“Partnership is giving, taking, learning, teaching, offering the greatest possible benefit while doing the least possible harm.” Octavia E. Butler, “Parable of the Talents”
When schools, businesses, and community organizations work together to support learning and promote student achievement, everyone benefits. The Howard-Suamico School District works to forge meaningful partnerships resulting in improved program quality and more efficient use of our resources to achieve our District goals. Highlighted below are just a few of our partnerships.
Our school nutrition program partners with David Schneider, an AmeriCorps Farm to School member. He assists in coordinating the purchasing of healthy and fresh foods for school nutrition with local Wisconsin famers. He also provides nutrition education for classes and assists with a summer school program called Inspiration Acres, an experimental plot of land in front of Bay Port High School.
The HSSD has initiated a Computer Science Advisory Committee to provide guidance for our computer science initiative and to assist students with computer skills for their daily lives and future careers.
Members of this committee share the needs of our current labor market, post-secondary programs, and computer science careers. To assist the District in developing the most efficient and effective pathway for our students, we have partnered with community members possessing computer science experience in business and post-secondary education institutions, alumni, current students, teachers, and administrators.
Bellin Health and Prevea Health were recently recognized by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and HSSD for their partnerships with the District. Bellin Health provides athletic training staff to keep our athletes safe and healthy. Bellin doctors also provide input to our operations related to COVID-19 mitigation and safety. Prevea Health provides an onsite treatment facility for employees and staff and helped coordinate a student-led COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Bay Port HS in the spring of 2021.
The Howard-Suamico Education Foundation is sponsoring Leadership HSSD, co-chaired by Bill Hawker, HSEF President, and Superintendent Damian LaCroix. This program partners with community members who want to be more active in schools, have an awareness of district operations and governance, and understand leadership principles. The District provides leadership materials, as well as the sharing of personal experiences from current staff and community members.
Captain’s Academy is an alternative education program offered to students that are struggling to succeed in the traditional setting at Bay Port High School. In partnership with SMT Machine & Tool Company, owned by Russ Styczynski, students attend school at this off-site facility four days a week for an individualized academic plan and volunteer one day a week at NEW Homeless Shelter.
Village administrators from Howard and Suamico meet during the school year with the HSSD board to share information. The HSSD provides updates on the post-referendum progress and legislative updates affecting education while the villages provide information on building projects and housing developments which could impact future student enrollments.
Partnerships provide an opportunity for all parties to cooperate and solve challenges. Perhaps Helen Keller said it best, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” For more information on our Partnerships, contact Garry Sievert by email at garrsiev@hssdschools.org.
