The Fort Bragg Unified School District has been awarded a $6 million grant from the California Department of Education to advance its community school initiatives. The funding will be distributed over five years, supporting partnerships between schools, local government, and community agencies to adopt a "whole child" approach.
Superintendent Joe Aldridge explained that the grant aims to address barriers that prevent students from attending school by providing access to various services. “We’ve focused on ensuring students don’t have to leave school to access mental health or other critical services. We’re also looking to offer support to parents,” Aldridge said.
One of the first initiatives funded by the grant was a family wellness fair, which saw about 200 attendees and featured over 25 community services and support booths. Additional programs include “Mindfulness through Martial Arts,” which integrates martial arts training with therapy, and expanded bilingual family liaison services to bridge connections for non-English speaking families.
The district is also exploring psychiatry services to address the long wait times for students in crisis. “Sometimes, the wait for psychiatric care can be as long as six months, which is unacceptable when students are in crisis,” Aldridge noted.
The grant announcement comes amid ongoing discussions about the district’s financial and academic challenges. KZYX interviews with board candidates Kathy Babcock, Cristal Munoz, and Sage Statham highlighted a budget gap caused by the expiration of COVID-related funding, which reduced district revenues from $37 million to $31 million this year. Additionally, achievement disparities remain a concern, with 42% of students not meeting the standard in English language arts and 61% falling short in math.
Board candidate Sage Statham, a tech entrepreneur and nonprofit executive, emphasized the need for strategies to improve academic outcomes. Kathy Babcock, a business owner and former teacher, pointed out that while statewide assessments provide a snapshot, they do not fully reflect the efforts and challenges faced by the district. Munoz expressed optimism about the district’s ability to address financial discrepancies and prioritize closing educational gaps.
As the district moves forward with its community school initiatives, it aims to improve educational outcomes and better support students and families through enhanced services and community engagement.
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