School adoption program suggested
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
GENTRY ó The school board on Monday night gave a nod of approval for Gentry Intermediate School principal Denise Waters and Gentry parent Tracey Howard to work toward forming a partnership in education between the schools and local businesses.
Howard brought the idea to Waters after seeing an article about the Adopt-A-School program in Siloam Springs. ì That could work here, î she said.
Waters suggested forming a committee to explore ways schools and businesses could work together and assist each other.
ì Itís not just about money, î Waters said. ì The schools need mentors and tutors to help students. î She also suggested that businesses could help the schools provide career days and give students an understanding of the types of jobs and business opportunities which will be available.
ì Schools can do things for businesses too, î Waters said, mentioning public acknowledgment and positive public relations as but a few examples.
ì There are already a lot of these things going on, î Howard said. Such a program would help formalize and develop this partnership, she said.
A districtwide program could catalog, organize and eliminate overlaps, Waters said. An Adopt-A-School program would help divide up and partner schools and businesses so that the same businesses would not be ìhit upî for help or services from each school campus, Waters said.
Waters suggested that a committee be formed to meet with businesses and organizations to see how schools and businesses can assist each other.
The Siloam Springs program is a partnership between the schools, parent-teacher organizations, the chamber of commerce and the business community. Businesses adopt a school campus each year and seek to assist the school and help provide for the schoolís needs.
Adopt-A-Schoolís principal goal in Siloam Springs is to facilitate cooperation between the school district and local businesses. School adopters agree to meet individual schoolís needs through student motivation, teacher appreciation and assistance, volunteer work in the form of mentoring and tutoring and providing donations of money and supplies, among other things.
Jessica Weekley contributed to this article.
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