March 8, 2010 in City

Communities in Schools director sees needs and tries to fill them

Jody Lawrence-Turner The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Children’s Investment Fundcommunities in schools

Jesse Tinsley photo

jesset@spokesman.com Ben Stuckart, executive director of Communities in Schools, stands in his office in Spokane on Thursday.
(Full-size photo)

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Dropout prevention, bringing local resources into schools for students, and helping young people stay healthy are among Communities in Schools’ goals. The national nonprofit was drawn to Spokane because of its dropout rate – one in three students. The local branch was established here in December 2007. Since then, executive director Ben Stuckart has helped bring dental services into several schools, provide food to more hungry children on weekends, and joined the steering committee for an effort to establish a fund that could improve the graduation rate.

Q: How does Communities in Schools connect local resources with schools?

A: We do that by putting a site coordinator in specific schools. So, in Spokane, we have coordinators at Cheney, Glover and Chase middle schools. There’s a volunteer coordinator at Sheridan Elementary School. Their job is to bring outside resources into the schools. For example, the dental-sealant service, Tooth Savers, is one we brought in.

Q: What are a few of the activities Communities in Schools is involved in?

A: We have a pretty robust afterschool program … where we have more than 50 students participating each night at each of the three locations. They bring in outside resources like Red Cross, which teaches baby-sitting courses. And Girl Scouts teaches “uniquely Me” – a program that addresses the critical nationwide problem of low self-esteem among adolescent and pre-adolescent girls.

It’s all community partners offering those programs. And we’re brokering them in and connecting them with children.

Another need that we came up with was nutrition. Schools offer free and reduced lunch programs, but then kids at night and over the weekend are hungry. We have a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank to do food backpacks that we send home over the weekend. I think we’re up to over 60 children.

There’s a growing low-income area in Airway Heights, so we talked to Second Harvest Food Bank and the organization opened a Kids Café at Cheney Middle School. It serves free and abundant food every day that’s nutritious: granola bars, sunbutter (a spread made from sunflower seeds) and jelly sandwiches, fruit and vegetables. We probably feed 75 to 100 kids at Cheney Middle School.

Q: Why did the nonprofit get involved in the Children’s Investment Fund initiative?

A: I’ve seen the need directly. Our job is to connect community resources to schools, and I’ve seen the number of services available to our kids in schools through nonprofits has shrunk.

I understand the dropout rate, and I think it’s a huge social and economic issue that we need to address. Our organization can’t address it alone. I think there’s a need for something larger here in our community.

18 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

eagleproducer on March 08 at 8:53 a.m.
There are already plenty of services/plans/programs/whatever in place to address this problem. Successful models from inner urban charter schools show the way. Graduation from high school or having success at anything is about personal responsibility. This initiative further removes schools from being personally responsible for their performance. Trust in public education will not be restored with such measures, but diminished. It’s a way of saying you’ve given up on the system when perhaps all is needed are changes in leadership, reallocation of resources into the classroom and out of the board room, and allowing teachers to be the ultimate arbiter of their classroom.
The argument that the Mead school district is more resource rich than District 81 is laughable and incorrect. Mead has a lot of children who are poor as well, they just don’t use them as an excuse for not doing their jobs.
http://www.schoolmatters.com/schools….
http://www.schoolmatters.com/schools….
The data in those links shows Mead spends $1700.00 per student LESS than District 81 yet boasts much higher graduation rates and other indicators of student achievement like college acceptance, national merit scholars, and test scores. District 81 spends $1000.00 MORE than the state average per student. I say they are to be held accountable first before another dime is asked from the taxpayer.
I’m talking to you as well, members and leaders of the Spokane Education Association.
gkambs on March 08 at 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Stuckart,
I had posted a comment on a previous Spokesman Review story

