Group’s aim: Help parents help schoolkids

By Denise Dick | October 13, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

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A community organization wants to help parents aid their children in succeeding in school and plans a family conference to launch that effort.

The Youngstown Community Education Working Group is presenting the conference from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at East High School.

The group is made up of individuals and representatives of organizations such as the Baptist Pastors Council, Community High Commission and the NAACP Education Committee.

Jimma McWilson, one of the organizers, said it’s the latest effort of the FAMILY Empowerment Student Achievement Institute. Last spring, that group recognized city school students who maintained at least a “C” average last school year. Students with an “A” average earned gold medals, “B” students earned silver and “C” students received bronze medals. More than 550 district students receive the medals.

The conference next week targets the parents of those students who didn’t get awarded.

McWilson said the group wants to work with the district to improve the city schools, which were designated in academic watch on the most recent state report card.

“On Dec. 4, 2010, we had an emergency summit with the black community,” he said.

Among the messages at that summit was that the academic problems can’t all be blamed on the schools, McWilson said.

The community is also to blame. Parents have to help their children and emphasize the importance of education.

Among group members are parents and students who have endured obstacles similar to the parents and students attending the meeting.

“This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet parents, students and community members who have been where you are and, in the face of great odds, have been able to succeed and achieve — when they were told they could not,” the letter sent to families said.

The school district is working with the group.

Superintendent Connie Hathorn welcomes the effort.

“I’ve been preaching and preaching about partnerships with the community and getting the community involved with the schools,” he said. “This is a good start.”

Group members will be able to work with parents in ways school district personnel cannot, Hathorn said, referring to a lack of staff.

“We appreciate any group that wants to work with us,” he said.