Rolla Public Schools’ BRAVO program (Building Relationships And Volunteer Opportunities) got a “bravo!” from members of Rolla’s Board of Education last week when Jenni Hushaw, director of volunteer services and public information, presented a year-end report at their May meeting.

In terms of dollars and cents, said Hushaw, computing volunteer hours at the rate of pay for a teacher’s aide,  volunteers saved the district over $90,000 in the 2008-09 school year.

And in terms of support of both teachers, students and the educational process, the 9,100-plus hours worked by volunteers is invaluable, she said.

Using a power-point presentation, Hushaw listed volunteer activities on a building by building basis.

At the elementary schools, volunteers assisted in the classrooms with reading (AR), math, and computers; mentored and tutored on an individual basis; assisted with clerical tasks; assisted in the school libraries; served as enrichment speakers; assisted with kindergarten screenings; assisted in Early Childhood and special education classrooms; prepared materials at home; and assisted with the PAWSitive reading program.

Hushaw described one volunteer as a grandmother who could not work at school during the day but who had donated over 100 hours preparing teacher materials at her home in the evening.

She also related a success story with the PAWSitive reading program, in which a therapy dog prompted a non-verbal child to begin speaking.

Volunteer activities in the middle school, junior high, high school and Rolla Technical Center included the previous mentioned tasks, along with providing after-school tutoring, providing an oral history project using senior citizens, assisting the school nurse with health screenings, judging academic contests, running and organizing a Chess Club and proctoring tests.

Hushaw then praised Teacher’s Corner; a teacher resource “store” run by the volunteers which is open one day a week throughout the school year and the summer. The store is stocked with donations from local businesses and organizations.
 

Whether it’s a book, art supplies or old coffee cans, “If they don’t have it in the store, they will find it,” said Hushaw.
“Teacher’s Corner is a fantastic resource,” said Superintendent Dr. Jerry Giger.
“And we should also note we’re always looking for businesses to make donations.”

Hushaw concluded the presentation with six goals for the future, including:

• recruiting more university students through the fraternities and sororities to serve as tutors and mentors;

• making presentations about the program to local service organizations;

• surveying local principals about field trips needed and then trying to match those needs with help from local businesses,

• and recruiting more PAWSitive volunteer teams.

“I’d really like to open connections with businesses because I feel we have tons on untapped resources right here in Rolla,” Hushaw said.