School, community leaders hear benefits of Partners in Education program

Leaders from Snyder ISD, local businesses and churches learned t how the community and school district can work together to strengthen bonds through programs like Partners in Education (PIE) at a community breakfast at the Snyder Junior High School cafetorium today.
Jami Owen, the director of community programs for Midland ISD, has been involved with PIE for a decade discussed ways businesses and local organizations have gotten involved with the Midland schools. Owen said that even though Midland is a larger school district, many of the methods and functions it uses can be applied in Snyder.
“Anything you can borrow from what we’ve done, please borrow away,” Owen said. “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.”
Owen said the PIE program’s goal is to strengthen and stabilize not only schools but the community, something she believes is even more important in a smaller town.
“Strong schools stabilize a community,” Owen said. “What’s the first thing people ask when moving to a new town? ‘What are the schools like?’ It can establish a sense of sense of community. One thing we do with Partners in Education is help promote stable families.”
Owen discussed some of the ways Midland was able to get local organizations to become partners with the schools. She talked about how the Midland Chamber of Commerce worked with her to help set up a website specifically for Partners in Education in Midland.
She and her group set up lists of ways they wished to connect with businesses, non-profits and faith-based organizations.
She said it is important for local leaders to show their interest in schools, not only through monetary donations, but by stepping into the classrooms and providing an example for children.
Snyder ISD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Rachael McClain said it is important for local businesses and community leaders to show interest in the schools, though it must be a two-way street. She said she has talked with Western Texas College and several churches to help  provide tutoring locations for students.
“This is not just a money thing, this is a community thing,” McClain said. “We need the strong church leaders, strong business leaders to be the example. We want to be a premier school district.”
Owen said dealing with boosters and booster clubs, while beneficial, can be difficult.
Karen Herrley of Pizza Inn said one such way her business gets involved in the schools is through allowing various student groups to work at the restaurant for a night. Ten percent of the sales go toward that group and the students also earn tips.
“We wanted to donate to each of the clubs, but we just can’t,” Herrley said. “This made us feel like we could help everybody.”
Overall, Owen said Snyder is heading in the right direction with a core group of leaders and administrators who are engaged in the schools. She believes it is up to the community to get involved and stay involved.
“The taxpayers, the parents of the students, those are the main customers when you talk about the school districts,” Owen said. “The facilities here are top notch. You have a great group of volunteers and staff members who care. The superintendent sat in on this meeting, and I think that sends a strong signal.”