United Way says $2.6 million will support Erie’s community school model this year

United Way of Erie County told the Erie Public Schools board on Feb. 11 that it has directed $2.6 million to support the district’s community school partnership for the 2025–26 school year. Mike Jarecevich, president of United Way of Erie County, said the funds support community school directors and the backbone services that coordinate nonacademic supports in school buildings.

"We act as the backbone organization," Megan Easter, United Way’s associate vice president of community schools, said, describing community school directors as "the copilot to the principal" who broker local partnerships that address nonacademic barriers to learning. Sarah Naughton, the organization’s associate vice president of data and evaluation, added the model uses quarterly reports, surveys and focus groups to guide plans and measure outcomes.

Why it matters: United Way’s funding pays staff embedded in schools and underwrites programs that address basic needs, behavioral and physical health connections, and after‑school opportunities — services district leaders said help students attend and engage. The district has designated every elementary and middle school, plus Erie High School, as full‑service community schools.

United Way said it will provide data dashboards and impact reports to the district and invited board members to community school tours in February to see the model in action. Jarecevich and Easter emphasized continued partnership and follow‑up, including providing detailed action plans for each school’s priorities.

Next steps: United Way will share follow‑up data and tour schedules, and the district will continue aligning district strategies (attendance, counseling) with community school activities.