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Students, staff highlight Sources of Strength and Blazer Success Academy; donors give more than $33,000
Summary
Students and teachers presented Sources of Strength and the Blazer Success Academy; staff reported gains in attendance for BSA and listed community donations, including $21,000 from the Gardner Edgerton School Foundation and a $3,000 theater gift.
At the Nov. 10 Gardner Edgerton USD 231 board meeting, students and staff showcased two district programs and district staff reported a broad set of community donations to support schools.
Jo Beth Berg and peer leaders from Pioneer Ridge Middle School described Sources of Strength, a student-led resilience initiative that focuses on protective factors such as family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality, mental and physical health. The group's campaigns in October and November emphasized belonging and gratitude; teachers distributed thankfulness journals to board members and said the program includes about 30 peer leaders at Pioneer Ridge.
At the high school, district staff outlined the Blazer Success Academy (BSA), a two-year cohort program for juniors and seniors aimed at students who are academically disengaged or need credit recovery. Presenters said the program keeps students in a family-like classroom, offers in-person credit recovery and mental-health check-ins, and has produced measurable gains: presenters reported that 73% of participating students improved attendance compared with the prior year, and attendance overall was up 6% within the cohort.
The meeting also included an extensive donations report from district staff. Highlights included a $21,000 contribution from the Gardner Edgerton School Foundation for TAO grants, a $3,000 donation from Sarah Rohor for theater, multiple $500 and smaller gifts supporting teachers and events, and in-kind items and food contributions for school events. Staff described the total for reported donations as "over $33,000." (Donor list recited on the record.)
Board members thanked staff and volunteers, noted awards to district teachers, and encouraged community attendance at upcoming school events.
Next steps: Sources of Strength and BSA leaders said they will continue recruiting peer leaders and students for the programs; the district will continue tracking outcomes and has invited community support for program expansion.
