KENNEBUNK – The superintendent and staff at RSU 21 want to understand what the community would like to see in future high school graduates. An online survey, which is open through Nov. 13, asks participants to choose from 16 different skills to create a profile of what is needed for graduates to be successful in today’s world.

Emailed directly to RSU 21 families, staff, students, and community members, the district is eager to hear from a broad cross-section of the community. The survey is available now at https://docs.google.com/f…

“True success is much more than mere test scores and standard metrics; we must prepare students for an unpredictable future,” Superintendent Martin Grimm said.

He added that the district’s mission is to equip graduates with the foundational tools to navigate the world and engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and self-reliance.

The survey is the first step in this process, called “Vision of the Learner.” Examples of the skills community members can choose range from, “has a strong academic foundation in reading, writing, math, science, and history,” to “connects ideas across subjects and applies them to real life,” or “acts ethically and takes responsibility for their choices.”

In January, the district will host focus groups that include students, educators, and community members to provide additional feedback on survey results. Those who are available to volunteer additional time are also encouraged to serve on the project workgroup, which will incorporate the priorities into what Grimm describes as “existing educational frameworks.” People interested in participating in either focus groups or the workgroup can sign up here.

High-school level students are encouraged to join both the January focus groups and the workgroup.

Grimm said the RSU will share updates with families, publish video introductions and making public flyers available.

“We want to do this with the whole community … and we are actively seeking volunteers from all walks of life to get involved,” he said.