LISBON — As part of a Western Maine Educational Collaborative three-year grant, the Lisbon School Department will gather about 60 to 70 people representing a broad cross-section of the community to meet for two days in October to create a shared vision for the district’s future.

Business leaders, municipal officials, students, parents, school employees and representatives from nonprofit organizations have been invited to participate in the event on Friday, Oct. 19, from 3:30 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Philip W. Sugg Middle School.

Although space is limited, anyone interested in participating in this initiative should contact the Superintendent’s Office to inquire if there are seats available. The administrative assistant to the superintendent, Sheila Clifford, can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at 353-6711, ext. 205.

The Lisbon School Department’s Future Search will focus on answering this question: “All students learn in different ways and in different time frames. With this understanding, how must the Lisbon School Department evolve to meet the present and future needs of all learners?”

Judy Enright, an experienced moderator and former public school administrator, will lead the discussion using a process known as Future Search. Many other Maine communities have made major, positive changes in their schools using a similar visioning process.

This work will create the foundation for transformative change. The goal to identify a set of themes that represent a direction for the Lisbon School Department; the big picture ideas that express the common ground and shared sense of direction of the community and school department. These themes, once polished, will eventually work into a well-written vision statement.

Updated information about Future Search will be posted at www.lisbonschoolsme.org.