2017 a 'very good year' for Communities Supporting Schools
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 10, 2017 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Keynote speaker William Lassiter gives a presentation during the Community Partner Meeting for Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County Thursday at First Baptist Church.
Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County Inc. has had a tremendous year, executive director Selena Bennett announced at its annual community partner meeting Thursday morning at First Baptist Church.
She attributed much of the success in part to those represented in the audience -- from such entities as the school district, law enforcement, attorneys and agencies supportive of the children and teen-related programs.
"The strength of our organization is in this community and it's because of the community partners and the JCPC (Juvenile Crime Prevention Council)," she said.
The former Communities in Schools agency actually changed its name and affiliation with the state and national agency, effective July 1.
Joe Setzer, CSS board chairman, said the group may have undergone a name change but the mission remains the same.
"We wound up with a new name, new logo, new website, but are even more laser-focused on our goal to keep kids in school through programs like the success coach," Bennett said. " We would love to have that in every school."
Bennett said the decision to dissolve the relationship with the state and national CIS was a "very bold move," likening it to a divorce, albeit an amicable one. She said the agencies remained supportive and helpful where needed.
"We're still divorced but we got the children, because we felt we knew what was best for our children," she said.
Dr. Michael Dunsmore, superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools, praised CSS, Bennett and the board for its efforts in the schools.
"It just warms my heart to see the good things that are happening in this county," he said. "I appreciate everything Selena and this program does. The partnership is just phenomenal.
The keynote speaker for the occasion was in line with another program under the CSS umbrella, Teen Court.
Billy Lassiter, with the juvenile justice division of the N.C. Department of Public Safety, addressed changes afoot with recent legislation passed to "Raise the Age" from 16 to 18 for juvenile offenders, who will now be prosecuted as adults at 18.
The 16-year-old benchmark dates back almost as far as 1919, when the juvenile justice system was established in North Carolina, he said.
"We surveyed parents, 95 percent of parents though the age was already 18," he said. "We also surveyed kids, and 90 percent of kids in high school thought the age was 18."
The law officially goes into effect Dec. 1, 2019, he said, and is not retroactive for anyone younger than 18 who is currently convicted or incarcerated.
Lassiter lauded the local Teen Court program for being effective, and said efforts are now under way to lobby for $2 million additional funding for juvenile crime prevention programs.
"We're going to ask for that money again this year," he said. "Talk to your local legislators about how important this program is."
Summing up the past year with data, Bennett said that last year the Teen Court program served 130 students, CSS served 2,040 students throughout the school district and case-managed 410.