As I continue to get to know our district and engage with our dedicated staff, I hear numerous stories of heartache and frustration. Despite their tireless efforts to educate children, we find many of our students’ primary concerns are not academic—they often worry about where their next meal will come from, deal with loved ones struggling with addiction, face untreated health issues, or are caught in other heartbreaking situations. It’s clear that the challenge of educating our children goes far beyond what our school system can address on its own. This results in lower attendance and academic performance, reduced graduation rates, and outcomes that fall short of the potential many of our students have. But there is hope—and a plan.
The Ozark School District Board of Education unanimously approved becoming an affiliate community of Bright Futures USA (www.BrightFuturesUSA.org). This marks the first step in leveraging the resources—time, talent, and financial support—of our faith communities, businesses, and human service agencies. By fostering stronger partnerships and more effective communication with all our stakeholders, our goal is to stabilize the lives of our children and youth, provide enhanced support for our educators, and create new opportunities for our students that were previously unavailable.
The Bright Futures Ozark Advisory Board recently held its initial meeting to discuss plans for organizing efforts to examine local available resources and inform families and businesses about Bright Futures Ozark. More information will be published soon concerning next steps on a journey to help children and their families in the Ozark School District.
Mr. Chad Haberer will serve as Bright Futures Coordinator, facilitating resource allocation, partnership development, and acting as a liaison between the district and the Advisory Board. Mr. Haberer’s email address is chad.haberer@ozarkhillbillies.org. His phone number is 479-667-4118.
The Board of Education and I are enthusiastic about the positive impact these partnerships will have on our students and their families. Thank you in advance for your support of this important effort.
Follow, like, and share the Bright Futures Ozark Arkansas Facebook page.
Thank you,
Mr. Zane Vanderpool
Superintendent