More than two dozen people attended the first of two meetings designed to give residents a say in forming the future of education in the Escalon Unified School District.

“It went well, we probably had close to 25 people there,” EUSD Assistant Superintendent Joel Johannsen said of the Feb. 3 session at Dent Elementary School.

“I did a very brief presentation,” he added, noting that he “hoped to clear up some misperceptions” about the school funding formula while also reviewing last year’s LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and its associated goals.

“We got some good feedback, some good information, some wish lists,” Johannsen said. “It was a good dialogue.”

Along with his presentation, there were also a variety of stations set up, with the attendees breaking into groups and spending time at each station to learn more about the school programs, educational services, space and equipment needs and the like.

Perspective was provided on what has been done in past years with funding and what remains to be done, along with outlining what can and can’t be accomplished with one-time vs. ongoing funding for the district.

The second of the two planned sessions on the LCAP is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 10 at El Portal Middle School, running from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the school’s multipurpose room.

Johannsen said the meeting is open to all; you don’t have to have a student in school to attend, since all community residents are considered ‘stakeholders’ in the district.

“It’s a way people can get involved, provide their input and ideas about the direction that they would like the school to take,” he said.