Fremont City presents community-focused strategic plan updates and school partnership highlights

Fremont City School Board members heard a presentation Jan. 13 on the community component of the district' strategic plan (2022'2025), with leaders describing ongoing efforts to deepen partnerships between schools, families and local organizations.

The presentation, led by Susan King, director of human resources and community relations, and principals Erin Parker (Fremont Middle School) and Chris Ward (Atkinson Elementary), outlined action steps to promote student activities in the community, expand family partnerships and connect with diverse stakeholders.

King said the district' vision is "to develop individuals who thrive as they find their place in their local and global community" and described three community-focused goals in the current plan. She summarized district efforts including a revamped district newsletter, expanded social media and YouTube presence (the district reports about 7,300 Facebook followers and occasional videos with several hundred views), a staff "knowledge base" (the "Cave") to give employees at-home access to resources, and a new online employment portal using Red Rover to simplify applications.

"When I first started, I believe we had about 300 followers on our Facebook page' my first goal was to get us to 500 and then to get us to a thousand. When I checked today, we have 7,300 followers," King said, noting growth in the district' outreach channels.

Principals described school-level programs that connect students to the community. Chris Ward said Atkinson emphasizes service and community experiences across grades, from veterans programs and holiday giving to a men-with-manners program and a parking-lot community event that has attracted more than 350 attendees in recent years.

"We really value the piece of community," Ward said, describing partnerships with the Fremont Fire Department, police, the Sandusky County Recycling Center, FFA, local rotary and Kiwanis clubs and other organizations that bring volunteers, presentations and activities into the school.

Erin Parker described Fremont Middle School' reciprocal partnerships and student service programs, including 17 clubs (student council, NJHS, Make a Difference Club), a student supply center that offers clothing and toiletries, and a plastic-bag recycling program run with the Lions Club that produced a bench donated back to the district.

"I have a phenomenal staff' they're constantly coming up with more and more creative ways to connect our community with our kids," Parker said, highlighting wraparound services, ACE mentoring pairings and an after-school YMCA program.

The presentation also noted a district food pantry and partnerships that support special-needs transitions through the Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Atkinson reported 49 ACE mentoring pairings this year at Fremont Middle School and regular collaborations with Vanguard (a mobile STEM bus) and Crown Battery for career-day programming.

Board members praised the community emphasis. Several members said they want the district to keep community partnerships central as the strategic plan is finalized and to ensure board members are informed about building-level events.

The board also heard logistical notes from district staff: the district will move two upcoming meetings that celebrate stellar students (Feb. 10 and March 24) from Fremont Middle School to the Ross High School performing arts center, and the district will make curricular-adoption materials available at the district office for public preview.

The presentation rounds out the district' three-year strategic plan cycle and will inform ongoing work to expand family engagement and local reciprocal partnerships.