Spring Break
Bryan Blitz re-enrolls dropouts
By: Meagan O'Toole-Pitts
Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: News
Community Blitz, an annual Family Solutions door-to-door campaign in Bryan to encourage high school dropouts to re-enroll, was a success Thursday, said Bryan Independent School District Communications Director Sandy Farris.
"There were about 100 students on the list, and 60 percent were contacted. We'll be following up with those connected in the coming days and weeks," Farris said. "We enrolled three students today, and we got a dozen phone calls inquiring how they can get enrolled."
Community Blitz was a much smaller operation when it began last year, volunteers said.
"Last year was a much smaller scale because of Hurricane Ike," said Neighborhood/Youth Services Manager Ronnie Jackson. "This year we had a huge turn out of volunteers- we took four buses and fanned out all over the community."
Members of Family Solutions Bryan ISD, Bryan Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, Brazos County Juvenile Services, the Texas A&M College of Education and local pastors volunteered in this year's campaign.
"This is an emerging activity in Galveston, Houston and many cities," Jackson said. "A Bush School [of Government and Public Service] study this summer said that about $9 billion will be lost in Texas with the estimated dropouts in the Class of 2012, so getting them graduated and on to careers is an important asset for our community."
Bryan ISD Students contacted are no-shows to class, and are encouraged by Community Blitz volunteers to earn their diploma with the Flexible High School program, which allows working students to attend night classes.
"There are GED options but we primarily encourage them to get their diploma," Jackson said.
In conjunction with Texas A&M College of Education's 40th anniversary, Dean of Education Douglas Palmer made his own call to service.
"The issue of dropout prevention is a serious educational and public policy concern and I wanted our college to work actively to reduce dropouts," Palmer said. "Completion of high school has a variety of personal impacts- the kinds of jobs and resources they acquire throughout their lives- and it's important for the community and state. It's a concern I believe we all should be addressing."
College of Education students, faculty and administration will participate next year, Palmer said.
Community Blitz will continue as long as it is needed, said Bryan ISD Deputy Superintendent for Instructional Services Francis McArthur.
"As long as we have one kid not finishing school we will be doing this," McArthur said. "If we have one student, that's too many."
"There were about 100 students on the list, and 60 percent were contacted. We'll be following up with those connected in the coming days and weeks," Farris said. "We enrolled three students today, and we got a dozen phone calls inquiring how they can get enrolled."
Community Blitz was a much smaller operation when it began last year, volunteers said.
"Last year was a much smaller scale because of Hurricane Ike," said Neighborhood/Youth Services Manager Ronnie Jackson. "This year we had a huge turn out of volunteers- we took four buses and fanned out all over the community."
Members of Family Solutions Bryan ISD, Bryan Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, Brazos County Juvenile Services, the Texas A&M College of Education and local pastors volunteered in this year's campaign.
"This is an emerging activity in Galveston, Houston and many cities," Jackson said. "A Bush School [of Government and Public Service] study this summer said that about $9 billion will be lost in Texas with the estimated dropouts in the Class of 2012, so getting them graduated and on to careers is an important asset for our community."
Bryan ISD Students contacted are no-shows to class, and are encouraged by Community Blitz volunteers to earn their diploma with the Flexible High School program, which allows working students to attend night classes.
"There are GED options but we primarily encourage them to get their diploma," Jackson said.
In conjunction with Texas A&M College of Education's 40th anniversary, Dean of Education Douglas Palmer made his own call to service.
"The issue of dropout prevention is a serious educational and public policy concern and I wanted our college to work actively to reduce dropouts," Palmer said. "Completion of high school has a variety of personal impacts- the kinds of jobs and resources they acquire throughout their lives- and it's important for the community and state. It's a concern I believe we all should be addressing."
College of Education students, faculty and administration will participate next year, Palmer said.
Community Blitz will continue as long as it is needed, said Bryan ISD Deputy Superintendent for Instructional Services Francis McArthur.
"As long as we have one kid not finishing school we will be doing this," McArthur said. "If we have one student, that's too many."
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com