School seeking inspiration partners
BY BRYAN PAINTER
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Published: November 3, 2009
What does it take to make a theme a fact?
This year, Oklahoma City Public Schools has a theme of "917,670 minutes to impact, educate, inspire a child ... ”Advertisement
Cuts in support
"We are experiencing cuts to our support services,” said Thomas, who has been at Emerson since 2000 and in the district for more than 30 years.
"Our biggest change this year is the loss of funding for our clinic. The clinic was funded through the state Legislature, and the funding, $107,000, was cut last session.”
Funding is a concern every year, Thomas said.
The needs don’t go away, but the approach sometimes has to change.
Plan A seldom works.
"The clinic has been a very important part of the services on campus because it allowed the students the opportunity to stay on campus and receive care,” she said.
"Students didn’t miss all day or half of a school day sitting in a doctor’s office or trying to get to the doctor’s office. We are actively seeking out partners to help us reopen our clinic.”
Another part of turning the theme into fact is to instruct, assist and encourage students all the way to graduation.
Thomas said they are excited with the academic strides being made.
"We are still dealing with trying to increase our graduation rate,” she said. "Emerson graduated all but one senior last year.
"We’ve had good success.”
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