Evans High School moved closer today in realizing its vision to become a world class educational facility with the announcement of a donation of $175,000 from JP Morgan Chase to Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), one of several partners supporting its quest to become a full-service school.
In an event on Thursday attended by elected school officials, community partners, students and their families, Beverly Dabney, V.P. Community Relations Manager of JP Morgan Chase handed over the $175,000 check to CHS-CEO, David Bundy. The donation will enable CHS to hire a director who will help launch and run the community school at Evans.
Dabney, in making the donation said Chase was pleased to be able to provide such support as “access to quality education is a core principle behind its charity giving” and welcomed the long term relationship with, not only Evans community school, but with the wider Pine Hills community.
Led by its principal Dr. David Christiansen, Evans High School is one of only two schools in Florida adopting a community school concept–combining the best educational practices with a wide range of vital in-house health and social services to ensure that children are physically, emotionally and socially prepared to learn.
As UCF Professor Michael Frumkin, Dean and Professor of the College of Health and Public Affairs, another partner of Evans High School explained, UCF’s College of Nursing, Education and Medicine is committing to being in Pine Hills for the next 15 years to make a difference in the lives of children and their community.
Ronald Blocker, OCPS Superintendent who expressed his appreciation for the donation said a community school is what happens if you follow OCPS mission, “to lead our students to success with the support and involvement of families and the community.” Blocker added “Evans community school will offer a chance for so much to happen on and off the campus, including community and social services, much of which will be shaped by the Pine Hills and surrounding communities themselves.”
Bill Sublette, Orange County Shool Board Chairman characterized Thursday’s event as a “watershed moment” in Evans’ thrust toward creating a world class system, but observed this will only happen through collaboration.
“Through a community school we hope to create a school that serves as a catalyst where children can grow and learn,” Sublette said. “And we aspire to become a great American school district, but we can’t do it on our own.”
Evans’ community school builds on a strong body of research which has demonstrated the benefits of parents and community leaders playing an active role in the school. Adults, guardians and parents are encouraged to get involved in their children’s education and children have ongoing access to good medical, health and wellness services, free of cost.
Once the new state of the art Evans High School is completed in the Fall of 2012, half of the building would be dedicated to the community school where adult education, after-school classes and week-end programs are offered for parents, along with job training and a range of other activities, including advice and support, Christiansen said.
Nancy Robbinson, District 6, School Board Member, said today was such an exciting one for OCPS, Evans High School and all the partners involved. Once Evans’ community school is completed, it will open doors and break down barriers, making it a better place for Evans students and the families around, Robbinson added.
Christiansen, who is on a mission to turn Evans High School from an “F” school to an “A” school expressed his own appreciation for the grant, noting that the school has come a long way, but still had a long way to go. As recently as 2007, Evans High was rated an “F” school, but that is no longer the case and the school now boasts a graduation rate of 80 percent, said Christiansen.
Other achievements of Evans High School were highlighted, including the significant decline in drop out rates, the near-60 percent of students who are now in accelerated programs and its inclusion in the nations top 100 Navy Junior ROTC.
Evans community school will be opened six days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., offering a range of academic, social and medical support to not only its students, but to the wider Pine Hills Community, said Christiansen.
Betsy Flores and Kenya Nelson-Warren, parents of students attending Evans High School conveyed their appreciation and support for the new Evans community school.
A 9-member Evans ensemble offered a moving rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ at the Home of the TROJANS to close out the “It’s A New Day” event.
