Thoughts on the Mehlville School District’s COMPASS Engagement

I was finally able to attend a district COMPASS event last night. The turnout was impressive for a discussion on demographics projections. My overall opinion of the process is that it seems to be a great idea. The only thing that would make it better would be to get more people in involved. I think if more stakeholders in the district were aware of the quality of data coming out of this process, they would be sure to participate.

All too often in America’s version of democracy, the average person’s opinion does not matter much. That is not the case with Mehlville’s COMPASS program. Co-Chairs Dan Fowler and Jim Schibig, as well as the very diverse and opinionated COMPASS facilitating committee, are doing a fantastic job at making this an inclusive process.

As a matter of of fact, the way COMPASS is organized matches the make-up of the American federalist system almost to a tee.

First we have the individual stakeholders of the district = The individuals at each table = A State

The individuals at each table (State) have their caucus and elect a spokesperson = A Representative

Those spokespeople/Representatives make their case to each other = House of Representatives

The spokespeople then collectively will make their recommendations to the facilitating committee = The Senate

Collectively, the facilitating committee and stakeholders of COMPASS, headed by the Speaker of the House, Jim Schibig, and Senate Majority Leader, Dan Fowler, will make a recommendation to the Board of Education = The Executive/Judicial Branch

Depending on the adoptions of the Board of Education (The Executive Branch,) a proposal may or may not be made to the residents of the Mehlville School District as a whole = Constitutional Amendments.

Ultimately, COMPASS is democracy in action. Are you doing your part?