Staff writer
Parents as Teachers coordinator Susie Kliewer presented updates on the program to the Centre school board Monday.
To qualify for the PAT program, the parent or child must fit into one of 19 categories. These include teen parent, low educational attainment, recent immigrant or refugee family, court-appointed legal guardian or foster care, incarcerated parent, death in immediate family, child abuse or neglect, disabilities or chronic health conditions, parent with diagnosed mental illness, low income, substance abuse, homelessness, very low birth weight, domestic violence, deployed military parent, or English learner.
Kliewer said the state added single parent and first-time parent as qualifiers, making it easier to place parents and children in the program.
PAT sponsors community events, links parents to resources for food and other basic needs, screens children for potential problems, and sponsors parent-child activities.
Kliewer said children whose needs have been identified before they arrive at school are “ahead of the game.”
“School success is what PAT is all about,” she said.
The board approved $3,961 as Centre’s share of PAT funding for the next year. Kliewer said the small increase in the amount is needed to replace money that was drawn from the program’s reserves to keep it going.
The board also approved $2,000 for three students and one sponsor to attend the National Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Anaheim, California, June 29 to July 2.
The board accepted a donation of $400 from Holy Family Parish to help students in need of essentials.
The board approved a bid of $115,100 from Wray Roofing to replace a portion of the school roof.
Brady and Luke Idleman were approved for out-of-district attendance for the 2017-18 school year.