Family Resource Centers �in Nyack Public Schools

Over 25 Years of Connecting Families to Schools and Community

Dr. James Montesano

Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi

Timeline of History

Bryan Burrell

Stalina Hernández-Feliciano

Julie Kassel

Where We Are Now

Wanda Octaviano

Ellen Rechenberger

Some Data Points

Lisa Mininger Retallack

Recommendations to the BOE

January 10, 2023

Presentation to the Board of Education

Joanne Wallace

Sustaining Our Legacy

Yesenia Polanco

FRC Timeline �Nyack Public Schools

Milestones in Our History

Mid 1990s

1995

Spearheaded by Hon. Harriet Cornell

1996

BOE/Supt. Commitment to FRC Model

1997

1^st FRC and Coordinator for Rockland Established in UNE

1999

Rockland 21C Created

Early 2000s

2001

District FRC Advisory Board Initiated

2002

FRC at VCE; 9-11 Readyfest

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2006

FRC at Liberty; 1^st Cohort of Parent-Child-Home Program

2007

1^st Secondary Level FRC Established at NMS

FRCs at 10 years

2010

District Organizational Shift

5 Part-Time FRCs Sustain Programming

20182019

FRC Total Aggregate Participation: #16,606

2020

COVID-19 Shut-Down

FRCs are Boots-on-the-Ground for hardest to reach families

2021

Loss of 3 FRC Coordinators; Rethinking/Restructuring FRCs

2022 Turning Point

Tri-State Visits to Community Schools

Designed & Built by Parents

FRC Advisory Board Cut; Nat’l Comm. Schools Conf.

Sustainability Plan

A Collaboration and Cross-Section of Commitment

• Pandemic; Loss of 3 veteran FRC Coordinators
• Changes in leadership lead to rethinking/restructuring FRCs

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• Embarked on District FRC Committee through leadership of Interim Superintendent Montesano to brainstorm FRC viability and sustainability

• Partnered with Rockland 21C to fill vacant coordinator positions resulted in inequitable pay among District FRCs

• 3 FRC Coordinators: 1 In-house FRC II at NMS; 3 FRC I Coordinators via Rockland 21C/BOCES; 1 in-house Assistant to FRC

Where We Are Now �FRCs in Nyack Public Schools

2021

2022

• Sub-Groups created for gathering and documenting feedback from staff and key stakeholders in the district

Current Status of FRCs

• Feedback compiled and applied to listing of recommendations to the BOE towards creating an FRC sustainability plan

Information Compiled from Staff & Key Stakeholders

Staff Survey

• 121 Staff Responded; rate from all 5 buildings was very even
• 45% of responders have been employed in-district over 15 years
• 30% of responders had consistent interaction with FRC Coordinators beyond one school year
• Majority surveyed contacted FRC Coordinators for Family/Student Support; Family Engagement, Information & Referrals

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PPS Interviews

FRCs Are...

• "A bridge between home and school"
• "A conduit to build better, stronger relationships with families"
• "A lifeline" and "one-stop-shop of information for families"

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Students, families, staff would benefit more from FRCs if...

• They were full-time "to ensure we are doing a warm handoff" 
• "Their roles/responsibilities were clear" and "everyone know[s] that they can use them – especially families".

FRC Coordinators …

• "go above and beyond for our families– they work around the clock, meeting parents in supermarkets or wherever they need to"
• Understand the "pulse of the families"
• "Connect families to guidance counselor"

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Students, families, staff would benefit more from FRCs if...

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• "they had more hours, not just part time..."
• "make sure equity happens for the students, they level the plane at home with school supplies free and reduced lunch application."
• "Paid a competitive salary and one that represents the important work they do"

Principal Interviews

FRCs Are... 

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"A bridge between home and school" 

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"A conduit to build better, stronger relationships with families" 

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"A lifeline" and "one-stop-shop of information for families" 

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Students, families, staff would benefit more from FRCs if... 

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• They were full-time "to ensure we are doing a warm handoff" 

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• "Their roles/responsibilities were clear" and "everyone know[s] that they can use them – especially families".

FRC Feedback

Some Data Points �FRCs in Nyack Public Schools

FRCs Are… extremely vital, incredibly invaluable, always proactive and responsive, THE BEST! … a must-have position.

Submitted by the District FRC Committee for FRC Sustainability:

FRC Job Description

• Gather input and share the wealth of FRC data from end-of-year annual reports for district database

District Restructure

• Establish an FRC II position as district liaison to ASI

• Continuing Rockland 21C contract via Rockland BOCES

BOCES Partnership

• Create a District FRC Advisory Board

Sustainability

Recommendations to the BOE �FRCs in Nyack Public Schools

• Exit Interviews from FRC coordinators who left in 2021

• Implement equitable pay scale for all FRC

• Increase FRC Coordinator hours; ensure flexibility for weekly schedule/hours

• Ensure tailored FRC Coordinator responsibilities and expectations to fit NPS 

• Create and implement training for incoming FRC coordinators

• Reorganization of District FRCs through the Office of the ASI ​

• District FRC Coordinators will report directly to principals to ensure shared vision for each school

• Provide "a system and a rhythm" 

• Initiate monthly FRC Meetings with ASI 

• Finalize and Adopt a Sustainability Plan for FRCs 

Looking Forward: The FRC Four Pillars in Collaboration with Rockland 21C

   1  

Family Support

3

Early Childhood Development

Family and Community Engagement

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School-Age Programs

4

Sustaining Our Legacy �FRCs in Nyack Public Schools

Thank You!

SCHOOLS

FAMILIES

Connecting Families to Schools and Community

COMMUNITY

Family Resource Centers �in Nyack Public Schools