” identifies district priorities and annual goals to support these priorities, Moyer told the Journal. In a school district, these priorities are typically related to the instructional program, facilities and resources. The facilitating team will help guide an inclusive community engagement process in which the entire community will be invited to participate, Moyer explained. This participation includes community workshops during which community members not on the facilitating team can take part in a structured feedback process.

The facilitating team will then summarize the findings of the engagement program in a report for the board. The report informs the board so that board members have a clear understanding of the community’s priorities and values during the development of the final strategic plan, Moyer said. According to the proposal, the final strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for achieving long-term district goals.

Earlier this week, Moyer sent a letter to residents explaining the role of the facilitating team and inviting volunteers to submit an interest form. “This effort will provide community input for the district’s Strategic Plan, which hasn’t been revised since 2017, and involve you in important discussions about how we can navigate challenges such as declining enrollment, reduced funding, and aging school buildings,” Moyer wrote. “Everyone in the community will be invited and encouraged to participate in the process in the coming months.”

The facilitating team will work with district leaders and Discovery Works experts to plan discussions about the future of the schools, share information about district programs and challenges, gather feedback on priorities, explore ways to improve student learning opportunities, and assess the resources needed to sustain strong programs and quality learning environments. Team members will serve as facilitators, citizen leaders and spokespersons for the initiative. The process will conclude with the presentation of a final report to the BOE, summarizing findings and informing the district’s strategic planning efforts.

Facilitating team members will attend approximately 12 meetings and five community engagement sessions throughout 2025 and 2026. To submit your name for consideration as a member of the team, use this form.