2006 ICMA Program Excellence Award

Community Partnerships

	Discovery Days is an innovative community partnership addressing a critical need in the Junction City, KS area.  The program, implemented in April 2003, is a partnership between the City of Junction City, the City’s Recreation Department, the local school district USD 475, and participating private businesses and non-profit agencies.   This program offers structured learning activities for up to 300 elementary school students on the six days of in-service training for teachers during the academic year.   Four different activities are planned for each day.  Bussing, staff, snacks and lunch are provided by the school district.  The Recreation Department organizes activities and provides the facilities and additional staff. 
Problem Assessment
	In most communities, parents employed outside the home with school age children face a common issue.  When school is not in session, supervision for young children is difficult, if not impossible, to find.  School district staff development or “in-service” days are a special problem.  Child care providers are not able to take on extra children for these few days, older siblings may not be out of school to help, and parents are reluctant or unable to take time off work.  In the Junction City area, six days during the academic year are designated by the school district as Staff Development Days.  On the four that are for elementary teachers only, older siblings may be taken out of school to care for their younger brothers and sisters.  This problem is typical in communities but in a place like Junction City, it is even more critical.  Military parents do not have options to stay home and non-military families are challenged by taking days off without pay.  The School District recognized that this was not just a school issue but one that involved the entire community.  The schools needed to keep high school students in class, businesses needed to keep parents working productively, and young children needed a safe environment on in-service days.  
	The School District had a previous relationship with City, partnering with the Junction City Recreation Department to provide after-school activities through a 21st Century Learning grant.   Associate Superintendent Dr. Larry Dixon approached Clarence Thomas, director of city’s Recreation programs, and the team advising these activities with this community dilemma and planning was soon underway to develop a solution.  That solution was Discovery Days.  
Program implementation and costs
	The organizing team for Discovery Days–three school district and two City Recreation Department staff–meets weekly.  Through open and honest discussions and constant feedback from all stakeholders, the team evaluates the program, adding new learning activities from numerous requests submitted by community agencies and the private sector.  Only those that provide active experiential and unique learning experiences are chosen.  The team consists of, USD 475, Larry Dixon, Assoc. Superintendent  for Innovations in  Schools & Community, USD Staff members Katina Brenn and Mary Kay Stauffer, Clarence Thomas, Recreation Department Director, and Nicole Coons, Director of the Boys & Girls Club.
	It is no small task to organize a day of experiential learning for up to 300 children.  It takes not only effective planning but the cooperation of community agencies and the private sector, staff from both partner organizations, and support from students, families, and community leaders, all of whom value this community activity.  Costs for the program are shared by the school district and the city, each bringing needed resources to the table.  The school district provides supervisory staff, meals, and transportation that the city cannot.  The city provides facilities, administration, and organization of activities that the school district lacks.  The participating businesses and community agencies contribute the program content.  Each of the six Discovery Days during the academic year features four activities, a total of 24 for the year.  
	The process begins with getting the word out.  The Recreation Department distributes flyers, the city’s website and public access television provide information, teachers encourage participation, and the local media provide announcements.  Although preregistration is encouraged, the majority of children are enrolled at the door.  Cost is $5 per child, $10 per family regardless of number, however no one is turned away.  Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided.
	Children arrive at the 12th Street Community Center, a Recreation Department facility, between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m.  Because the school district covers the entire county, bussing is provided from two outlying schools.  After signing in, children are organized according to age group, and then transported to each of the four activity locations by school bus during the day.  Children must be picked up either at the Community Center or one of the outlying schools by 5:00 pm.  School district para professionals, who otherwise must take the day off without pay, provide student supervision.  On days when high school students are available, a special effort is made to get them involved in the supervision as well.  This gives these students a chance to earn community service hours toward their graduation requirement and experience working with younger students.  The school district ensures that sufficient para professionals and high school students are available to keep the student/supervisor ratio at 10 to 1.  
	Each Discovery Day includes roller skating at Round-A-Bout, a skating rink owned and operated by community youth.   A movie at 12th  Street Community Center is also usually on the agenda.  Area businesses and organizations add two more activities for each day.  Participants have included the Manhattan Sunset Zoo, Milford Lake Nature Center, Clarabel’s Dance Citadel, Junction City Fire Department, Junction City Police Department, Junction City Animal Shelter, Geary County Historical Society, Hayrack Ride at Riverwalk Trail, Milford Hatchery tour, Rathert Stadium, ManhattanWonder Workshop (an interactive children's museum with exhibits in the arts, science and humanities),  4-H, Girl Scouts, Hildebrandt Dairy where children experienced cattle and learned where milk really comes from, the YMCA, Wildscape golf program, the local Harley Davidson dealer, Rock Springs Camp (camping), Kansas Wildlife and Parks, and the nearby Kansas State University Biology program.  Several of these activities have been “once-in-a-life-time” experiences for the children.    
Tangible results/measurable outcomes 
	Continued demand for Discovery Days has been the most tangible measure of its success.  Parents continue to regard the program as a safe alternative to leaving children unsupervised on in-service days.  Thus far in the 2005-06 school year, four Discovery Days have been held and two more are planned for April 17 and May 15.  The participation data is:
Date	Participation	
September 23, 2005	247	
October 10, 2005	183	
January 4, 2006	92 (high school not in session)	
February 13, 2006	150	
	Community agencies also see the benefits.  Rather than struggling to recruit program activities, the planning team receives requests from community groups to provide activities.  These groups, who typically serve youth, see the program as a valuable means of encouraging youth involvement.  The school district has seen many benefits.  In addition to providing a safe, educational environment that parents trust, Discovery Days has helped to keep high school students in class on elementary in-service days and has provided additional days of employment for some staff.  And businesses have benefitted by keeping parents working productively, without interruptions or worry during the day.  Discovery Days has truly been a win-win situation for the community.
Lessons learned during planning, implementation, and analysis
	Early in the program, the Discovery Days team learned that a major challenge is predicting numbers of participants.  However, rather than becoming rigid, the team has remained focused on the goal of providing a safe environment.  The majority of the children are registered at the door, so the staff must always be prepared.  
	Discovery Days is a unique partnership between local government and the school district that has leveraged resources and meet a critical community need.  The program can be easily replicated in other communities and the team would welcome the opportunity to share.