Mesquite ISD outlines family engagement programs, reports grants and volunteer growth

At the April 14 meeting, Lindsey Paris and Cynthia Patino, coordinators for Family and Community Engagement, presented a comprehensive report on programs and partnerships aimed at supporting families across Mesquite ISD.

Paris described the Read Play Talk initiative (launched 2016–17) and said the district expanded events this year, estimating the community expo/festival drew more than 5,000 attendees and the Read Play Talk Fair about 1,000. She highlighted a new partnership with Dallas Regional Medical Center to distribute baby book bags to families who deliver at the hospital and said LENA Start (parent education for children under 3) has had 438 participating families since its launch and is fully funded for 2025–26 by a grant from the Mesquite ISD Education Foundation.

Paris and Patino described Little Readers (launched districtwide this year with 28 participating campuses), 30 Little Free Libraries sponsored by community members (projected to expand to 34) and Camp Excel (395 students last summer; more than 150 signups have been recorded since registration opened on April 1). They noted a $5,000 grant from the TI Foundation and a $20,000 grant from the Bass Foundation that will help keep Camp Excel costs low for families. The coordinators also described new volunteer tracking, Promise League parent engagement with more than 3,000 volunteer hours, and empowerment groups to support family knowledge about graduation requirements and postsecondary pathways.

“Read Play Talk offered 10 community events,” Paris said, and added the district distributes free resources and books at each event to support early literacy. Trustees thanked the coordinators for the report and had no further questions.