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/21/levy-would-finance-dropout-rate-battle/
about your fine organizations efforts. I was commenting about your statement; “it is not a school problem but a community problem” I provided a significant amount of data showing it is a School District 81 Problem. Would you still agree it is not a school problem, or could I produce more data to help influence your opinion? Thank you.
In another Spokesman Review story “Dropout rate prompts call for tax measure” you said; “The PAC has hired Robinson Research to poll 400 likely voters to gauge support for the measure”. Could you share the results of that poll with us here?
Also in that article Michael Allen mentioned; “Making this investment now could save us a lot of money in the future,” said Allen, who added that the issue was worth a strong public dialogue.
Do you have any planned meetings for a “strong public dialogue”?
Thank you,
Once again I also believe our children are “our future” and we must ensure we do everything possible to make sure as many of them as possible get every chance to graduate and make a positive impact in our community, I applaud your efforts.
force_vector on March 08 at 12:20 p.m.
This initiative is a joke! When are people going to figure out that a good education is all about teaching, not providing more nanny services. It’s the same old song; if we only had more “resources or money, things would surely be better”. I’m calling BS on that. As spoketucky said, it’s all about personal accountability. This means not just students, but teachers as well. If i wrapped a turd in $100 bills, is it not still a turd? We have all been led to believe that high cost equals high quality. We have bought into it hook, line and sinker in all aspects of life. Let’s start to un-learn this lie, beginning with education.
eagleproducer on March 08 at 12:25 p.m.
gkambs: ALL the data shows this is a District 81 problem but NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS THAT REALITY!
The school board is the place to begin. Don’t expect too many alterations from the status quo while Trepieddi is at the helm, either. In fact, test scores and graduation rates have dropped during his tenure as school board member/president and once again the voting citizens of Spokane returned him to a position where he could continue to fail to provide leadership.
Nancy Stowell, District 81 superintendent needs to go, along with the director of human resources and their staffs.
eagleproducer on March 08 at 12:29 p.m.
From the NY Times Magazine in the Sunday edition:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.html?ref=magazine
force_vector on March 08 at 12:58 p.m.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/234590
Another worth-while read…
sequitur on March 08 at 1:42 p.m.
Absolutely hold District 81 accountable, but Communities in Schools is doing things like helping kids get food on the weekends, dental care that they are not getting, and useful activities after school instead of going home to an empty house or hanging out. These aren’t things any school district nowadays can address, yet kids benefit greatly from the services. It’s not just about what goes on in the classroom. We have to do something more in our community that we are now and I’m very glad Stuckart and others are thinking of new ways to help.
benstuckart on March 08 at 1:44 p.m.
Mr Spoketucky,
Your post is a copy and paste of another thread from another article. Anyone reading your post may be confused. I will try and address your concerns one by one.
You say services are in place, I can assure you that numerous organizations that offer after-school, mentoring, early childhood and abuse and neglect services are at maximum capacity and could serve many more families and youth.
You claim that graduation from high school is all about personal responsibility. That is false. The latest longitudinal study from U of Arizona in 2007 showed that the students that dropped out in high school all showed signs in the 3rd and 4th grade, when their brains were not developed. We must wrap support around our children before they fall in to a trap they cannot get out of. We must prepare them for Kindgarten, we must provvide them with mentors and safe places to be out of school time.
You claim that we have given up on the School District, but that is false. We are recognizing that many other factors play into a child’s success beside the 6 hours a day he is in a classroom. Children must come to school ready to learn and must be provided support besides just the schools.
You argument about Mead versus Spokane Schools is backwards. Spokane Schools has a 53% free/reduced rate versus Mead’s 25% free/reduced rate. There are over 15,000 students coming to school in District 81 with economic issues versus 2300 in Mead. These students need more support, not less.
Please visit our website at www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.org
Sincerely
Ben Stuckart
gailbert on March 08 at 2:18 p.m.
Communities in Schools is filling a gap in our system. There are so many children in Spokane that would fall through the cracks if we didn’t have services like Communities in Schools. My experience with Communities in Schools has been eye opening. They do amazing networking with community businesses, bringing needed help and support to children in our community. I applaud their efforts.
School Sealant Programs have been embraced nation wide for many years, yet I had great difficulty in getting this valuable service started in Spokane County. Communities in Schools has been instrumental in getting the school administrators to move forward towards using School Sealant Programs like mine. These sealant programs may only be used by 5% - 10% of the children, but all children deserve access to preventative dental care.
Gail Heacox RDH,BS
Tooth Savers LLC
gkambs on March 08 at 2:58 p.m.
gailbert: Could not agree with you more. What you guys are doing on the dental side deserves some serious Kudos! Well done to you and CIS : )
benstuckart on March 08 at 3:33 p.m.
Gkambs
I wanted to address the point that we look at the high dropout rates as a District 81 problem. I disagree, the students that attend District 81 are from a higher poverty background than other local school districts. The statistics locally when you look at individual high schools play out the exact same. The test scores for 4th graders are the same. The dropout rates for Seattle and Tacoma are the same. In each and every instance the higher the rate of poverty the higher the need for services. That is why we need wrap-around services.
I believe the strong public dialogue is taking place now. It took place during the dropout summit in April, took place during the 4 meetings we held in December and will continue throughout the campaign. I believe colelcting 12,000 signatures in 6 weeks should increase the dialogue about the issue as well.
I am more than willing to get together to talk about this more. Email me at ben@cisspokane.org anytime.

