Community Schools

The Community Schools strategy transforms a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. As partners, they organize in- and out-of-school resources, supports and opportunities so that young people thrive.-Coalition for Community Schools

Sun Prairie Community Schools transform a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. By identifying root causes of challenges negatively impacting students, Sun Prairie Community Schools organize in- and out-of-school resources, supports, and opportunities so that young people in our community thrive.

WHAT ARE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS?

Community schools are public schools in the hub of their neighborhoods, uniting educators, community partners, and families to provide all students with top-quality academics, enrichment, health and social services, and opportunities to learn and thrive.

This is achieved through a four-pillar strategy, coordinated by a full-time Community School Site Coordinator at each site.

Across the nation, the Community Schools strategy has demonstrated that when a school fully implements the strategy of integrating student supports, expanding learning time and opportunities, actively engaging families and the community, and using collaborative leadership practices:

Students attend school more
Students succeed academically
Families, school staff, and youth create a strong climate of trust

Community School Overview

Community Schools Learning Sessions

Streamed live and recorded in Spring 2022, these sessions are for school staff, community partners, family and community members to learn more about WHAT community schools are, WHAT they do and HOW they do it.

Each video focuses on one of the four pillars of the Community School Strategy:

Expanded & Enriched Learning Opportunities (58:01)
Panelists: Stacy Darga (WS Site Coordinator), Jill Dorfler (KAT Afterschool Program Coordinator), Haley Solberg (WS Social Worker); Stacey Dudley (NS Site Coordinator), Anthony Watkins (Boys & Girls Club); Kari Walton (Prairie Music & Arts)

Family & Community Engagement (57:41)
Panelists: Alley Balmer (YMCA), Albert Chen (NS SCO), Stacey Dudley (NS Site Coordinator), Lexi Vanden Heuvel (NS Principal), Shenika Moss (CHB Site Coordinator), Nicole Toepfer (CHB Principal)

Collaborative Leadership & Practices (53:00)
Panelists: Brian Mckenzie (PMMS Site Coordinator), Nehemirah Barrett (PMMS Associate Principal), Rea Solomon (PPA Site Coordinator), Nikole Sconiers (PPA Principal), Maureen Crombie (City of Sun Prairie City Council), Bryn Horton (SPASD Board of Education)

Integrated Student Supports (47:14)
Panelists: Catherine Reierson (SPASD McKinney Vento Coordinator), Shenika Moss (CHB Site Coordinator), Brian Mckenzie (PMMS Site Coordinator), Pastor Quinton (Heartland Church), Rea Solomon (PPA Site Coordinator), Mark Thompson (Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry), Joanne Marquez (Second Harvest)

Community Schools Impact Reports

The Sun Prairie Community Schools team publishes a Mid-Year Impact Report in February and End of Year Impact Report in August. These reports are presented to both City Council and the Board of Education. Click on any of our previous reports below for more information.

2023–2024 Mid-Year Impact Report (PDF)
2021-22 Mid Year Impact Report (PDF)
2020-21 End of Year Impact Report (Video, 1:34:06)
2020-21 Mid-Year Impact Report (PDF)

Supporting Community Schools

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What is an in-kind donation?

In-kind donations are non-monetary donations made to nonprofit organizations. These nontraditional donations include the transfer of any asset, usually goods or services, and can be contributed by individuals or other organizations and companies.

In-kind donations generally take two different forms:

Goods. The donation of a car is an example of a good that may be contributed to a nonprofit in kind. These assets are physical materials that nonprofits can use to enhance their strategy in some way.
Services. Professional services can be given in kind to nonprofits that would otherwise need to pay for that same service. Fir example, accounting services, lawyer services, graphic design, or web development can all be given in-kind by a generous professional.

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