HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11052002 - PR1 PRA
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on November 5, 2002, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Uilkema, Gerber, DeSaulnier, Glover and Gioia
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ACCEPTED the presentation recognizing and congratulating the County's
Service Integration Program upon receipt of the California Gold Community
Award.
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
Attested: November 5.2002
John Sweeten,Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
By: ;44--,--0
Deputy Clerk
"Verde Involving parents" Earns Statewide "California gold Community" Award!
7b2 Y2rde lnv2lvinaParentl Rrogram Is helping to tum aroundY2rde E12mentgarySchool
Verde Involving Parents (VIP) is a team effort of parents, teachers and county agencies and non-profit
organization staff who live and work in North Richmond, CA. Their goal: get our children to school-•every day,
on time and ready to learn. The VIP Program is overseen by the Contra Costa Service Integration Program, in
partnership with Verde Elementary School and the Center for Human development's Conflict Resolution Panels.
Verde: One of Califgrnia'a most challenged schools
Verde Elementary School is located in North Richmond, a neighborhood characterized by high poverty and low
educational attainment of adults and children. In recent years, Verde School has been marked by instability; in
the six years between 1994 and 2000, for example, Verde had five different principals. In 1999.2000, Verde
School had the lowest attendance rates in the district—on average students missed about 1 in 9 days of school.
The combined effects of poverty and family stress took their toll on student performance at Verde as well.
According to the State's 2000 Academic Performance Index (API), Verde was the lowest performing elementary
school in all of California (6,029 schools).
improved Attendance+ Better Behavior+ Family.Suonort a 0000rtunity to learn
The VIP Program is based on a simple formula: if students come to school regularly, 9 they have the tools and
skills to manage conflict and negotiate relationships and if parents and community residents get positively
involved in day-to-day life at the school, Verde students will learn more and perform better. VIP is built on the
premise that, despite the pressures of poverty, parents and other caregivers can be the school's most effective
partners-if they have tangible support and real opportunities to make meaningful changes in the school. All
I n of VIP's staff members are Caren or relatives of students at Verde. Through VIP, these "Family Partners"
have gained certificated training and leadership skills, and experienced professional success.
VIP's Family Partners; The VIP Program's Family Partners use neighbor-to-neighbor outreach to ensure that
Verde students attend school regularly. Every day VIP's four Family Partners contact the to of every abeam
and tardy btu ent by phone and home visits. The Family Partners offer referrals and resources (e.g., bus tickets,
alarm docks, raingear, etc.)to help get children back to school as soon as possible. The Family Partners
regularly pick up students at their homes in the morning and drop them off at the end of the day.
VIP's Student Improvement Center:Students who act out in class or on the playground are assigned to the VIP
Student Improvement Center. While at the Center, students work with VIP's three Student Improv n#
Specialists on developing better conflict resolution, anger management and overall problem-solving skills.
Students who are"caught in the act" of speck, positive community behaviors also are sent to the Center—to
pick up a prizel Both adults and peers can"catch" students and reinforce the school-wide norms.
Celebrations and Awards.A key feature of the VIP strategy lies in celebrating student and family achievement
and progress, VIP awards students with excellent, good and improved attendance and behavior at monthly "Spirit
Assemblies". The VIP Program draws in parents and other family members through free family events at the
act 1, such as family dinners and parent awards nights. Before VIP, few parents would show up for back-to-
school night; now, Verde routinely hosts 100-150 parents at frequent, focused events.
RESULTS; iP neighborhood staff decoased student absences nd tmr_dlws by n2girly40
VIP reduced full day absences at Verde School by 36% over three school years, and pushed monthly attendance
rates to 92.3%. Since February 2001, VIP has returned over$110,000 in vitally needed Average Daily
Attendance revenue to Verde School. Verde's 2002 Stanford-9 test results showed the school's greatest
improvement in years—gains in all subjects and all grade levels.
RECOGNITION:MP Rroolr m wine prestigious, atatewlde award
On September 12, 2002, ViP was the grand prize "Callfomia Gold Community"winner at the California
Community Partnership Awards sponsored by the Counties, Cities and Schools Partnership (a collaboration of the
California State Association of Counties, the League of California Cities and the California School Boards
Association)and the California Center for Civic Renewal. VIP was recognized above 12 other program finalists
out of 53 original entries from across the State to win this prestigious award.
For information, contact/cline Goldman, Service Integration Program Manager, at(925)335-8503.
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