O RANGE C OMMUNITY
S CHOOL I NITIATIVE
2013-2014 Report
The Orange Public School District, in partnership with Montclair
State University, is committed to the development of universityassisted community schools at the Rosa Parks and Oakwood
Avenue Elementary Schools that address the needs & aspirations
of the students, families & Orange community.
The following three focus areas were set as priorities for the 2013-14 school year:
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Family Engagement
In School and After School Support
Community Partnerships
Prepared by Montclair State University Service
Learning & Community Engagement Program
May 2014
Orange Community School Initiative
2013-2014 Report
Since 2013, Montclair State University and the Orange Public School District, with
representatives of the Rosa Parks and Oakwood Avenue school administration,
have undergone the process of developing a university-assisted school model at the
Rosa Parks Community School and Oakwood Avenue School. During the 2013-14
foundational year, time and energy focused on creating structures that will support
a flourishing community school model. Efforts made around gaining buy-in from
various stakeholders at the school, district, and community level resulted in
partnerships, programming, events, and increased engagement within each school.
Through ongoing conversations and collaborative planning, MSU and the OPSD are
committed to creating a sustainable framework for the flourishing of Community
Schools in Orange, New Jersey.
“The Community School has
brought programs that the
students have not had an
opportunity to experience
before.” –Guidance Counselor
“It showed me that we can rise to this
opportunity to be successful and work
together” – Community Partner
“The parent workshops helped to
enhance our knowledge and
increase our skills” - Parent
“The continuing effort to support
the PTO & other community
activities like the mural were
great news!” - Staff
“The community school has
been generous with its time
and support.” - Teacher
“”My children benefit from the extra
help they get from the AmeriCorps &
MSU students” -Parent
“Our students benefited significantly
from the Strings Program…they are
happier students” - Teacher
“The community room
provides a comfort zone
within the school.” - Parent
“The community room is
place to catch my breath
& de-stress” - Teacher
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May 2014
Community Partnerships
Our University-assisted Community Schools cultivate thoughtful and strategic
partnerships that support the academic and non-academic needs and aspirations of
the students and families we serve.
Current & Ongoing Partnerships
Montclair State University
Orange Community
College of Education & Human Services
§ Counseling & Educational
Leadership
§ Health & Nutrition Sciences
Department (MPH)
NJ Community At-Large
Junior Achievement (Financial
Literacy)
Montclair Art Museum
New Jersey School of Conservation
Family Support Organization of
Essex County (FSOEC)
Montclair Historical Society
REC Center & Athletics Department
Family Assistance Resource
Center (FARC)
NJ El Sistema Alliance
Orange City Hall & Mayor
Warren
NAACP
Orng, Inc. & Valley Arts
Children’s Aid Society
Governmental Relations
University of Orange
Montclair Community Farms
The Graduate School
HANDS, Inc.
Drew University
College of the Arts
§ Cali School of Music
§ Theater & Dance Department
§ School of Communications &
Media
College of Humanities & Social Studies
§ Anthropology
§ Justice Studies
§ Psychology
§ Sociology
Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
Urban League of Essex County
Developing Partnerships
College of Education & Human Services
§ Family & Child Studies
§ Exercise Science & Physical
Education
Center of Pedagogy
§ Woodrow Wilson
§ MSUNER
Center for Child Advocacy & Policy
Health Center (in-school clinic)
Paterson Community Schools
Luna Stage
Holyoke Community Schools
American Friends Service
Committee
NJ Center for Healthy Living
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May 2014
Initiative Highlights
In 2013-14, the OCSI increased capacity at both the Rosa Parks and Oakwood
Avenue Schools by 50% and serviced about 75% of the school population.
Priority Area 1: Family Engagement
Rosa Parks Community School
Community Room Re-Opening
§ Computer & resource access
§ Family Breakfast Seminars
§ ESL Conversation Sessions
§ Latino Literacy Programming
§ Summer Program Information Sessions
Spanish & Creole Translation Support
Oakwood Avenue School
Community Room Opening
§ Computer & resource access
§ Supplies, clothing, & book closet
§ Workshop Series (in development)
§ Summer Program Information Sessions
Re-establishment of PTO
§ Host meetings in the Community Room
Support PTA
§ Host meetings in the Community Room
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May 2014
Priority Area 2: In School & After School Support
Rosa Parks Community School
Oakwood Avenue School
5 AmeriCorps members serving in grades 4-7 for
ELA & Math
6 AmeriCorps members serving in grades 2-7 for
ELA & Math
MSU Service Learning Students & Drew
University students support SRAE (after school
programming)
§ AmeriCorps run Math Wiz Club
§ Community School Ambassadors Club
MSU Service Learning Students support after
school programming
§ Coordinate & provide instructors for the
After School Strings program
§ AmeriCorps led Cheerleading Team
Drew University
Family Night Event (June 4th)
School Event Support
§ Celebrity Reads
§ Career Day
§ Science Fair
§ Field Day
§ Parent-teacher conferences
School Event Support
§ Read Across America & Book Donations
§ Career Day / College Day
§ Parent-teacher conferences
Field Trips
§ MSU College Day Experience
§ Montclair Art Museum
§ NJPAC Strings Performance
Behavioral & Socio-emotional Support
§ Balance Center Proposal (in progress)
Community Service Day
§ School beatification
§ Community Room set up
Site Coordinators serve on their school SMT & HIB teams, as well as lead other committees
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May 2014
Priority Area 3: Community Partnerships
Rosa Parks Community School
Oakwood Avenue Community School
Visiting Teachers
§ NJ School of Conservation Outreach Lessons for
kindergarten and first grade classrooms
§ MSU Dance Performance for Black History
Month Assembly
§ MSU Service Learning students
Visiting Teachers
§ NJ School of Conservation Outreach
Lessons for kindergarten and after-school
strings classes
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Strings Program (MSU)
§ NAACP Friday Read Aloud
Urban League of Essex County
Jack & Jill of America, Inc
Orange City Hall
§ Community Room Summer Hours (tentative)
§ Summer School Program: EECO AmeriCorps
Community Room Donations
§ MSU Community
§ EECO AmeriCorps
§ RPCS Teachers & Staff
Orange City Hall
§ Summer School Program: EECO
AmeriCorps
HANDS, Inc. & University of Orange
§ Placemaking Conference (May 31st)
Community Room Set Up & Donations
§ FARC
§ Rossi Paint
§ Metropolitan Plant & Flower
§ Central Fabrics, Inc.
