Last year the San Antonio Independent School District along with 8 other education outlets was awarded half a million dollars from the U.S. Department of Education's Full Service Community Schools program to turn Wheatley Middle School into a hub of community activity with substantial resources for students and their parents. Job-skills training, socio-emotional well-being options, after-school academic programs, and more are slated to begin this Saturday when the school celebrates a grand reopening.
Community schools are often found in impoverished areas that suffer from disengaged students, a lack of parental involvement, school violence, and transience. The programs attempt to change the culture of a school and a community by partnering with several other stakeholders.
The community schools program has been operating in communities throughout the country and proponents argue that it is setting deep roots.
Guests:
- Myrna Torres, deputy director for the Child Aid Society and works with 19 community schools with the New York Department of Education
- Emilio Castro, deputy superintendent at San Antonio Independent School District
- Tava Herring, Full Service Community School Coordinator for San Antonio Independent School District
