FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2003
Officials Announce Plan for “Full Service Community
Schools” Initiative in Illinois
(Sullivan, IL) - After over a year of research, planning
and collaboration a “design team” of approximately
40 state and regional educators and service providers have
completed a “Full Service Community Schools” plan
for the state of Illinois. The team consists of representatives
from such professions as education, health, mental health,
criminal justice, recreation and business.
Serving as Chairperson of the joint Illinois State Board
of Education and Regional Offices of Education initiative,
Dan Anderson – Regional Superintendent of Schools for
the ‘Southern most 5 counties’, says the team has
developed a specific plan for assisting school districts to
organize local partnerships which will help in the operation
of full service schools. “I think the concept of using
schools as a hub for delivering a full continuum of services
to children and adults is one that not only makes good common
sense, but has also been proven to be effective and efficient”
Anderson said. “I believe this project can greatly assist
schools and communities in addressing the goals set forth
in the federal “No Child Left Behind Act’ signed
into law last year” Anderson added.
Anderson says that program services should begin by the end
of October, pending completion of training for regional teams
who will be providing training and technical assistance to
interested schools. The three member teams will consist of
an educator, service provider and an ‘at large’
community representative.
Debbie Bretag, Executive Director of the Illinois Center
for Violence Prevention and the Chairperson for The Illinois
After-School Partnership is fully supportive of the Full Service
Community Schools initiative. “The Partnership values
its work with the FSCS, as it serves as a strong example of
effective collaboration and gives young people the best chance
to succeed academically and to develop to their fullest potential”
Bretag said.
Lynne Haeffele-Curry, Director of Planning and Performance
with the Illinois State Board of Education, has been working
closely with the ‘design team’ on the project. “Leaving
no child behind academically cannot be a reality unless communities,
families and schools work together. It has been proven that
the Full Service Community Schools approach can greatly enhance
the prospect of providing for all of our students needs”
Haeffele-Curry said.
The announcement of the Plan will take place at 1:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, August 13 at Sullivan High School, located at
725 North Main Street in Sullivan, Illinois. Sullivan High
School has been a pioneer in addressing the Full Service Community
Schools concept for the past 10 years.
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