Business and School Partnership Sumter, SC DRAFT

What will businesses/organizations gain? A smarter, stronger, healthier workforce. Strengthened ties to community, school district, and students, while promoting businesses/organization’s products and services. Media coverage of school events with business/organization partners. More insight into the school system. Begin the recruitment process early. Students, administrators, and parents become ambassadors for the business/organizations. Volunteering keeps the workforce healthy! https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm

What will schools gain? Students will learn about available job opportunities as they are getting ready to enter the workforce. Direct student support through mentors, lunch buddies, classroom reading, and volunteers for student events. Students gain a realistic picture of the business world, the range and extent of business activities and opportunities, and have their curriculum supplemented with relevant business/community-based learning experiences. Develop mutual support and understanding among school administrators, teachers, business leaders and members of the community, and in turn become ambassadors for one another.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

Step One: Consider resources/needs Business: Before the first meeting, is this something your team can/will support? If so, appoint a leader and allocate resources. How much time can you allow your team to support the schools? Consider a budget (money, team members time, etc.)? School: Before the first meeting, prioritize a listing of areas that could use support (e.g. Students, Teachers, Equipment, Facility). Material: books, school supplies, career and character education materials, appreciation items for staff members, award prizes for children. Nonmaterial: mentors/lunch buddies/book readers/test proctors/chaperones for field trips/etc.

Step Two: Choose a partner Consider distance between school and business/organization. Is this business/organization and school age/grade a good fit? If there are several options, who has the greatest need? Connect with Shelly Galloway at (803) 469-6900 x505 for more information on adopting a school or to help match your organization or business to a school.

Step Three: Coming together Meet with the school leadership team to do a needs assessment; school makes a list of needs; business/organizations look at their ability to budget resources to help meet needs. Partners set realistic, achievable goals, and expectations. Schools invite businesses/organizations to join the School Improvement Council. Leaders are encouraged to visit each other’s campus and attend meetings, functions, etc. Include the whole school/business team in the collaboration (Schools send art work to display at business; business sends team members to support field day, etc.). Schools are encouraged to track the relationship with their business partner. Consider ‘other’ partner meetings to align resources and limit duplication.

Step Four: Celebrate successes Alert the media. Flood Sumter’s news sources with positivity. Showcase the partnership on social media, newsletters, websites, etc. Encourage other businesses/organizations to partner with schools. Businesses/organizations publicize and promote the schools in company communications, community, and special events.

Step Five: Above and beyond Work with school district to incorporate industry specific language/scenarios in Mastery Connect. Businesses/ organizations and schools engage with civic groups to provide 1:1 mentoring in schools. Create and deploy a campaign that teaches children about jobs that will be waiting for them when they are ready to enter the workforce. Collaborate with industry, public school, and higher education to create pipelines for jobs that are forecasted as greatest needs. Provide financial support for a grant program for teachers to implement special projects in their classrooms.