Marion County schools spotlight mentoring programs serving hundreds of students; providers ask for more volunteers and steady funding

Leaders from Marion County Public Schools and local nonprofit mentoring programs on May 22 presented a range of school-based and community mentoring efforts that serve hundreds of Marion County students and urged the board to support staffing, volunteer recruitment and clearer funding information.

The presentations, given during the Marion County School Board’s administrative briefing and work session, included an internal district program called Elevate Marion; Take Stock in Children’s scholarship-and-mentor program; Big Brothers Big Sisters; community-led groups including Dare to be Great, Girls on the Rise and Cut Different; and the Marion County Children’s Alliance SCIP program. Speakers gave program details including participation counts and outcomes and asked the board for clarity about district costs and support.

Why it matters: Mentoring programs are a district and community tool to address attendance, behavior and student engagement before formal mental-health or disciplinary interventions are needed. Board…