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Our Work.HISTORY of "Yes We Can! Dothan"Community Conversation Summary: During August 2008, Community Conversations were held at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 4 groups of Dothan City School Employees, at the home of J.E. Saliba, for the Wiregrass Church and another group at the Chamber of Commerce, Walton Park, Habitat for Humanity, Bevis, Eberhart, Browning, Walker & Stewart CPA, for the Dothan Runner's Club at Sashay's, Retired Teachers at the Chamber of Commerce, RSVP office, Andrew Belle Recreation Center, North Highland Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and at the home of David & Carol Etheridge in Jamestown. During September 2008, Community Conversations were held at Greater Beulah Baptist Church, Dothan Community Church, for the Eureka Club and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, First Missionary Baptist Church, Girl's Inc., Ridgecrest Baptist Church, an "All Call" at First United Methodist Church, Heard Elementary School for their staff, and Grandview Baptist Church. A total of 47 Community Conversations which engaged approximately 1,000 citizens!!! Our goal was to hold 25, but we almost doubled this goal. It was then sorted into different themes which came out in the conversations. This information was put into a Community Agreement which was e-mailed or mailed to all members of our Citizens Action Team (which is everyone who attended a Community Conversation and filled out a registration card, everyone who requested a yard sign, and everyone who filled out a registration card at other events). You may view the YWCD Community Agreement by clicking below.
Task Force Committees were organized which comprised of ten members from within the school system and ten members from outside the school system, plus executive team members as ex-officio members and facilitators from the Mobile Education Foundation. These task force committees met twice to address their theme from the Community Agreement.
Information from these task force meetings was used to assist YWCD and the Superintendent in forming a Co-owned Strategic Plan to address these important issues. The work on this plan took four months to complete. It was presented to the Dothan City School Board in April, 2009. The Superintendent has met with his key staff to begin implementation of this plan. A 30 day progress report was given to the DCS Board and community in May, 2009. A 60 day progress report was given in July, 2009. A 90 day report was given on Aug. 17, 2009. Work will continue on implementing this important plan.
- Progress is being made on the DCS/YWCD Co-owned Strategic Plan and updates are being given to the community. - Community Advocacy Groups have been formed to be active advocates for our public schools and work with identified groups. - Members continue to take the YWCD message to community groups and organizations. Positive Impacts from "Yes We Can! Dothan": * Our citizens, parents, churches and businesses are being re-connected to our public school system. * Communication between schools with their parents, churches, and businesses is being enhanced. * A Data Presentation of our school system revealing where we are in comparison to other systems around our state was held and the public was invited to attend. * Honeysuckle Middle School and Cloverdale Elementary School used the "Yes We Can! Dothan" theme in displaying their scarecrows at the Botanical Gardens scarecrow contest. And, the Honeysuckle Middle School scarecrow was a winner! * A hospitality seminar was conducted for secretaries and office personnel from our schools. Thank you to the Dothan Chamber of Commerce. * Two Parent Involvement Summits were held to provide parents with important school and community information. Thank you to Rosalind James, the Extension Service and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. * Almost 2,000 signs of support for our education system can be seen throughout the city of Dothan in the form of "Yes We Can! Dothan" yard signs. * Cloverdale Elementary hosted a Community Business Breakfast to thank their partners in education. * A uniform dress code policy for students, which our movement supported, was passed by the DCS board. * School tours have been conducted. * School performance and financial data have been publicized and made readily available to our community. * Dothan High School held an education summit at the Greater Beulah Baptist Church to bring their school into the community. * Faith-based groups are becoming more involved in our schools. * Many citizens of Dothan are becoming re-engaged with our schools. * Hope it being given to many citizens in Dothan that we can work together to obtain a first class, quality public education system.
2009 Positive Impacts from "Yes We Can! Dothan": * The school uniform policy is being positively publicized in the schools and community. * A teacher dress code has been implemented. * All teachers have signed the Alabama Teacher's Code of Ethics. * Volunteers are being used in schools with after school tutoring, other school programs and school events. * All schools participated in the 2009 "Spirit of Service" day. * School "Data Dashboards" are being displayed in all Dothan city schools which give test score information about the school. * The Wiregrass United Way 2-1-1 program is being publicized in the schools. * Financial Reports are given with details at Dothan City School board meetings. * Walk through inspections have been and will be done quarterly through all Dothan city schools by the Superintendent and Central Office Staff. * There has been a growing interest for support and attendance in Dothan city schools (www.2010PublicSchoolsAgain.com). * More interest and participation is occuring in the Adopt-a-school program. * The YWCD/DCS Co-owned Strategic Plan is being implemented and related in Dothan City School board meetings. * ALL Dothan City Schools made AYP! * Schools showed record attendance at their open houses held before school began. * Dothan City School's enrollment increased by almost 100 students for the 2009-2010 school year, and almost 500 students over the past 5 years. * Thirteen, plus one, Advocacy Groups, based on the nationally recognized "Civic Index for Quality Public Education", have been formed to work with our community to gain support for our public schools. * "Good News" personnel are being appointed in all schools to help promote their schools, and they attended a workshop to aid them. * The Adopt-a-School program is being re-vitalized with the goal of having multiple partners for all schools. * A second round of school visits was conducted with 175 visitors to all Dothan City Schools. * There has been growing support for the "Yes We Can! Dothan" education movement with over 2,400 supporters involved! Also, our Facebook group has grown to over 680 members. * Most important... |
