Hello Garden Valley Community Members,
I trust you are enjoying the holiday season in beautiful Garden Valley.
I am writing to provide information regarding the Garden Valley Full-Service Community School Grant (FSCS). Information has been in the news as well as social media. The information I am providing below should eliminate any speculation or misunderstandings. I will not go too far in depth as I am very busy carrying out my duties and responding to the discontinuation of funding as of December 31st.
This grant was awarded to Garden Valley School in 2024. We are currently in year two of a five-year grant cycle. These funds are awarded by the Federal Government, pass through the United Way of Idaho for compliance and oversight, and down to rural community schools. Local schools, parents, and students complete an asset and needs assessment as well as several questionnaires to identify what is needed and how the grant can support students and families in community. Following this the Action Plan was developed. This requires identification of priorities, services, SMART goals, root causes, expenses, strategies, actions, resources, timeline, and indicators of success. All FSCS Action Plans look different because they are based on local needs. The easiest way to explain community school efforts is that it is verb, not a noun. It is strategy and action. The Garden Valley School operates as a community school. It is not a specific location, though many activities may be done in a general area.
When designing our Community School Action Plan, the objectives were to respond to what we needed but did not currently have at the school. Some services we are required to provide, but we lacked funding to provide or implement. Below is a summary of the Community School efforts. As the program comes to an early close, we are doing our best to absorb the duties back into the school budget. We are always looking for ways to fund needs while not impacting our local taxpayers more than we already do. Sustainability was the goal at the end of the five-year grant. We are halfway through our second year. We do not expect to sustain the services at the capacity we have been providing them. However, we will do our best to provide what we can and look for other funding sources to bridge the gap.
Local resources, partners, and service referrals are utilized throughout this grant implementation. This assists in using grant funds wisely, avoids duplication of services locally, creates a connected community, and supports other local organizations who already provide excellent services.
We appreciate your unwavering support of the Garden Valley youth and school as we work through this process.
Summary of the Garden Valley Community School Action Plan (Funded by the Full-Service Community School Grant)
#1 Priority: Expand and Enrich Learning Opportunities Outside of School Hours. This priority was to provide safe and healthy activities for MS and HS students after school on and off campus. These activities were designed to provide them with experiences they may not have had in the past; provide a healthy drug and alcohol-free environment; and expose them to college and career options for future consideration. Thursday After School Programming was also provided to the elementary students. This programming was directly tied to the ELA and Math while encouraging fun gaming, activities, and crafting.
#2 Priority: Serving the Whole Student: Physical and Mental Health Services, Behavioral Health, Basic Needs, School Climate, and Chronic Absenteeism. This priority provided school-wide telehealth counseling for all students, and an in-person counseling provider twice a week. It also provided referrals and resources for additional services where needed. The Community School Coordinator aided in organizing service providers for health care needs on campus; the organization and disbursement of donated clothing, hygiene supplies, and school supplies to those who need them; maintaining a supply room for students in need; school climate activities like interactive bulletin boards, recognition, and awards.
#3 Priority: College and Career Readiness. This priority provided college and career guidance and exploration; Career Technical Education exposure to trades; exposure to careers they may be interested in, or never considered in the past; the development of a community services club for community connection and the heart for service; the organization of student participation in college fairs, career fairs, job shadowing, military visits, college tours and representative visits; FAFSA workshops; local scholarship organization and guidance; scholarship season and support; Senior Award and Scholarship Night; college athlete signing events; senior spotlight; college and career binders; and tutoring opportunities.
#4 Priority: Family Engagement: Culture of Belonging Safety and Care. Emphasis on reducing chronic absenteeism and providing family engagement opportunities. This priority supported the development of a student-led committee to address chronic absenteeism; and identify some of the barriers and help remove them. It would also educate parents of the lifelong repercussions to students who do not regularly attend school; provide monthly Family Engagement events that focus on learning, recreating, creating, and socializing; use resources to bring in valuable presenters and educators to learn from; develop parent classes that would address drug and alcohol trends, the dangers of technology and social media, child trauma response and family experiences.
This is a summary of the work done through the Garden Valley Community School efforts. We appreciate your support as we work through the process of the discontinuation of FSCS Grant.
If you would like to support the continuance of the grant; contact the state and federal level; or additional information, please use the following links.
Email Template: LEA and Building Leader FSCS Funding Continuation Appeal - Google Docs
Email Template: Parent FSCS Funding Continuation Appeal - Google Docs
FSCS Grant Continuance Fact Sheet - Google Docs
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Stephany Corn
Community School Coordinator
Garden Valley School District 71
208-462-3756
1053 Banks Lowman Rd
PO Box 710
Garden Valley ID 83622
GO WOLVERINES!