What we're here to talk about today is our school. And I told you guys when I met with you the other day and gave you the permission slips that we'd be meeting one time. It'll probably take about an hour, maybe a little more, maybe a little less, and we're just going to talk about what you like about school, what you don't like, how you feel when you come to school. Anything that comes to your mind about the questions that I ask I want you to feel free to share, and nothing that you say is going to be laughed at. I'm going to ask you to make sure that you're respectful of one another. Who can tell us what respectful means? (NAME DELETED)?

Don't be rude and don't... if they're talking to you don't say, oop, or something like that. Don't interrupt them.

Good! Don't interrupt them. That's an important one because I want to be able to hear what each person says. Okay? If your friend is talking, or someone next to you, wait until they're finished, even if you have a good idea, just try to keep it in your head until they're finished talking and then you can tell. I'm going to make sure that everyone that has something to say gets the chance to talk. Okay? I don't want you to feel embarrassed to share your ideas, because the reason we picked lots of different kids is because we want to hear what lots of different kids think, not just what one child thinks. Okay?

Now, what's going to happen with this information after we talk... She's taking some notes for us and so you don't have to worry about that, she's going to be writing down some of your ideas and then she and the people she works with are going to all the other elementary schools, and the middle school, and the high school, and they're talking to kids at every school, with the counselors at those schools. And they're getting a lot of information together about how kids in this county, in Jessamine County, feel about school, and then they're going to write up a report to give to the Board. And the Board's going to make some decisions about changes we might need to make. So, your opinions are really important because they're really going to be going to somebody that has the ability to make some decisions, and to make some changes. You know how sometimes we feel at school, especially as kids, like we don't have much of a voice in things that happen, it's kind of like the grownups make all the decisions? Do you ever feel like that? And the kids don't get to make any? Well, this is your-all's chance to speak for the kids and give your ideas so that the kids' voices can be heard. Okay? Do you-all have any questions about that part? Everyone feel okay, comfortable? Okay, good.

What I want you to do is just go around the circle, start with you (NAME DELETED). I want you to tell everyone just your first name and then I want you to tell me your favorite thing to do when you're not at school, something that you enjoy doing for fun. And try to listen to what the other people's names are because I know you guys don't all know each other. I know everyone but I know you don't know each other, everybody doesn't know each other. So, try to listen to each other's names and that way we'll get to know each other a little bit and then we'll get started.

One more thing. What we talk about in here... When you leave this room you can talk to other kids about the things we've said, if you want to. If anyone asks you, "Where were you?" "Oh, I was with Miss Brown, we were talking about how we feel about our school." I don't want you to repeat, like, "Well, Sam said that he doesn't like school and he thinks school is stupid." I don't want you to say exactly what another student said and say their name. Does that make sense? [Sounds of agreement] Okay. So, you can talk about what we talk about to your mom or your dad, anyone that wants to ask you about it. But just don't repeat exactly who said what. That will make us all feel we can talk more comfortably. Okay? Okay. (NAME DELETED), go ahead.

Okay. When we're talking as a group you guys don't have to raise your hands because I can trust that you're going to be respectful of each other. So, you don't have to wait for me to call on you or raise your hand like you do in class. You can just say what comes into your mind as long as someone else isn't talking. Okay? All right.

I'm going to go ahead and start with the questions and if you think of anything, like if we get past a certain subject and you think of something you forgot to say, we can go back to it. Anything that comes to your mind, I want you to share it with the group. Okay?