SUN Initiative Update

Shawn Hoffman-Bram

Sept 25, 2008

What is a SUN Community School? More than geography!

• A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships

• Integrated, data-driven focus

• A framework where “every child has access to services that support educational success.”– Extended services– Extended hours– Extended relationships

Key distinction

Walled-in building centered models: one school is the unit for planning and development

SUN community model: the school community is the unit for planning and development.

VS.

What makes a school a “community school?”

SUN Community collaboration model

Academic Learning

Youth Development

Parent/Family Engagement and Support

Community Partnerships

Health & Social Services

Individual & Peer Outcomes

Parent & Family Outcomes

School Outcomes

Community Outcomes

Academic Outcomes

Well-beingOutcomes

All children succeedin school & are prepared

for a successful transition to adulthood

The St. Cloud implementation model

Foundations/ Grants

Corporations/Business• gifts-in-kind • funding • volunteerism

Community• non-profit• governmental• parents

SUN Council – Community Education

Community School Timeline• 2003-04

– SS/HS Advisory Council begins researching strategic models of school-community partnerships

• 2004-05 – National consultant helps develop the vision– Sub-committee is formed for greater focus– Participate in the national Community Schools conference – Visit several school sites in Chicago– Introduced to the Oregon SUN framework– Adopt SUN model for St. Cloud

• 2005-06– Visit the John A. Johnson school in St. Paul– Present the SUN concept to the school board– SUN Council prepares to operationalize SUN in ISD742– Public meetings are held for community feedback

St Cloud Area Community Schools Visioning session

June 6th, 2006—Tech High School

Community Schools—Reclaiming Public Education

Background

• Intended Outcomes Participants gain knowledge about the recent history of

public education Every voice is heard: We all own and understand the

strengths and needs of neighborhood schools A shared vision for the future, to move us forward

• Participants• 90 people representing parents, students and other

interested community members; county and community service providers including health, mental health and education; university faculty and staff; school board members, administrators, teachers and other professionals, and support staff

Summary priorities1. Offer services in neighborhood schools (52 votes/26 volunteers)

—Services needed in schools—Co-location of community services, agencies, resources in

school—partnerships (40/22)—Mental health services (9/3)—School as a public health clinic (3/1)

2. Strengthening children to help them be successful (43 votes/15 volunteers)

—Help kids find their strengths to reach success (17/8)—Cultural competence and awareness (may stand alone in importance—12/4)—All children valued and encouraged (9/2)—Caring, supportive family and education teams (2/0)—School is safe, exciting, resourceful place for students, family and everyone (3/1)

3. Academic Success (37 votes/12 volunteers)

4. Before and after school activities/opportunities (33 votes/13 volunteers)

5. Funding for education (25 votes/4 volunteers)

6. 21st Century Green School (15 votes/5 volunteers)

7. Stronger school/business partnerships (11 votes/1 volunteer)

8. Strong volunteer base to supplement staff (3 votes/1 volunteer)

9. Other community uses of buildings

Community School Timeline Cont.

• 2006-07– SUN Council formalizes partnerships and works on long range

capital development for community schools– The SUN framework is piloted in the St. Cloud School district

• 2007-08– Discovery School Pilot– Student tracking process developed– Grant Initiatives pursued

» Full Service Community Schools Grant» Morgan Family

• 2008-09– Continue work as a collaborative advisory group– Track activities and progress at Discovery– Pursue grants and donations

Current Activity at Discovery

• Discovery Site Council re-organization• Boys and Girls Club identified as lead agency • Begin to align activities to Discovery’s

achievement goals. • Kidstop staff started tracking activities using an

excel spreadsheet summer of 08. • Ability to get a look at which activities might have

the most impact on academic growth.

SUN Council►Bob Hanks - CentraCare ►Bruce Mohs - ISD 742 School Board ►Bruce Watkins - Superintendent, ISD 742 Schools ►Deb Lalley - CentraCare/ISD 742 School Board►Diane Tuff - UpFront Consulting►Joni Olson - Principal, Discovery Community School►Mark Sizer – Division Dir., Stearns County Corrections ►Mike Quesnell - SS/HS Project Coordinator►Scott Adams – Exec. Dir, St. Cloud Family YMCA►Scott Anderson – Exec. Dir., Central MN Youth for Christ►Shawn Hoffman-Bram – Dir. ISD742 Community Education ►Tom Wicks – Dir. Programming, Boys & Girls Club Nathan Sindt – Big Brothers Big SistersBob Rueter – Boy Scouts of America