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Illinois School Board Journal
July/August 2001

Partnership dividends

By Robert J. Madonia

Having a partnership with the community has been a great investment for Komarek School District 94 and its children. The dividends of the investment are:

• The community has a better understanding and support level for the school.
• The district’s industrial/commercial base has visited the school and has taken action to develop networking opportunities.
• A school/business partnership has been established with General Motors Corporation.
• G.M. corporate executives are teaching the Junior Achievement Program career planning/life skill units.
• G.M. has allowed students to tour their facilities and to spend a day in the plant functioning as employees.
• G.M. offered monetary grants to the school district for technology.
• Replogle Globe, the company responsible for manufacturing educational globes for schools, has supplied globes to all of our students who visit the plant on tour.
• A community corporate executive has been our commencement speaker at graduation.
• A community corporate executive has given students motivational speeches. This sent the message that good attitudes are important in school, the workplace and life in general.
• Community members have been drawn into the school district as volunteers on committees.
• Partnering with the village recreation department, the district offers computer classes to adults in the community.
• The village recreation department uses school facilities for its programs.
• Senior citizens have spent an afternoon with students while students instruct them in computer usage.
• Students have volunteered at community-based Ronald McDonald House.
• Students have given musical productions for senior citizens at community retirement homes.
• The village and school district have partnered on school grounds construction projects and maintenance issues.
• The village library and school district have partnered on technology connections and workshop/field trip opportunities for students.