The second round of the “Cradle to Career” forum on education in the Troy community has ben set for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5.

The first two meetings were held on October 7 and 8 to bring residents together t discuss the assets, challenges and opportunities for Troy schools. Residents discussed selected topics in a roundtable format while school leaders and elected officials observed, a format suggested by the moderating David Mathews Center for Civic Life.

Councilwoman Stephanie Baker, who heads the Troy education committee, said the next meeting will be formatted differently as residents and education leaders discuss action plans coming out of those first two meetings.

“Participants will have the opportunity to hear from elected and school officials about action items that they are taking on from the first set of meetings,” Baker said. “Participants are going to hear common themes discussed in ‘round 1’ meetings, and then there is going to be opportunity for participants to form task groups around the items discussed in the first meetings. It’s an opportunity for people to invest, sign up their time and talents.”

Some of the educational challenges participants in the first two meetings identified include lack of parental involvement, better communication between parents and educators, more counseling or social service positions and many other possibilities.

Participants identified Troy’s teachers, Troy University and the small town atmosphere among the greatest assets.

The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5 at the Troy Recreation Center. Childcare will be provided during the forum and light refreshments will be served.

Anyone can participate in the meeting, even if they were not at the first two meetings, and participants are not required to stay the whole two hours.

The forum is hosted jointly by the City of Troy, Troy City Schools and Troy University.

“It’s an effort to really bring people together and remind us all what an integral part our school system plays in our community,” said Councilwoman Stephanie Baker, head of the Troy education committee. “Strong schools make for strong communities. We would like to see parents, staff, alumni, business and industry representatives, community organizations and nonprofits, churches – really anyone and everyone in our community. Our tax dollars go into the school system; we are all stakeholders and the product of our school systems are the people who make up our community.”