Program aims to inform parents about school system, leadership

As published in the Record Journal on Thursday March 14, 2013

By Eric Vo
Record-Journal staff
evo@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2235
Twitter:@ericvoRJ

In an effort to provide more support and get more parents involved in the schools, School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo has been working with the town’s Youth and Social Services Department to launch a Parent Supporting Educational Excellence program in the fall.

The program aims to make parents better informed on the workings of the school system and prepare them to become leaders of other parents and students. It is being funded by a grant from Liberty Bank and the Napier Foundation, according to Craig Turner, director of youth and social services.

Parent Supporting Educational Excellence started as a pilot program in 2005 and became available to all communities in Connecticut in January 2008, said Patrice Nelson, statewide coordinator for the program. At the time, there wasn’t any training for parents who wanted to engage in a leadership role in school systems,Nelson said.After completing the program, parents have a “stronger commitment to engage with the school system; a stronger knowledge of the schools and how to begin to make change,” Nelson said.

With parent-teacher advisory councils at each Wallingford school, Menzo said, there has always been a large amount of parent involvement.

“This isn’t just about engaging parents,” Menzo said. “It’s about developing leadership roles in parents and understanding the workings of a school system.”

Completing the 12-week course gives parents the training and skills they need if they want to pursue leadership positions in the community.

“Instead of being a member of the PTAC, they can go on to be the chairperson for them,” Menzo said. “Or maybe they’ll want to run for the Board of Education in the future. ... We’re trying to give a group of parents the added skill base to take it to the next level.”

Principals in the middle schools and high schools have sent emails to parents describing the program, Turner said. Parents who want to participate must submit an application to the school principal, who will forward them to Arlene Cassello, the town’s parent program coordinator.

Turner said the maximum enrollment will be 25 parents, because the state can only provide two individuals to lead the workshops. If more than 25 parents apply, Cassello will apply for more grants for more facilitators, she said.

“If we get a lot of parents to apply, we’ll get more money to accommodate,” she said. “We want to get as many parents involved as possible.”

A number of parents are interested in participating in the program, but are hesitant to hand in their application because of the time commitments, Cassello said.

The first session of the program will take place at the Parks and Recreation Department on May 11. Starting in September, the sessions will be held Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Applications are due Friday, and Cassello said Wednesday she has nine applications.