A group of concerned citizens is working to address the educational needs of children in Henry County.
The HOPE Initiative community group meets at the New Castle-Henry County Public Library on the second Thursday of the month. The volunteer organization aims to bring dignity to everyone in the county by tackling the issues of education, poverty and drug abuse in New Castle and surrounding areas. Members of HOPE are pushing for a comprehensive preschool plan for the community. The HOPE Initiative education committed has pledged to a three-year partnership with CRADLES, Head Start and the Henry County YMCA preschool to get New Castle students ready for a successful learning career.
"We're bringing communities back in to New Castle schools," said education committee member Patty Broyles.
At Thursday's meeting, HOPE members discussed the current state of the New Castle school system. According to New Castle Community School Corporation estimates, enrollment at New Castle schools is down 117 students from this time last year. The official count will take place Friday. Indiana schools receive the majority of their funding based on student enrollment. Students have the option to attend any school they want, regardless of where they live.
The most recent figures from New Castle Superintendent Steve Fisher indicate Indiana public schools receive $4,967 for each student enrolled. New Castle receives an additional $1,044 per student due to the percentage of kids who participate in free or reduced-lunch programs and who receive free textbooks. Altogether, each student brings with them $6,011 in funding when they enroll in a New Castle public school. Because enrollment numbers are down, the New Castle Community School Corporation is down $60,000 in funding this year.
The early childhood initiative and preschool program aims to give all childcare providers "a common vocabulary" in pre-kindergarten education. HOPE Initiative member Nan Polk said the daycare center CRADLES is making progress toward achieving its legal non-profit status. With this status, CRADLES can double its capacity by moving into the Greenstreet Elementary building alongside Head Start, Polk said.
The HOPE Initiative will host a childhood workshop from 3:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the New Castle-Henry County Public Library for all county childcare facilities. For more information, visit www.hopeinitiative.net. A comprehensive story about the early childhood initiative will be published Sunday in the second Progress section of The Courier-Times.
