PRAIRIE GROVE -- One student desperately needs new shoes to replace a pair held together by duct tape. Another doesn't have a winter jacket for protection against cold weather. Still another boy is living on his own at age 17 and needs help with housing.
These are some real-life instances where communities have come together to meet the immediate needs of some of its students.
Prairie Grove schools is joining this national organization, called Bright Futures USA, to provide another avenue to help its own students.
Prairie Grove School Board voted Sept. 15 to sign a community agreement as a Bright Futures affiliate. PG Telco has offered to pay the school's one-time $2,500 membership fee.
Superintendent Allen Williams brought up the idea at the board's August meeting. He explained the organization, handed out information and asked board members to consider it. Several had questions and Williams said he would get answers to those answers before the September meeting.
One of the objectives of Bright Futures is to help students graduate from high school by making sure all their needs are met, as far as food, clothing, materials and housing issues. Bright Futures connects community resources with students and families in need throughout the district.
"It's a great way to reach out in the community," said Carmel Perry, director of the district's Coordinated School Health program. "It would be really good for our community to feel like they can get involved easily."
Board member Eric Walker voted in favor of the agreement but he had questions before the vote was taken.
He wondered if Prairie Grove already had its own personnel in place who could take care of children's needs He said he thought the $2,500 could be put to better use, instead of paying a membership fee to a national organization.
"I think there's bright people from Prairie Grove who could do what Bright Futures does," Walker added.
Pea Ridge School District is a member of Bright Futures USA and Williams said he has talked to Rick Neal, Pea Ridge superintendent.
"Rick said he recommends it and thinks it is the best parent involvement program they have," Williams told the board. Neal indicated Pea Ridge could probably put in its own program in place over time but with Bright Futures, everything went much quicker.
Board member Beth Everett noted that some school volunteers are overwhelmed and being a part of Bright Futures should help in those areas.
As an affiliate, Prairie Grove will receive a checklist, resource guide, trademark logo, Facebook set-up, advisory board training, coordinator training, customer support and a digital marketing package. The district is required to send three people to a conference every year.
The program initiated out of Joplin, Mo., when school officials noticed that one out of every four students dropped out of high school. Low graduation rates were seen as a community issue, not a school issue, and the school district engaged the community through several meetings to develop a program to connect community resources with students and families in needs.
Within the first year, the dropout rate decreased and attendance increased. Other schools soon began to express interest in the program and a non-profit organization, Bright Futures USA, was established.
The program will provide Prairie Grove with a framework to bring together businesses, human service agencies, faith-based organizations and parent groups and partner them with the school. Bright Futures says students' needs can be met quickly and efficiently, often within 24 hours.
For example, when needs come up, the information will be placed on the school's Bright Futures Facebook page and other media outlets to allow the community to quickly respond to the needs.
Williams said an important part of Bright Futures is sustainability. The district will have a program in place that continues year to year, Williams said.
General News on 10/01/2014