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Communities in Schools gave an update at the work session of the Troup County School Board on Tuesday. Tabitha Lewis-Coverson, Executive Director of Communities in Schools, presented the impact CIS has had on the school system over the past year. 

Lewis-Coverson said they had recently received funding to expand their program into Troup High School and Long Cane Middle School, as well as re-establish a program at Callaway High School to have programs in 13 TCSS schools.  

The organization also moved into its new offices, what was formerly the TC3 building. 

“It’s a really nice space, and we finally don’t have to borrow other people’s buildings,” said Lewis Coverson. 

Last year, the small staff of site coordinators case managed around 680 students, meaning they provided one-on-one services, according to Lewis Coverson.

Some of the outcomes this program has had on local students were:

• 70 percent improvement in academic performance (for students who average a C grade or lower). Of the 477 students with a goal of improving their academics, 336 of them improved.
• 71 percent improvement in chronic absenteeism (those absent 10 days or more). Of 447 students, 317 improved for five additional days spent in the classroom. The biggest improvements were made at Callaway Elementary School which saw a nine-day increase in attendance for their students, Ethel Kight with 10 days and Gardner Newman Middle School with eight days. 
• 66 percent improvement in behavior (students with out-of-school suspension. Out of 264 students, 174 improved. Of those students, 26 percent, 71 kids, went suspension-free last year. 
• At Troup High School, the site coordinator has secured paying jobs for 13 students.  

Apart from their on-campus services, CIS has community-wide services available to all kids. They have started literacy programs like book clubs, a Girl Scout Troop, ACT prep courses, meal services, summer camps and more.

“I just wanted to say how much we appreciate Communities in Schools. When I was a principal at Ethel Kight Magnet School, we had Communities in Schools…You all bring so much to the school system,” said Anne O’Brien, a TCSS board member.