Alpine School District officials say community‑schools outreach helped lift student outcomes, seek state grant

Cassie Lewis Saxton, Alpine School District’s family and community engagement lead, told the board at a study session that the district’s community‑schools framework is focused on removing barriers so “students can thrive,” and outlined four pillars—integrated student supports, family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and integrated systems.

The presentation highlighted work in the Orem area under the Partnership for Student Success (PFSS) state grant, now in its fourth year, and included two school‑level reports. Jessica Stauffer, community outreach lead based at Cedar Valley High School, described outreach that launched in January 2023 and has since connected students and families to translation services, adult education classes and basic needs supports. Stauffer said the first year of adult English classes began with about 80 parents and has grown to 189 this year. She reported 846 students participated in after‑school offerings in the first year and said Cedar Valley’s outreach helped fill 88 pantry orders and support about 60 families through holiday assistance programs.

At Westmore Elementary, outreach coordinator Allison described partnerships that provided food boxes, clothing drives and health screenings. She credited Friends for Sight and volunteer Dr. Jared Davis for identifying a metal shard in a student’s eye and arranging pro bono care; the Alpine Foundation provided gas cards to help the family with transportation. Westmore reported feeding 200 families during a seasonal drive and growing participation in programs such as a backpack club (from 172 to 190 reported participants).

District data presented at the meeting linked outreach to measurable academic progress in PFSS schools. Lewis said kindergarten Acadience reading reached 77 (target 74) and third grade outcomes moved from a target of 45 to a reported 57. At Orem Junior, ninth‑grade completion rose from an initial 61.4% to 87.9% under the grant’s timeline, and Mountain View’s reported concurrent‑enrollment metric moved from a baseline “28” to “42” (the presentation did not specify units). Mountain View’s high‑school graduation rate was reported as 88.4 against a five‑year target of 87.9.

Lewis also reviewed McKinney‑Vento tracking: the district overall showed a small decline in identified students this year but an increase in unaccompanied homeless youth (the presentation listed 29). Presenters said outreach coverage is uneven across the district and described plans to prioritize central‑area coverage where needs are rising.

Board members and outreach staff discussed service gaps. Presenters described challenges finding health and dental partners—Mountainlands was described as fully booked months in advance—and said transportation and housing costs constrain families. Several speakers said increased enforcement around documentation earlier in the year briefly depressed attendance and caused some families to "go underground." “We don't ask for that documentation. We don't even want that documentation,” Lewis said, describing efforts to reassure families and find community partners that do not require citizenship paperwork. The presentation also noted a state budget proposal, referenced as SB165 and attributed to Sen. Fillmore, that would add $5,000,000 to support cross‑sector community partnerships; roughly 20 local education agencies would be eligible to apply.

The study session closed with board and staff praise for outreach partners and a request to pursue additional central‑area coordination and funding. Lewis said next steps include seeking the new state grant and expanding outreach coverage where McKinney‑Vento and other data indicate need.

The board then transitioned to its regular meeting agenda items.