A grant from The Sarkeys Foundation, a contribution from United Engines and a commitment from the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation are helping fund a recently launched project aimed at strengthening Putnam City neighborhoods and schools.

For the past several months, staff from Possibilities, a non-profit organization specializing in community building, have been working in neighborhoods near Putnam City’s Apollo Elementary School, Hilldale Elementary School and Mayfield Middle School. All three schools have high numbers of students who move into or out of the school during the school year, indicative of lack of bonding to school or community.

Possibilities staff members are talking with school administrators, business owners, apartment and mobile home managers, and residents in the area to begin to get an understanding of the community and its needs. Possibilities is also obtaining data on types of housing, household occupancy and vacant structures in the area, as well as statistical breakdowns of resident income, age and race.

The two-year project is now in its first phase, Community Exploration. Phases to come include conducting a formal needs assessment, assisting the community in identifying problems and developing and executing action plans. The ultimate goal is to help area residents, businesses, churches and other organizations become more active in decisions and actions that affect neighborhoods and schools.

More parent and community engagement with schools will make schools stronger, says James R. Dickson, Putnam City Public Schools Foundation president.

"Educators tell us the research is clear that when parents are involved in schools, students have better attendance, lower rates of suspension, higher grades and test scores, higher graduation rates and higher rates of enrollment in education after high school. When students see their parents and community pulling for them in school, their motivation is higher," Dickson says.

The project launched due to the energies and resources of a number of organizations, Dickson says. The cost of the two-year project is $40,000. Possibilities, which is managing and executing the project, contributed $5,000 toward the cost. The Foundation committed to pay $35,000, and in turn has received commitments of $10,000 from The Sarkeys Foundation and $5,000 from United Engines. The Foundation is looking for other community partners to help share the cost of the project.

In addition, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation donated $15,000 to Possibilities for the Putnam City project to expand work in the area of early childhood school readiness.

"We’re very excited about this project," says Sue Kuntze, assistant superintendent of elementary education for Putnam City Schools. "We know our schools and neighborhoods need this focus. It’s great that organizations with expertise, staff and resources are stepping forward to help."