MIGRANT PARENTS, SCHOOL 
OFFICIALS OPEN DIALOG

The Migrant Education Regional Office at North Central ESD is helping set up a series of dialog sessions between migrant parents and school officials in hopes of creating greater communication and cooperation between school and home.

 “Parents hold the greatest influence over student success,” says Ray Alaniz, the MERO's parent services coordinator.  “If schools are concerned about raising test scores, and parents want their children to succeed, then they need to get together to talk about working as partners.”

More than 100 parents, board members, teachers, students, administrators and staff gathered in the Warden High School Library for the year's first school-parent dialog Feb. 26.

Odelia Martinez, president of the Migrant Parent Advisory Committee, encouraged parents and school officials to maintain open dialog as to how to best prepare migrant students to achieve academic and career success.

Board member Rob Shuler explained the role and function of the board, and encouraged parents to attend board meetings and become part of the decision-making process.  Superintendent Larry Blades and all district administrators were on hand to dialog with parents throughout the evening.

The event included student presentations, information about student learning from teacher Ruth Lucero, and a discussion of school-home partnerships by elementary counselor Mary Gauntz.  Warden High School Students provided translation services for the bilingual event.

Warden was the first of three sites planned to help open dialog between migrant parents and school officials.

PARENT FORUMS FOR LAKE CHELAN & BREWSTER

The Warden event was followed by an evening of dialog and problem-solving with Lake Chelan School District on April 16. Migrant parents, including Migrant Education State Advisory Committee member Jorge Lopez, shared concerns with the school board.

Issues included the best way for parents to communicate with school staff and officials, the difficulties encountered by students when families leave the area during the winter, how parents can support learning in the home, parent volunteers and school visitation, co-curricular activities, and cross-cultural understanding, according to Mr. Alaniz.

Members of the Lake Chelan School board expressed their desire to maintain open avenues of communication between migrant parents and school officials.  The superintendent and board are following up on the event by making plans to focus on the needs of migrant and Hispanic families as part of next year’s board activities.

Migrant parents in the Brewster School District were set to meet with board members and school staff May 6.

Mr. Alaniz says the three events provided all parties the opportunity to better understand the school's goals and how schools and parents could work together to increase student achievement.