SWSD Hosts Community Schools Advisory Committee Meeting
South Whittier School District held a Community Schools Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 18, at the District Office. The purpose of the meeting was to review the current progress of the Community Schools initiative.
The meeting was led by Director of Community Schools, Karina Hartl, who began by introducing the district’s Community Schools partners, including Options for Learning, Think Together, YMCA, the Department of Mental Health, and the Boys & Girls Club. Mrs. Hartl also reviewed key points from previous meetings, which focused on establishing Community Schools goals and identifying site-based needs.
Mrs. Hartl then outlined the main objective of this meeting: to develop actionable steps based on the needs and gaps identified at each school site. School teams were asked to document the actions they have already taken to address these areas and to identify strategies that have been effective.
Following the group discussions, participants engaged in a gallery walk, during which teams shared their action steps with one another. This collaborative activity allowed schools to learn from each other’s experiences and explore ways successful initiatives could be adapted and expanded across the district.
This meeting marked the third Community Schools Advisory Committee meeting of the school year. South Whittier School District is currently in its first year of implementation as a Community Schools district and continues to strengthen partnerships and practices that support students and families.