THE RURBAN FRINGE

Community Schools Get Celebrity Backing

Posted on | September 18, 2009 | No Comments

In the US, a Senate bill calling for $1 billion to expand the number of full-service community schools is gaining momentum.

Jennifer GarnerA twist on the traditional school model, community schools often provide additional services to students and their families such as primary, dental, or mental health care, career counselling, or nutrition education.

The bill proposes to set up a five-year grant program to increase those types of services.

To introduce the bill earlier this month, US House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Sen. Ben Nelson appeared alongside actress Jennifer Garner, whose elementary and secondary school years were spent in Princeton, a town of 6,300 in southern West Virginia.

“We need innovative solutions, and full-service community schools are a brilliant way to reach parents and kids in need,” Garner wrote with Mark Shriver for The Huffington Post.  “Providing these kinds of services is crucial in low-income, rural areas, where it’s more difficult to reach parents and families.”

Supporters of the bill point to improved student attendance, scholastic achievement, and parental involvement as reasons for community schools.  And supporters of community schools reason that the school – as a vehicle used to provide a wide range of health, educational, recreational, and social services – builds local capacity and can be used as a launching pad for further community-initiated projects. 

It’s win-win … isn’t it?

I certainly think so … and remember my elementary school days in the ’70s when our small school was able to bring in dental, health (and I’m sure additional) services for its rural population.  And although I was never keen on seeing the school’s dentist, as a rurban parent, I can now appreciate having that opportunity made available.

But a lack of continued financial support, misunderstanding of community education goals, or lack of commitment to community education by other community-based service organizations often hinders the development of community schools. 

Not to mention the fact that declining enrolment, geographic isolation, and diminished resources often means rural schools are first on the chopping block for school boards and educational ministries.

More than simply allocating funds for community schools, success will require the cooperation and coordination of community, municipal, provincial/state, and even federal government agencies. 

In an age of spiralling capital and infrastructure maintenance costs, why not invest in multi-purpose buildings in rural and rurban areas on a cost-sharing basis and decentralize related services? 

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