Communities in Schools to expand program in 9 Indiana schools
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With new funding, Communities in Schools of Indiana says it will expand its integrated student supports model into seven schools in Indianapolis and two in Lafayette.
The Indiana chapter of the national not-for-profit will receive about $1.2 million for the initiative from a pot of $165 million dollars donated by the Ballmer Group for the organization’s mission.
In this round, Indiana was one of several affiliates to receive a portion of $13 million in funding.
The funds will allow the organization to hire a trained site coordinator at the schools to organize, connect and provide coordinated resources to students.
“The districts that partner with us want to ensure that all of their students have the tools they need to be successful academically, so they joined CIS of Indiana for this grant and committed to integrating these site coordinators into their schools,” Executive Director Hadley Moore Vlahogeorge said in a news release. “Kids can’t learn if their basic needs aren’t met. If a student is struggling with hunger, lack of access to medical care, or has no way to wash clothes…the site coordinator can ensure that child and that child’s family are connected with needed resources in the safe, welcoming building they already go to every day.”
Indianapolis schools include all elementary schools in the Lawrence Metropolitan School District and two schools in the Decatur Township district. Those schools are Amy Beverland, Crestview, Forest Glen, Mary Castle and Skiles Test elementary schools as well as the Decatur High Ability Academy and Lynwood Elementary School, which already has one coordinator.
The schools in the Lafayette School Corp. are Amelia Earhart Elementary School and Vinton Elementary School.
The organization said the changes will be seen at the start of this school year.