Force_vector
I am not sure how you hold a 8 year old child who has not been prepared for school accountable for their actions? Or a 10 year who has never had a role model. These are innocent beings who we must make sure have every opportunity to succeed.
I am not sure we are wrapping any turds in $100 bills, just trying to lower your taxes in the long run by getting more kids to graduate.
Spoketucky and force_vector
I think you should run for school board. The district 81 specific concern is addressed above. I also agree that teachers are important and will read both articles tonight. Just because teachers are part of the solution does not preclude us from also saying that other services make a difference. Go to www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.org and go to FAQ’s for a two page summary of studies that prove my point.
N. Sequiter
You should join our campaign
MrNatural on March 08 at 3:56 p.m.
I know firsthand having been a working single parent that after school programs work and I wholeheartedly commend Communities in Schools. This dropout rate I believe is one of many symptoms of the countless budget cuts to specific public health and social service programs enacted after the passage of 695 and other Eyman-like initiatives. Too often we as a community have listened with a deaf ear when public health nursing, Planned Parenthood, and well-child programs were eliminated. Children need to live in healthy homes and need to be engaged in constructive extracurricular activities when their parents need to work.
CharlesBillford on March 08 at 4:35 p.m.
I wonder what Ben Stuckart makes in salary. I noticed he is a newbie to the 81 district as there are no records on him prior to 2007.
Also what his background is. Most of these are “good ol boy” positions.
Why does the school district need an “executive director” for this and just how many “executive directors” are there. District 81 is well know to have a lot of hogs at the trough. Maybe we have a good one here, but I’m not holdng my breath.
While Ben Stuckart talks a good story, I want to see quantifiable results. Not just the typical “wave of the arm” reporting.
gkambs on March 08 at 4:59 p.m.
CharlesBillford: Not sure if he works for the school district?
The question people would want to know is what he will make if the initiative passes. He has been pretty open I am sure he would disclose this information if someone were to ask.
Here are the executive directors that make over 100K in district 81
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/06/top-administrator-salaries-spokane-central-valley-/
eagleproducer on March 08 at 5:55 p.m.
Mr. Stuckart: I understand the difference in demographics between District 81 and outlying districts. I also understand that District 81 spends 1000 dollars more per student than the state average and 1700 dollars more per student than Mead. That difference amounts to tens of millions that are going towards a system that is obviously failing and as a result, a drain on resources for other districts with their act together.
We can agree on the utmost importance of Early Childhood Education. Yet absent of a national movement and institutionalization, schools will always receive students with widely disparate skill sets and it’s the responsibility of parents, teachers. and administrators in the early primary years to ensure this happens for EVERY child.
The good and great teachers welcome accountability in our profession. We know there are those in our midst, at every level, who are on cruise control.
Increasing peer tutoring is a time proven and inexpensive way to help struggling students and could be developed school by school to address specific needs. I’ve seen this work excellently with ESL learners who were paired with another student who shared their native language but had gained mastery of English.
As for running for the District 81 school board, no thanks. The process would be invasive and exhaustive, not to mention the resistance one would face should they seek meaningful reform within the district once elected.
eagleproducer on March 08 at 6:11 p.m.
If 8 and 10 year old children exist absent of basic academic skills or role models isn’t that mostly the fault of the schools? They’ve been involved with schools for 3 and 5 years respectively at that point. My teachers were all role models at that age and they taught me what I needed to know both in terms of academics and behavior expectations. I’ve been in the classroom long enough to know the efficacy of learning ownership. It works and is especially effective when partnered with peer pressure that includes group accountability. Struggling students negate learning opportunities and time on task because of behavior issues that are easily curbed with group persuasion.
I urge people to read the link to the NY Times magazine article titled “How to Build a Better Teacher.” The outcomes won’t change until the classroom and the ones who lead it do.
benstuckart on March 08 at 6:24 p.m.
Charles Billford
I work for an independent 501(c)3 that works with various school districts, not for them. I make less than $60k a year and left a lucrative position as the Regional Manager of TicketsWest from 2001-2007. I worked in the event ticketing industry for 12 years before starting up Communities In Schools. I am definitely not part of any old boy network. I also want to see results; that is why the Children’s Investment Fund will only fund organizations that can show outcomes.
Gkambs
If the investment fund passes I gain nothing, maybe our program is funded and maybe not. But if the fund passes kids in Spokane get more services.
Spoketucky
I think you and I would agree on 90 percent of items if we got in the same room. I am planning on reading the article tonight.
gkambs on March 08 at 7:06 p.m.
Charles Billford: Told Ya. : )
Charles you said:
“While Ben Stuckart talks a good story, I want to see quantifiable results. Not just the typical “wave of the arm” reporting.”
Benstuckart makes some good points as does Spoketucky.
CIS is doing some wonderful things for our kids, but as of now there is a much bigger issue we all must be willing to address. School reform.
Take a look at the:
Education spending report
A chapter from the Washington Policy Center Policy Guide covering education spending. (follow the link then download the eye opening document)
http://www.spokesman.com/documents/2010/feb/05/education-spending-report/