13. Statement of Values, Dist. 112 CITYOF ' -
SiAN
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690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937-1900
' MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
' FROM: Don Ashworth, City Manager .J f1L
DATE: August 28, 1989
SUBJ: Youth Development Committee/Goals, Chaska School District,
Lisa Dilley
This item has been e placed under Visitor Presentations to allow
' Task Force members the opportunity for early consideration by the
City Council. Visitor Presentations are typically not voted on
as the item has not been published and the Council, typically,
has no enclosures upon which to make a reasonable decision. In
' this instance, the item was published and the resolution/
supportive documents have been included. Accordingly, staff
would recommend approval. No waiver of Council Procedures is
required.
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Youth Development Task Force --.
Serving the communities of: * I
Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, East Union, Victoria
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TO: Members of the Chanhassen City Council
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FROM: Youth Development Values Committee, Luke Melchert, Chair &
Youth Development Task Force, Arlene Borner, Chair
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DATE: August 22, 1989
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For the past two years, a group of individuals from the coummunities of
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School District 112 has been working on how the District's Youth
Development Plan could be implemented. This Youth Development Plan was
adopted by the district in June of 1988 and represents statements of I
philosophy and purpose, as they relate to the values and needs of youth in
our communities. The mission is to promote "healthy youth in a healthy I
community".
The first step, we believe, is to understand and adopt a set of values I
which is important in developing an atmosphere and attitude sensitive to
and supportive of youth development in our communities. We believe the
attitude and atmosphere of our communities are important to the
development of healthy young people.
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We are asking that you consider and adopt these core values, as stated in
the attached resolution. We believe this is a vital first step in
implementing our Youth Development Plan.
We anticipate talking with you again in the next couple of months. More
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information will include recommendations to enhance, develop, sustain
and promote programs for, and awareness of, our communities' youth and
their needs.
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We look forward to talking with you on August 28th.
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Enclosures:
Resolution
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Youth Development Plan
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"Healthy Youth in a Healthy Community" I
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R E S O L U T I O Cr
Be it resolved by the city of CHANHASSEN, that the following values:
-CITIZENSHIP: A quality in individuals whereby each adheres to and has an
' understanding- and appreciation of the rights, responsibilities and privileges
afforded our society under the Constitution of the United States of America;
and, where every individual has a willingness and ability to participate in
' the democratic process in a lawful manner in a society where actions of the
individual, group or government are free from bias, favoritism or prejudice.
-ENVIRONMENTALISM: A quality of care and concern for our surroundings and
being willing to help improve and preserve the environment.
-GENEROSITY: A quality in an individual whereby each is willing to share
unselfishly in words as well as action and is willing to serve others without
pay; indiscriminate altruism, gratitude and appreciation.
-HUMAN WORTH AND DIMITY: One's assessment of the extent to which one is
lovable and capable; the personal sense of being valued.
-INTEGRITY: The quality of strict personal honesty, truthfulness and
sincerity in the conduct of human interactions.
-LEARNING: A quality in individuals whereby each strives to learn more and
increase personal levels of fulfillment and competence throughout life; a
' condition in which one uses problem solving and reasoned argument to identify,
frame and propose new and i.rproved solutions to existing and emerging problems
to the betterment of self and society.
-RESPECT FOR OTHERS: A quality whereby each and every individual has an
unselfish regard and devotion, free from pride or prejudice, to the welfare of
others, as well as one's self, by respecting others; by displaying courtesy
and compassion; by appreciating and accepting individual differences and
cultural diversities; and by showing regard for and knowing the unique
qualities of each person as a valued individual.
' -RESPONSIBILITY: A quality in individuals whereby each knows, understands and
accepts the impact and consequence of personal actions and decisions and
whereby each tries to fulfill the obligations of self-sufficiency and active
commitment to the common good of society.
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be adopted and promoted as guidelines for all members of this community.
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Youth
Development
\Plan / �
Schools / 1
and �
Communities
of
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District 112
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iMission Statement
1 " Healthy Youth in a Healthy
Community "
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To effectively serve
1 the needs of youth ( 0 - 21 )
in a coordinated and
1 ongoing manner
within the community .
