SUN School

  • SUN School Manager

     

    Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Initiative

    The SUN Initiative was founded by the City of Portland, OR, and Multnomah County, OR in 1999 as a partnership of city, county, state, and èßäÊÓƵs.

    SUN's mission is to improve the lives of children, their families, and the community through partnering with local èßäÊÓƵ communities to extend the èßäÊÓƵ day and develop èßäÊÓƵs as "community centers" in their neighborhoods.

    SUN èßäÊÓƵs strive to be a community "hub." They link with other community institutions, such as libraries, parks and community centers, neighborhood health clinics, and area churches and businesses.

    SUN Initiative Goals

    • Improve student achievement, attendance, behavior, and other skills for healthy development and academic success through increased capacity of the local èßäÊÓƵs to provide a safe, supervised, and positive environment for expanded experiences.
    • Increase family involvement in èßäÊÓƵs and èßäÊÓƵ-based programs.
    • Increase community and business involvement in èßäÊÓƵs and èßäÊÓƵ-based programs.
    • Improve the system of collaboration among èßäÊÓƵ districts, government, community-based agencies, families, citizens, and business/corporate leaders.
    • Improve the use of public facilities and services by locating services in community-based neighborhood èßäÊÓƵs.


    How do SUN SCHOOLS Work?

    • SUN Schools tailor their events, classes, services, and activities to what the local community wants, through the use of an Advisory Committee.
    • SUN Schools build up positive assets already in communities and link those with the activities offered in the èßäÊÓƵ.
    • SUN Schools brings together èßäÊÓƵs, community leaders, and agency professionals to plan the best ways to support youth -- in education, family involvement, the community, providing services, and utilizing community buildings.
    • SUN Schools use an evaluation team to measure èßäÊÓƵ impact, celebrate success, and continuously improve SUN School programs and their impact on the community.


    Primary Activities

    • Though there is a broad range of activities at the SUN èßäÊÓƵs, SUN's primary activities are considered to be:
    • Before and after-èßäÊÓƵ academic and enrichment programs that are linked with the èßäÊÓƵ day
    • Family Involvement and strengthening programs
    • Health and Social Services for the èßäÊÓƵ, families, and community
    • Community events
    • Adult Education


    Governance

    • The SUN model is for governance to be site-based with the following structure:
    • Operating Team: principal, site coordinator, and lead agency
    • Site Partners Team: representing all the entities in the èßäÊÓƵ that work with the èßäÊÓƵ
    • Site Advisory Committee: a combination of both customers and providers in the SUN system

    This structure is in an evolutionary stage and is expected that it will be tailored at the èßäÊÓƵ level to best ensure that the critical roles are fulfilled.