Implementation with community participation:

Community vision has guided the planning for MRA since open discussions about the creation of a community school began in the summer of 2007. Community involvement will continue to be key, and indeed is critical to the success of the school. The following are some of the ways the community is involved:

• Ongoing partnerships with local businesses, artists and scientific research agencies provide frequent interaction between students and community members.

• Community members are mentors to individual students or to small groups of students. These mentorships may last weeks, months or years, allowing personal bonds of friendship and concern to develop between students and community members.

• The community and families are enlisted for volunteer activities to help further the mission and goals of the school.

• Parents and community members continue to be represented on the board of directors.

Designed with community involvement

Since its inception, parents and community members have been fundamentally involved in planning the Molalla River Academy. The Board, formed from parent volunteers, represents a cross-section of the population unified in its commitment to develop a community charter school. These individuals volunteer their time researching and networking both with local and national groups to aid in the design and implementation of the school plan.