In the weeks before Waterville Central School officially became a partner in the Connected Community Schools program, 14 students have been helped.
Waterville’s program, which is called the Brothertown Community Schools, joined the program started in the Rome City School District with an official ribbon-cutting and welcoming ceremony at WCS Junior-Senior High School last week. Waterville is the first of the three expansion pilot schools to join; Old Forge and Dolgeville are also joining the program.
As part of the program, Waterville will have a stronger connection and relationship to dozens of community partners, from county service agencies to non-profits to businesses. The concept is to draw all parties together to offer services as needed to students and families.
Olivia Tamburro is Waterville’s new Community Schools specialist and works out of the two schools during the week. She said 14 students have been connected to partners in the first month.
“It ranges from clothing to health insurance, a lot of homelessness,’’ Tamburro said. “The program helps the student, the family and the community address these problems.’’
WCS graduate Melissa Roys helped get the Rome program up and running; that groundwork will be used to establish Waterville…