The Parents as Teachers Plus program is making it possible for North Callaway low-income families to receive assistance in creating a friendly learning environment for their kids.
Amy Bell, the school district's PAT+ facilitator, was able to make 80 home visits since the beginning of the 2015 school year, according to information presented to the Board of Education's regular meeting Thursday.
While the district was already a member of the PAT program through First Chance for Children, the Plus program created the opportunity for the district to hire a facilitator who could visit homes and work with high-need families, such as those with low income, low education and/or disabilities.
Bell has been working with the maximum number of families allowed by the program - 25 - while another 25 families sit on the waiting list to work with Bell. This is the first year the district has had families on the waiting list for the program.
While those families may not have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Bell, they can attend the Group Connection events where parents are allowed to visit their kids in an educational environment and interact with the teachers involved. These events also include health training and screenings, such as the most recent visual test and eye screening, Bell said.
Bell hopes to develop a toy-lending library as a new aspect of the program.
Kids would be able to go to the library and "check out" educational toys.
The board also discussed the bond update during the meeting. On Jan. 11 the district held a pre-bid meeting with 30 contractors and on Jan. 18 the contractors had the option to tour the facilities. Since then 39 contractors have requested copies of the district's blueprints and specs for the high school's agri-science structure and greenhouse, Superintendent Bryan Thomsen said.
The district is working with Architects Alliance Inc. on hiring the right contractor for the job and Thomsen told board members that he wants to push back the bidding process to address several contractors' unanswered questions, which may push back the board's Feb. 4 meeting.