GULF SHORES, Ala. — More than 1,500 individuals from across Baldwin County participated in the “Yes We Can” program last fall, with meetings held in various locations throughout the county. Later, a presentation was made to the county school board who agreed to accept the plan to help improve the county’s school system.

Now, volunteers are needed to carry out the next part of the “Yes We Can” initiative.

“Where we are now in the next phase, a strategic plan for the Baldwin County public schools,” said Yolanda Devine Johnson at a recent Gulf Shores council meeting.

Johnson said the strategic plan calls for 10 different committees, ranging from communication to fund raising, and each committee will include both members from the board of education as well as members from the community.

“The half representing the community is why I am here tonight,” Johnson said. “We need participation. As you can imagine, from those 1,500 people, everyone has a different opinion about how to run our public schools, so this is the time where the rubber hits the road. We are inviting anyone from the island that might be interested to please step forward and participate in these meetings.”

Johnson said it didn’t matter if the person had a child in the system or was a retiree, they just need individuals who are interested in seeing the schools move in a positive direction.

“We need individuals and we need public officials. We need you and we need you now.”

Originally developed by the Mobile Area Education Foundation, the Yes We Can idea has been successfully implemented all across the Southeast to help make the public a direct part of school improvement.