Marion County gets its second Community Partnership School

East Marion Principal Sarah Dobbs at press conference on Dec. 14.

East Marion Elementary has joined College Park Elementary as the second Community Partnership School in the Marion County school district, a designation that will bring more essential services to this underserved community.

In 2021, College Park Elementary School was selected as Marion County’s very first Community Partnership School (CPS). This opportunity was extended to East Marion on Thursday at the press conference at College Park Elementary.

The CPS program partners include a school district, university/college, local nonprofit, and a healthcare provider. Marion County Public Schools, the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, the College of Central Florida, United Way of Marion County, Heart of Florida Health Center, and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital were all allocated for collaboration with East Marion.

The four pillars of CPS are collaborative leadership, expanded learning, wellness services, and family and community engagement. Together these add to the chosen school through tutoring, learning activities, and educational events. Beyond academics, the core healthcare partner supports student well-being, and additional support from the community supplies clothing, meals, and increased parental involvement.

“The objective is to meet students’ mental, physical, emotional, social, nutritional, and sometimes financial needs,” said Robert Haight, president and CEO of United Way of Marion County. “Hence, they are ready and able to fully engage in the academic opportunities their school offers.”

Given an $80,000 grant, United Way will be overseeing the new cooperation.

Haight said the expected positive improvements from the partnership will include increased student attendance, academic gains, and family involvement with the school.

This second CPS program for Marion County will now reach the 615 students living in the Ocala National Forest who go to East Marion.

“The location of our school presents barriers where medical care, food, clothing, and school supplies are next to none,” said East Marion Principal Sarah Dobbs. “Finding the resources close by is hard for our school but knowing that this is going to bridge the gap will help.”

East Marion stood out as the school for the CPS program because of these hardships. Haight said that based on economic indicators and academic barriers to success, the elementary school was considered a high-need community.

“The school zone is a food desert, home to one grocery store and three small gas pump stations,” Haight said. “There are no medical facilities available in this area. Proud, hardworking people who fall into an ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population make up this remote community where people drive 25 miles to a grocery store or work.”

According to the federal index, 100% of the families living in this location are economically disadvantaged.

Haight said these circumstances naturally create educational and student hindrances.

He expanded that illness, transportation issues, lack of dental care, and lice have been common poverty cases in the community. East Marion received a D grade from the state in 2022, with 56% of its students having less than a 90% attendance rate and 330 students considered chronically absent. The school also placed in the bottom 50% of all schools based on overall test scores.

To alleviate these issues and improve school statistics, United Way will hire a CPS director, wellness coordinator and activities coordinator, with the proper funds to support these positions first.

“I believe the two Community Partnership Schools will demonstrate that academic performance will improve when trust from the community is earned, and essential services are provided,” Haight said.

This program is designed to improve skills in school and after graduation, Haight said, adding, “Our students are Marion County’s future workforce.”

Dobbs said the school has been on cloud nine with discussion of the program coming to campus.

“Knowing that students can step out, have needs met, and feel like they are a part of the school; and we can increase our daily attendance, student proficiency, and graduation rates because of this impact is beyond measure,” Dobbs said.

Exam room at College Park portable. Heart of Florida uses the space during routine visits to the schools on Tuesday every week. [Ocala Gazette staff]

College Park Elementary Husky Den utilizes a portable as a food and clothing bank. [Ocala Gazette staff]