CASE STUDIES: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Cahuenga Project
Preliminary Sites
 The
Twenty-three Preliminary Sites
Cahuenga ElementaryAs much information about the twenty-three
sites was gathered in the three short weeks allotted to this part
of the process. Information about each site was gathered and distributed
to all of the subcommittees. Also graphic information was incorporated
into large posters for each site.
The Nine Recommended Sites
The twenty-three sites were put into three categories:
- Recommended Sites: these fulfill many of the established
site criteria.
- Not Recommended Sites: these sites are not recommended because
of their locations. Most of them fall out of the Cahuenga catchment
area or are unsuitable for other reasons.
- Possible Sites: these sites are possible sites but less desirable
than the recommended ones.
Concordia Inc. narrowed the list of twenty-three sites to nine
recommended sites with the above mentioned site criteria in mind.
Unfortunately, because of time and budget constraints, acquisition
and relocation studies were only done for these nine sites. Ideally,
acquisition and relocation studies for all twenty-three sites
would have given more complete information to the subcommittees.
The Final Six Selected Sites
At the sixth meeting, each subcommittee member with six nominations
chose his/her six favorite sites. The sites would then be listed
in order of how many nominations were cast for each. In order
to break any ties, another round of selections were made with
only one nomination per subcommittee member in choosing his/her
number one favorite site.
Although this was an arduous and sometimes frustrating process,
its success is tangible in that the community surrounding the
Cahuenga Elementary School has become more cohesive and clear
in knowing what they have, what they need and what they want for
their children. The Cahuenga community now has the tools to establish
a Learning Community, which, because of the work of the Steering
Committee, is now closer to reality.
In conclusion, the community surrounding the Cahuenga Elementary
School would like the following scenario for the expansion of
its elementary school:
1) The existing Cahuenga Elementary School with 800 students
2) Six (6) other selected sites in the area surrounding the
Cahuenga Elementary School with roughly 400 students
After a few more iterations, the current list has eight sites.
Throughout the process, different constituencies have moved to
block or promote certain sites. The sites were chosen through
a process of collaboration and compromise.
Click here to see a
map of the chosen sites.
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