Let's all get out there and get these kids back in school.

Hit the streets to get students in school
CCISD prepares for 2nd dropout prevention walk

By Elvia Aguilar (Contact)
Originally published 05:33 p.m., September 2, 2009
Updated 11:06 p.m., September 2, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI — CCISD is looking for volunteers who can walk the walk and talk the talk.

About 480 high school students have not returned to school this year. Corpus Christi Independent School District officials need help giving those students a phone call Tuesday and a home visit Sept. 12 as part of the Operation Keeping Every Youth in School walk, a dropout recovery effort.

Monica Bayarena, principal of Coles High School and organizer of the walk, said of the 468 homes visited last year, 215 students returned to school. Of those students, about 60 dropped out, but 19 received a General Educational Development diploma and 27 graduated. The rest are still enrolled.

“Operation KEYS was clearly a success last year,” Bayarena said. “It gave our community an opportunity to work together to make a difference in the lives of our youth. Every child counts.”

Volunteers will call students from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the district’s administration building, 801 Leopard St., to confirm student addresses and whereabouts. About 40 phone bank volunteers will be needed.

“Those who may not be able to walk or can’t be out in the heat too long can help us by making a few phone calls,” Bayarena said. “They can volunteer 20 minutes or whatever they can. They don’t have to be here all day.”

About 400 volunteers will be needed to knock on doors of high school students who haven’t returned to school. Volunteers will be paired with an educator. Volunteers will be asked to share life experiences to encourage the students’ return.

If a student decides to register for school, then he will be directed to his respective high school where district staff can answer additional questions and enroll them that day.

The program started last year and is modeled after one in Houston.

The list of unenrolled students may be narrowed if volunteers find that they left the district or already returned to school.

About 280 high school students dropped out of the Corpus Christi Independent School District in 2007.

TO VOLUNTEER

Register at www.ccisd.us

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(6) User Comments:
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 718561 on September 3, 2009 at 1:06 a.m.

we have a high crime and dropout problem. WHAT IS THIS TELLING YOU? SOMETHING IS WRONG HEAR. the teachers need to get their act together and fix this problem. their are major issues in this school district. can't the teachers motivate students and be better role models. theirs a big problem with one sidedness. only certain kids get taught others fall threw the cracks this must be lazyness. something is wrong and it doesn't take a genius to figure it out.
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related links Posted by 706310 on September 3, 2009 at 1:39 a.m.

in response to 718561

You've got to be joking. The problem is the parents not being responsible for getting their kids to school, not the teachers. It is not the job of the teacher to get your kid to school. The teacher presents the subject material and the grade received is what the student earns. If this was a question of whether the subject material is presented right, then that is on the teacher. However, this is about getting the students to show up to class. I guess it's typical to blame others instead of placing blame where it really lies, the parent and the student.
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related links Posted by 718343 on September 3, 2009 at 5:34 p.m.

in response to 718561

Your kidding right? This is no one's problem but the parents and kids fault. Place the blame where it really belongs right smack dab back on the parents.
If the parents were not lazy and would get their act together and make their little darlings go to school instead of being afraid of them or letting the little darlings do what ever the heck they wanted to do then the problem would be solved.

There is no way I would walk the streets to try to get these kids back in school when it is the parents responsibility.

No one makes my kids wake up and come to the home school classroom they know it has to be done no if's and's or but's about it. If they decide not to participate they know there will be consequences. Instead of facing the hassle of extra chores along with extra homework and privliges taken away they chose to come to class each and every day.
No one has to walk the neighborhood here.

Oh and it is here not hear.
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 711842 on September 3, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.

in response to 718561

Does your post criticizing this terrific effort actually say, "Something is wrong HEAR"?

Additionally, do you write, "THEIR are major issues in this school district"?

And then...."THEIRS a big problem," followed by "others fall THREW the cracks," and "this must be LAZYNESS."

You are right....something is wrong and it doesn't take a genius to figure it out.

Enough said.
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 361861 on September 3, 2009 at 7:21 p.m.

in response to 718561

This is the most ridiculous comment I've ever read. You have no idea what you're talking about. Teachers teach each and every day. We don't wait for everyone to show up. We hope they do, but continue to work hard to educate those that are present. We make phone calls and home visits when needed. Absences concern us daily, but the ones that should be concerned are not. Some parents don't care if their kids go to school or not. They are the only ones to blame. I wish every citizen of this city would trade jobs with a teacher for a week. I can guarantee you that your opinion would change after the first day. I work hard and take my responsibility to educate every child very seriously.
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 718259 on September 3, 2009 at 9:47 p.m.

Let's all get out there and get these kids back in school. We had 27 kids graduate in addition to the others that are still persevering to get a diploma. These kids need a second chance, and education is their ticket to a better future.

Thanks in advance to all the volunteers that plan on attending this event. We changed lives and made a difference. I can tell you that I was choked up at our H.S. graduation last May when many students were walking the stage because someone cared enough to find them and keep hanging on to them during the school year.

Great job Coles H.S. for working so hard to make a difference!!!