Over 300 North Carolina educators, administrators, and policy makers were brought together in a series of six conferences to express their views about what can be done to improve their state's schools. Two questions were discussed: (1) In the eyes of outstanding educators, what changes at the school building level would make the greatest improvement in student learning?; and (2) what changes would make schools a better place in which to work? The findings of these conversations, reported in this document, focus around six emerging issues: principals and teachers need more control over site issues including budgets and resources; planning time is needed for faculties to work together; class sizes should be reduced; more clerical assistance and support staff should be available; building facilities should be improved; and noninstructional duties should be eliminated for professional staff. Implications from this collaborative discussion are summarized. Appended are comments by some participants, listings of the participants, detailed data from each of the meetings, and an agenda. (LMS)