Polk County is transforming one of its elementary schools -- Crystal Lake Elementary -- into the district's first "community school."

  • Crystal Lake chosen by committee
  • Community school will have health clinic on site
  • School will offer after-school programs, classes for parents

The idea is to make the school a hub for students and their families to access social services and health care right on school grounds. School leaders and community partners hope the changes will address issues students have outside of learning.  
 
“What this initiative does is partner with all of those outside agencies, and then puts it right on the campus of the school where the children are," said Deputy Superintendent John Small. "So if a child is sick, we can get immediate attention to that, mental health counseling.”
 
Crystal Lake Elementary was chosen by a committee and then approved by the school board for several reasons:

  • It earned a “D” letter grade this past school year.
  • It’s in a low-income neighborhood where many of the kids walk to school, and would have easy access to the new programs.
  • The school is next to other schools, and within walking distance of Southeastern University.

“The main focus there wasn’t necessarily which of the schools needed the help the most, but which school do we think that we can provide those supports from the community and from community organizations and have the greatest chance for success,” Small said.   
 
One of the goals of the Community Schools initiative is to have a health clinic on site.
 
Parent Kelli Tucker said that’s great news, considering she doesn’t have a car.
 
 “I’m not in the best of health, so it’d be perfect for me,” said Kelli Tucker, whose son will attend the elementary school this school year.
 
Small said the school will also offer after-school programs, and classes for parents.  
 
Principal Bryan Kim was glad to hear the news.
 
“We struggle with parent involvement and engagement," said Kim. "And we know this will help our school to be a community resource."
 
Small hopes the school will also eventually have graduate classes for teachers in the evenings. He’s working with several universities, including Southeastern University, to make that happen.
 
“We think that’s going to help with the teacher retention here,” Small said.  
 
The district is in the initial stages of planning, following a model from the University of Central Florida. Small said the on-site clinic will have to be built.
 
Officials haven’t set a timeline for when these programs will be roll out, but Small said some of will start before others.
 
Other community schools in the Bay area include Mort Elementary in Tampa and Gulfside Elementary School in Holiday.