Children benefit from working with volunteers, and the Edmonds School District is working to strengthen volunteerism districtwide so more students can benefit, said Ellen Kahan, assistant superintendent.
“We really are trying to increase the number of volunteers in the schools,” Kahan said.
Many schools already have a strong community support base, she said, and for other schools, this will be the first steps to create an organized volunteer effort.
An ad hoc committee was formed to implement a districtwide volunteer program, she said, and the idea first came up during one of Superintendent Nick Brossoit’s roundtable meetings.
Each school will have the ability to shape the roles of volunteers to fit the site’s needs, Kahan said.
She said the committee is proposing the creation of a district volunteer coordinator position. This staff position would be based out of the district offices and would oversee the program, Kahan said. The coordinator would recruit parents and community volunteers, create links with principals and school coordinators and develop a training program.
Schools would also have a school volunteer coordinator through the committee’s proposal. These individuals would be the contact for each site and would organize and support efforts at the school.
Farrell Fleming, executive director of the South County Senior Center in Edmonds, said while many seniors already donate time in the schools, there are many more who could get involved. Fleming is one of the 25 or so ad hoc committee members.
“We really hope to put together a partnership,” Fleming said. The South County Senior Center serves about 3,000 adults, he said, and there are other senior programs within the Edmonds School District area that also could provide volunteers to work with students.
Senior citizens are interested in getting involved, and a districtwide volunteer effort could bridge gaps between seniors and youth, he said.
Powerful Partners, a partnership of six elementary schools that provides tutoring, mentoring and after-school programs, would not be adversely affected by this proposal, said Rachael Hannah, executive director of Powerful Partners. The program currently has three staff members, and with the proposed addition of school volunteer coordinators, Powerful Partners could possibly be able to expand its programs, she said.
The committee is now awaiting the school district’s budgeting process to find out if there will be funds to see its proposal through, Kahan said.
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