To bring you up to speed: The Wake County Board of Education welcomed four new members in December 2009, which (when combined with one board member who stayed) tipped the board to a 5-4 majority with the "5" in favor of "neighborhood schools" (which is just a nice way of saying... well... I'll try to be nice too and say... segregation). The Board now votes 5-4 on just about everything that matters, effectively shutting out the knowledgeable, logical minority four. Which brings us to Project Enlightenment.
I'll admit that I've had some ambivalence about Project the past. I was at first amazed that they have this Parent Teacher Resource Center with die-cuts (still my heart!) and materials and ideas and resources and support and on and on... I was impressed with their mission. And then I started spending more time in the public schools and I learned about other services they offer. This is where the ambivalence crept in because I saw some redundancy in a few of Project's kindergarten services. Redundancy with other procedures and programs already in place in Wake County schools. Sometimes it didn't make sense. But really the bottom line was always helping kids and supporting parents, families, and teachers.
And one thing that wasn't redundant? Their Parent Services Team. Free workshops, counseling, educational support, crisis support... Project was there for families. Visit the "Parent Resources" tab on their webpage today and see what you get. A whole lot of nothing.
So here's a letter from some professionals in the area who are justly concerned (I'm being nice again) about the Board of Education's recent vote to cut the Parent Services Team. Removing this part of Project is like removing the heart of the operation. If you're interested, please read it and do what you can to save Project Enlightenment.
Project Enlightenment needs your help. For 40 years, Project Enlightenment has been a unique resource for preventative behavioral and developmental support services integrated with Wake County preschool and kindergarten programs. This valued program has served children, families, and teachers through a range of consultation, assessment, training, and psycho-educational programs. The Project has been a nationally recognized model of prevention and intervention services that have been shown to reduce later need for costly remediation, special education, and mental health services.
On April 20th, as part of the reduction in force (RIF), the Wake Board of Education voted to eliminate the Parent Services team at Project Enlightenment. All of the Parent Educators/Counselors were immediately let go, ending all parent workshops, family coaching/counseling, Talkline, and the team approach towards educational success that has been so effective. Many families with children in crisis or in ongoing intervention services were left without a plan for transitional care. As providers of mental health services to the children and families of Wake County, the loss of this vital, effective program will be profoundly felt. And the loss of these services for the families and children of our community is devastating. While many services including screening, school consultation, the parent teacher resource center and demonstration preschool remain intact, it is critical to help restore the parent counseling/education services component of Project Enlightenment’s service model.
Here is how you can help:
(1) Contact the Wake Board of Commissioners and ask them to help us restore Project Enlightenment’s Parent Services cut by the Wake County Board of Education. Email addresses are below. Contact information can be found at www.wakegov.com/commissioners.
County Commissioners:
Tony Gurley, Chair: Tony.Gurley@wakegov.com
Joe Bryan: joe.bryan@wakegov.com
Lindy Brown: lindy.brown@wakegov.com
Paul Coble: paul.coble@wakegov.com
Stan Norwalk: stan.norwalk@wakegov.com
Betty Lou Ward: bward@wakegov.com
Harold Webb: Harold.Webb@wakegov.com
David Cook, County Manager: Dcooke@wakegov.com
(2) Google Citizens for Project Enlightenment on Facebook that is nearly 3,000 strong to date. You can join and/or get up-to-date information as well as access the Citizens’ Petition asking the County Commissioners to restore Parent Services.
(3) Google the Project Enlightenment Foundation where there are links available for more information.
(4) Contact Wake County Board of Education members and share why you support Project Enlightenment and why they should support this important program.
(5) Contact Dr. Barbara Still (stillphd@aol.com) or Dr. Charles Kronberg (clkronberg@aol.com ) for any questions and/or other ways to be involved.
Thank you for your efforts.
I'll admit that I've had some ambivalence about Project the past. I was at first amazed that they have this Parent Teacher Resource Center with die-cuts (still my heart!) and materials and ideas and resources and support and on and on... I was impressed with their mission. And then I started spending more time in the public schools and I learned about other services they offer. This is where the ambivalence crept in because I saw some redundancy in a few of Project's kindergarten services. Redundancy with other procedures and programs already in place in Wake County schools. Sometimes it didn't make sense. But really the bottom line was always helping kids and supporting parents, families, and teachers.
And one thing that wasn't redundant? Their Parent Services Team. Free workshops, counseling, educational support, crisis support... Project was there for families. Visit the "Parent Resources" tab on their webpage today and see what you get. A whole lot of nothing.
So here's a letter from some professionals in the area who are justly concerned (I'm being nice again) about the Board of Education's recent vote to cut the Parent Services Team. Removing this part of Project is like removing the heart of the operation. If you're interested, please read it and do what you can to save Project Enlightenment.
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Project Enlightenment needs your help. For 40 years, Project Enlightenment has been a unique resource for preventative behavioral and developmental support services integrated with Wake County preschool and kindergarten programs. This valued program has served children, families, and teachers through a range of consultation, assessment, training, and psycho-educational programs. The Project has been a nationally recognized model of prevention and intervention services that have been shown to reduce later need for costly remediation, special education, and mental health services.
On April 20th, as part of the reduction in force (RIF), the Wake Board of Education voted to eliminate the Parent Services team at Project Enlightenment. All of the Parent Educators/Counselors were immediately let go, ending all parent workshops, family coaching/counseling, Talkline, and the team approach towards educational success that has been so effective. Many families with children in crisis or in ongoing intervention services were left without a plan for transitional care. As providers of mental health services to the children and families of Wake County, the loss of this vital, effective program will be profoundly felt. And the loss of these services for the families and children of our community is devastating. While many services including screening, school consultation, the parent teacher resource center and demonstration preschool remain intact, it is critical to help restore the parent counseling/education services component of Project Enlightenment’s service model.
Here is how you can help:
(1) Contact the Wake Board of Commissioners and ask them to help us restore Project Enlightenment’s Parent Services cut by the Wake County Board of Education. Email addresses are below. Contact information can be found at www.wakegov.com/commissioners.
County Commissioners:
Tony Gurley, Chair: Tony.Gurley@wakegov.com
Joe Bryan: joe.bryan@wakegov.com
Lindy Brown: lindy.brown@wakegov.com
Paul Coble: paul.coble@wakegov.com
Stan Norwalk: stan.norwalk@wakegov.com
Betty Lou Ward: bward@wakegov.com
Harold Webb: Harold.Webb@wakegov.com
David Cook, County Manager: Dcooke@wakegov.com
(2) Google Citizens for Project Enlightenment on Facebook that is nearly 3,000 strong to date. You can join and/or get up-to-date information as well as access the Citizens’ Petition asking the County Commissioners to restore Parent Services.
(3) Google the Project Enlightenment Foundation where there are links available for more information.
(4) Contact Wake County Board of Education members and share why you support Project Enlightenment and why they should support this important program.
(5) Contact Dr. Barbara Still (stillphd@aol.com) or Dr. Charles Kronberg (clkronberg@aol.com ) for any questions and/or other ways to be involved.
Thank you for your efforts.
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