Doctor Jones urges parent-support hotline, weekly gatherings to help students graduate

Doctor Jones, introduced to the board as a delegation, told the Red Lake Public School District board that a parent-support group and a volunteer hotline are intended to help parents support struggling students and improve graduation outcomes.

“We can graduate a 100% of our students,” Doctor Jones said, urging the board and community partners to back weekly parent meetings, mentorship and outreach tied to a drop‑out prevention hotline. He described a model of weekly gatherings at the Boys and Girls Club, where parents could share strategies, hear from community leaders and be connected to mentors.

Jones said the hotline would be staffed by rotating volunteers in the evenings and would offer callers immediate guidance on next steps: contacting principals, teachers or community supports. He also described pilot logistics — meeting once a week for several months to gauge participation — and asked the board to help spread the word and post the hotline on district channels.

He said he would meet with district staff and a board member to select meeting dates and coordinate outreach; Jones suggested the program could report back to the board on early results. The presentation included practical steps — a short timeline for weekly meetings, a volunteer call list and coordination with existing community partners — and a request that the district help publicize the hotline and support group.

The board heard questions about meeting locations and volunteer coverage; Jones said sessions could be held at district or community sites and that volunteers can take calls remotely. He also suggested occasionally inviting community leaders to speak to parents about education and perseverance.

The board did not indicate a formal vote on the program during the presentation; Jones said he would follow up with staff and return with implementation details.