GSBA firmly believes that school boards and school systems need to engage their communities in ways that build understanding and relationships. In 2004, GSBA began a partnership with Everyday Democracy, formerly the Study Circles Resource Center, in Connecticut to bring a model of public engagement to school districts that is centered around the use of small group discussion that leads to action.

GSBA and Everyday Democracy are working with districts to help them with roles such as strategizing the issue, organizing the local discussion circles initiative and training facilitators. The public engagement model is one that can be modified and used in a variety of settings and for a variety of issues large and small. For additional information on Everyday Democracy, visit their website: www.everyday-democracy.org. For more information on GSBA's public engagement initiative, contact Laura Reilly, GSBA's director of communications, Laura Reilly.

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