§ MSU Community
§ Oakwood Teachers & Staff
§ Orange Community Members
§ LISC AmeriCorps program
§ EECO AmeriCorps program
Valley Arts
§ Oakwood Community Mural
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May 2014
Strategic Framework
Priority Area 1: Family Engagement
Priority Area 2: In School & After School Support
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May 2014
Challenges & Proposed Solutions
Challenges
Solutions
Presentations &
Workshops for all
Stakeholders
Buy-In & Understanding of
the Community School Model
Communication
Demonstrate value of
the model (quick wins
& quality
programming)
Ongoing meetings &
MOU outlining
commitment of each
stakeholder
Action Steps
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Create school based Advisory Committee &
Initiative Working Group
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School Administration commitment to provide time
& support of presentations, trainings, workshops,
events and programming
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Publicity & Outreach Plan
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Develop communication protocol for district-MSU,
Administration-Site Coordinators, Community
School- School Staff
Create OCSI governance structure
Create school based Advisory Committee
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Budget / Access to Resources
Clear process for
accessing supplies &
purchasing items
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Extended Day / After School
Programming
Offer programming
until 6pm to meet
community expressed
needs
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District support Schools with budget allocation &
designation for Community Schools
Purchasing Protocol
MOU of funding equitable allocation &
responsibilities
OCSI Working Group to help identify additional
funding sources
Find additional funding sources (21st Century Grant
/ National Community School Grant)
Outsource programming / partner with CBO
Provide support through AmeriCorps & MSU
Service Learning students and volunteers
Clear MOU
Clear roles &
responsibilities
Reciprocal & Mutually
Beneficial Partnership Model
Outlined priorities &
expectations for all
stakeholders
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Ongoing check-ins & status reports
System / process for addressing issues
Open & honest communication & feedback
Troubleshooting protocol for issues that arise
Review partnership quarterly
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Ongoing check-ins, meetings & brainstorming
sessions
Create system for decision making around
programming
(Site Coordinator, Lead
Agency, School
Administration, District,
Community Partnership)
Quality Program Planning &
Implementation
Clear & Inclusive
review, approval &
reflection process
Documentation
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May 2014
Sustainability Initiatives
MSU and the OPSD are committed to creating a sustainable framework for the
flourishing of Community Schools in Orange, New Jersey.
Plan for 2014-15 School Year
2014-15 Personnel
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The two Site Coordinators will be 10 month, full-time employees funded by the OPSD
Project Director will be a MSU employee in the Service Learning & Community Engagement
Program
14 Full Time AmeriCorps Members
o 20,400 hours
o 12 as Educational Specialists to provide Classroom Instructional Support
(5 at Oakwood & 7 at Rosa Parks)
o 2 Family Engagement Liaisons to support OCSI initiatives linked to family
engagement, one placed at each Community School
15-20 half-time Bonner AmeriCorps Members
o To support after-school programming & other Community School Initiatives
MSU graduate student interns to support Community School Initiatives from the Service
Learning & Community Engagement program
500 Service Learning Students to support after-school programming & other Community
School Initiatives
o 10,000 hours
MSU student volunteers to support after-school & various Community School events
10 MSU Faculty & Staff spend a portion of their time supporting OCSI
Rosa Parks & Oakwood Avenue School Teachers & Staff
1 District staff member to spend a portion of their time supporting OCSI
Resources & Supplies
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Bus transportation between MSU and Schools for MSU students supporting after-school
(shared cost)
MSU & Community Donations for events & programming
MSU catering for events, workshops & parent-teacher conferences
District materials & copying
Community Room Space with computer & phone for Site Coordinators & Family Liaisons at
each school
School-based health clinic at Oakwood Avenue (tentative)
Grant Funds
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21st Century Grant (after-school): submitted
EECO AmeriCorps Grant: submitted
National Community School Grant: in progress
Capital One Financial Literacy Program: approved
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