BLUUM AT FIVE

A Look Back at Bluum’s First Five Years

2020 was a year of loss. We lost friends, we lost time, and too many of our children lost learning and missed opportunities. With more time at home there was also more time to think and reflect. What do we do? Does it matter? Is it making a difference?

It was with these questions in mind that we asked veteran education journalist Alan Gottlieb to survey and interview Idaho and national partners, friends and even critics of Bluum about our work in the Gem State over the last five years.

Alan received survey responses from 50 different individuals and conducted 15 in-depth interviews. His questions ranged from “What, in your opinion, are Bluum’s core values and beliefs,” to “How has Bluum disappointed.”

The responses Alan received were robust, thoughtful and honest. We could not have asked more from those interviewed. Because of their generous input we feel our enclosed report Bluum at Five: Helping Good People Start Good Schools provides not only a handy history of Bluum, but some outstanding ideas for what Bluum can do better, differently and smarter over the next five years.

Alan documents some of what Bluum has accomplished in a short time, but there is support and encouragement for us to do even more. This early success would not have been possible without the significant assistance, encouragement and engagement of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation. Nor would it be possible without the dedication and hard work of the school leaders, new school fellows, school board members and support partners and political allies that Bluum has had the good fortune to work with, learn from and support over the last five years.

Truly, Bluum is about good people in Idaho trying to do good things for students, families and communities across our state.