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Program to pair schools, business

The plan would let business partners assist in a variety of ways.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published July 9, 2006

SEMINOLE - Council members are poised to create a new program Tuesday to help kids in the city's five public elementary schools.

The goal is to ensure that each school gets the help it needs while giving businesses a breather from the barrage of fund raisers asking for a handout.

The school partnership program will be run by a five-member volunteer board. Each member would be responsible for one school. Seminole staff members will help coordinate the board's activities just as they do for the city's other volunteer commissions. But in this case, the city will also provide office space for the board. The total cost should be less than $1,000 per year, according to Seminole City Manager Frank Edmunds.

"I'm excited," Seminole council member John Counts said. Because "the committee has five members with one responsible for each school, the proposed formation will work very well."

Counts spearheaded the drive to create such a program after hearing about a similar one sponsored by the city of St. Petersburg. Ironically, after pushing the idea for several months, Counts will not be present for the final vote at Tuesday's council meeting. He will be out of town on business.

But Counts said he's just pleased to see the concept get a chance to work. He envisions the committee and businesses doing much more than merely providing a few dollars or pencils once things are up and running.

One idea is for businesses to provide mentors. Another is for the volunteers to help all of the schools partner with other programs, such as Junior Achievement, to provide even more learning opportunities for the kids.

Counts said he would also like to see some sort of partnership with the Pinellas Education Foundation that would help identify kids who could qualify for the that group's scholarship programs.

"We have a ways to go," Counts said. "We're behind a little bit because it's brand new, but I see us growing this into a program that Seminole can be proud of."

Counts, who volunteers at Seminole Elementary School, said he got the idea after approaching Sweet Bay grocery for hot dog buns and other help with the school's fall festival. By the time the Seminole Elementary folks got to the store, it had contributed to so many other schools that it was almost tapped out.

He realized then that certain businesses are repeatedly approached by schools and other groups looking for handouts and thought it would be easier on businesses if they were paired with just one school. That would cut down on the number of people asking for help because all the public schools would be assured of getting what they needed.

[Last modified July 8, 2006, 23:29:37]