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Youth Development Task Force
Susan Dickman - Community Education Director, Parent
Susan Strauss - Educator, Parent
Bob Roepke - Mayor of Chaska, Parent
Father Gerard Rowan, Clergy -
Diane O ' Connor - League of Women Voters, Parent
Sandy Parker - Educator, School Nurse
Matt Kelso - High School Student
Linda Haggbloom - Elementary Educator
Arlene Borner - Middle School Educator, Parent
Dick Menzel - Director of Instructional Programs, Parent ,
Luke Melchert - Attorney, Parent, Lions Club
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Youth Development Plan
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Introduction
' Early in 1987 a group of educators from Ind . 112 g athered to
discuss concerns about the youth in the school and community.
Issues such as sexuality, sexual harassment, depression,
chemical use, stress, self-esteem, family violence, values
and adult role-models were identified as areas the school and
community needed to address in a unified manner to
effectively help our young people . Recognizing that these
were community issues and not only the school ' s, a task force
' was formed to address these issues in an integrated fashion .
A request was brought before the Curriculum Advisory Council
to place Youth Issues on the curriculum review cycle for
1988 . The request was granted . Concurrently, funds were made
available to communities through Community Education for the
creation of a Youth Development Plan. Thus the marriage of
the curriculum process and the Youth Development Plan.
A community meeting was held in January of 1988 fur leaders
who were concerned with youth. Over 60 concerned citizen,
including parents, educators, community leaders and students
met to identify youth issues and to identify ways the
community could more effectively work together to address
these issues . Surveys of the student population, focus
interviews of youth, and staff surveys have all been
' implemented to reveal information regarding needs . The Youth
Development Task Force, representing a wide background of
community involvement, is reviewing information and guiding
the process . The following plan is the result of their work .
It draws from extensive community efforts on the Whole Child
Inititive .
Table of Contents
' Mission Statement
Philosophy Statement
Goals
Statement of Philosophy .,a
The Youth Development Task Force exists to develop a community environment
in which youth can achieve their full potential. Such an environment
includes a. positive relationship between youth and significant individuals
and groups within the community. We believe a healthy community promotes
healthy youth. Our vision of a healthy community involves the following:
YOUTH who experience themselves positively in body, mind and spirit. These
youth are respectful of others, honest, enthusiastic, informed, responsible
to self and others, inquisitive, playfull, and assertive in expressing
their feelings and opinions. Healthy youth are building self esteem.
FAMILIES who experience themselves positively in body, mind and spirit.
These families include parents who are assertive in expressing their
feelings and opinions while they provide for the needs of themselves and
their youth, allowing their youth to be responsible for their own choices.
The healthy family involves a parent who is a good role-model who is
unconditionally loving, caring and supportive and is actively involved in
the lives of youth by being a good communicator, disciplining, taking time
to play, work, celebrate and learn, always encouraging their youth to dream
and reach their full potential.
EDUCATORS who experience and project themselves positively in body, mind ,
and spirit. The healthy educator is skilled in helping others learn and
does so by encouraging independent thoughts. The healthy educator is
continually learning and enthusiastic, empathetic, caring and is respectful
in meeting the diversity of individual needs and effectively manages the
learning environment.
A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT that provides for individual needs of all learners. '
The healthy learning environment is any location where the integral
partnerships between learner, parent and educators are enhanced byu
utilizing all available community resources. The healthy learning
environment is an organization that is empowered by, and accountable to the
community to address the educational needs of learners of all ages. This
organization is responsible for creating an environment which encourages,
rewards achievements and potential of all, and enhances a positive sense of
belonging.
A CCP'?-UNITY that is comprised of a diversity of individuals, groups, and '
institutions whose members work together and support each other with a
basic set of values to meet their total well being -body, mind and spirit.
A comunity that is progressive and proactive, and values it's traditions
and heritage. It provides economic, educational and recreational
opportunities in an aesthetically pleasing, safe and healthy environment.
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GOVERNMENT that fosters neighborhoods where people know and care about
each other, provide protection and services to all citizens, creates
policies and provides resources that support families, engages and values
youth as resources and respects their ability to contribute and enables
youth to grow and develop into healthy adults.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS that support the development of
body, mind and spirit in healthy youth, and citizens within the community.
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Goals of the Youth Development Plan
1. Identify, develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive programs
to promote a healthy community.
2. Develop and implement an ongoing coordinating system that continually
responds to the changing needs of youth.
3. Develop a community resource center.
4. Adopt a community set of values that promotes an appreciation of
youth to serve as a foundation for youth development in the community:
' Objective #1 - Contribute to an increased understanding of peace
in the home, school, community and world.
' Objective #2 - Reinforce the concept of family.
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