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A NO GLITZ NO GLAM STIMULUS…
FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS
WINTER
2009
A
ll hope that the $787 billion recovery package recently signed into
law will set our economy on a firmer foundation. Legislators are
focused on the short term task—to prevent the loss of millions of jobs
and get our economy moving. They are also focused on the long term—
to make needed investments that restore the ability of average middle
income families to increase their income.
The impact of all of this on families struggling to build a decent future
for their children remains to be seen. While unemployment rates and
home foreclosures rise, it seems all but certain that so too will the need
for support services to help families impacted by the economic slow-
down. As more families struggle to meet basic needs, what is the role of
an organization such as Project Success in all of this?
As economic recovery at the national and local level slowly lurches
forward, so too must work continue to help students reach the higher
academic standards necessary to realize the decent future they each
deserve. Support of Project Success programs to help at risk children
succeed in school now seems more important than ever.
It is a tough year on every level, and that includes fundraising in the
non-profit sector. With proven programming in 16 elementary
schools—including after school tutoring for struggling students, truancy
prevention to keep kids in the classroom, family liaisons to link needy
families to needed services, identification and enrollment of homeless
children in school, and more—we ask you to consider us a risk free in-
vestment in the future of our community’s children. Your donation to
Project Success this year is critical to ensure continued direct services to
help schools, families and children who rely on our support.
Jane Shade
Executive Director
Principals Weigh In
W
e recently polled elementary school principals to get their
feedback on Project Success services in their schools. This
feedback helps us plan for the future. Read inside for more of what they had to say...
“Project Success is an organization that is vital to our school. It provides invaluable services
to our families, students and staff throughout the school year.”
“Simply stated, we just couldn’t provide these services to students and families without their
help. We deeply appreciate our partnership with Project Success.”
PROJECT SUCCESS
After School Tutoring
Homeless Initiative
P
roject Success has a grant from the IL State Board of Education to identify, link to
needed services, and enroll area homeless students in grades K-12 in school. To
date this year 169 homeless students have been referred to us.
Who is considered homeless?
Children without a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence
Families living in shelters
Locked out, kicked out, etc.
Unaccompanied youth
Awaiting foster care placement
Children/families who are doubled up—sharing housing with someone else due
to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
Families living in motel, hotel, campgrounds, cars, parks, substandard housing,
etc. due to lack of alternative adequate housing
S
ince October 1st Project Success has provided after
school tutoring sessions at 15 of Decatur’s 16 elemen-
tary schools. These sessions are taught by 43 certified
teachers and teacher assistants who work 2-3 times per week
with students referred to them for academic assistance by
their classroom teachers. There are currently more than 500
students enrolled in these sessions.
“The Project Success after school tutoring
program is invaluable for many of our
students. It affords them the opportunity for
more teacher facilitated time on task they
would otherwise not have. This additional
time increases the likelihood the student will
succeed academically.”
Elementary Principal
“Since its inception, the goal of Project
Success has always been to help every student
come to school ready to learn and to provide
the support for families to allow education to
become a priority in their lives.”
Elementary Principal
T
his year Right Track truancy prevention programming serves all 16 Decatur Public Elementary schools, including three
K-8 magnet schools. Students with 5 unexcused absences are referred to our office for follow up. Family Liaisons work
with school staff to improve attendance. Last year 89% of the elementary students referred to the program improved their
attendance! To date 228 students have been sent our way. We anticipate continued positive improvement when results are
evaluated in June. This intervention has worked since 2001 to improve attendance in our schools! As one principal wrote:
“The Right Track attendance initiative has been a valuable resource for District 61 in our effort to instill the
importance of regular attendance in school success!”
Right Track
GOOD NEWS NOTES!
We welcome former Brush College Elementary School Principal Nan Rickelman to
our staff. We are thrilled to have her expertise and input!
Thank you to the many wonderful volunteers at Golden K and Kiwaniannes who
always answer our calls for help!
Thanks to First Presbyterian Church for the generous use of their building for many
of our meetings.
We greatly appreciate the transportation for students in after school tutoring sessions
at 5 elementary schools thanks to the Education Coalition.
