Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Supports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CES95 expands Family Resource Centers and Birth-to-3 enrollment; summer supports planned
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Brooke Kensler reported expansion of referral access, summer services including meals and counseling, and growth of the Birth-to-3 program to 61 children; staff distributed more than 900 books and enrolled 38 families in Imagination Library this year.
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Brooke Kensler told the board the district transitioned to an open referral system in April that allows staff and Carbondale Middle School students to access Family Resource Center services directly through Clever. Parrish and CMS Family Resource Centers hosted open houses, the Parrish FRC was added to PreK screening, and the Parrish center is being used for mental health services, food and clothing assistance, appointment scheduling and transportation support.
Kensler said FRC coordinators will remain active through the summer to support the summer meals program (families will receive up to 14 meals per week per student with pick-up Mondays and Thursdays), summer counseling and mental health services, laundry facilities and vision-care assistance. At Parrish, 20 families were already signed up for summer counseling services.
Kensler also reported substantial growth in the Birth-to-3 program after relocating services to the CMS Family Resource Center and adding two educators: the program serves approximately 60+ children (noted as 61 in the minutes) and increased from 13 families in August to 45 families by year end. Staff completed more than 840 visits, hosted monthly group activities and distributed more than 900 books; 18 students are graduating from the program with most transitioning into Parrish PreK.
Faculty Council President Jennifer Burke emphasized staff challenges around space and logistics and shared an inclusion anecdote: "You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed something special."
