Bridging the gap in a rural area - Perry Central Community School Corporation

School Administrator, March, 2003

Perry Central Community School Corporation is the Indiana recipient of The Civic Star Award for setting up a one-stop shop for services that help meet the needs of the children and families in the Perry Central school community.

The center was initiated through the vision and dedication of Superintendent Mary Roberson, formerly an elementary school assistant principal in the district. In her former role, Roberson observed the many intellectual and health needs of Perry Central families. The community has high poverty and unemployment rates, low educational attainment rates and is largely isolated. However, the area also has a long tradition of community collaboration and support.

Roberson saw the community as a natural partner for the school in working to establish the Perry Central Elementary Family Center, the one-stop services shop. The center was begun with a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, which made it possible for the school and community to work together to provide after-school programs free of charge daily to all elementary school students.

Called the Lights On After School Program, this service focuses on improving student achievement while providing an introduction to the arts.

Local business people and other community members help with the after-school program by providing enrichment and hands-on activities in workshops. Senior-citizen and high-school student volunteers help the Lights On staff provide tutoring.

Once the Lights On program was functioning, the family center received a Welborn Foundation grant to employ a school social worker. The social worker helps bridge the 20-mile distance from the community to social services, provides counseling for students and works as a partner with mental health professionals to provide services for people of all ages.

Another part of the family center is the Even Start Family Literacy Program, funded by an Even Start grant Roberson secured to promote literacy for preschool children and their families.

TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:

18677 Old State Road 37 Leopold, IN 47551

Mary Roberson, Superintendent Perry Central Community School Corporation

Phone: 812-843-5576

E-mail: roberm@pccs.k12.in.us

Web: www.pccs.k12.in.us