Page 2
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PROJECT SUCCESS
Kudos Family Liaisons!
The position of Family Liaison was first
created by Project Success in 1992 when the
program was piloted at two inner city
schools. Today we work cooperatively with
District 61 to provide partial salary support
for this position in 12 of Decatur’s 16
elementary schools. Liaisons work with a
“do whatever it takes” attitude to reach out to families to ensure school success for their children. They link
them to social services, make home visits, provide follow up for truancy and homelessness, and work with
school staffs to assist children and families in need of their help. We hold monthly “Networking Meetings” to
provide resources, information, and support to help them in their work. We commend each Family Liaison for
their commitment and work they do each day to help our children succeed in school!
Project Success is very fortunate to be a United Way funded agency. Thanks to United Way we are able
to provide truancy prevention programming and support services to children and families in 7 of Deca-
tur’s
public elementary schools. Following is one of our favorite success stories courtesy of Family Liaison
Shelley Lea, and made possible with United Way support:
I first saw the names of these (5) siblings when they appeared on my Right Track list for missing over five
days unexcused. As I investigated their situation, I found that they were being neglected. I also found
their grandma, who loved them very much and wanted them to have a better life. I worked with the
grandma, and as a team we got them to school on time. Eventually Grandma was granted custody of her
precious grandchildren. My daughter and I took the children shopping for shoes one Saturday and were
amazed when we
entered their house. The roof was a tarp, the leaks
ran down the
walls and there was a terrible smell that was
coming from
mold in the basement. I
delivered a
Thanksgiving basket to
the family and
received big hugs and a
thousand thank
yous. My church helped
them but that did
not solve the problem of
them living in a
house that was not
acceptable to live
in. Grandma had taken
on a contract to
own the house, so the
landlord was not
liable. She could not
find other housing because she was under
contract. She could not
get government housing unless they walked
away from the house and
were declared homeless. I called and called the City repeating Grandma’s name over and over again.
One year later, Grandma finally got into Wabash Crossing. I went over to visit—the children were so ex-
cited, not just to show me their rooms, but to show me that they could take a real bath. Oh the things we
take for granted! The children are not on my Right track list anymore, but they will always be on my spe-
cial list. And Grandma and I will always be friends.”
“The services supported through Project Success are unending and are vital to building bridges between the Decatur Public Schools
and Decatur community as a whole.” Elementary Principal
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Decatur, IL
PERMIT #562
If you would like to help support Project Success efforts to
promote school success, please return this form with the following
completed information to:
Project Success
310A West William Street
Decatur, IL 62522
Name ____________________________________________
Street ____________________________________________
City/Zip ________________________ Phone __________
E-mail ___________________________________________
___$500 ___$250 ___$100
___ $50 ___$25 Other_______
PROJECT SUCCESS
310A West William Street
Decatur, Illinois 62522
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
___ Do you wish to remain anonymous?
Prefer Visa/Discover/MC? Give us a call at 421-8074.
___ Do you work for a matching company?
Company Name ___________________________________
Board of Directors
Bruce Nims – President
Community Representative
Deborah Seitz – V.P.
Hickory Point Bank & Trust
Matt Snyder – Secretary
Macon/Piatt Regional Office of Ed.
Andy Thomas – Treasurer
May, Cocagne & King, P.C.
Robert Bushey
Central Christian Church
Kelly Hazenfield
St. Mary’s Hospital
Jeff Johnston
Bodine Environmental Services, Inc.
Bob Luther Millikin University
Fred Minner
Decatur Public Schools
Chris Olsen
Tate & Lyle North America, Inc.
Joseph Schrodt
Orthopedic Surgeon/Consultant
Michael Sexton
Brinkoetter & Associates
Katherine Smith
DCC Marketing
Staff
Jane Shade
Executive Director
Les West
Bookkeeper
Cheryl Boss
Secretary
Linda Rowden
Prevention Coordinator
Nan Rickelman Program Assistant
Kellie Marlow
Homeless Liaison/Caseworker
VISIT US ON THE WEB!
You can now make a donation to Project Success
online! It’s easy! Just visit us at