Tulare Western High embraces community school model to support families, boost student success

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Towering palm trees are a familiar sight on the campus of Tulare Western High School.

Getting students engaged during break time is not unusual.

Issac Diaz is a senior and is thinking of studying in the area of business.

"I'd like to be an accountant, maybe after I go to college," says Diaz.

His mother is supporting his goals by getting more connected with the school.

"I've taken nutrition classes," says Sylvia Rosales, "In Tulare Western, I help at just about all the parent meetings."

"Since my mom goes to the meetings, she knows more about what's happening in school," Diaz says.

Many families are taking advantage of classes and resources available through Tulare Joint Union High School District's Community Schools.

Gretchen VanderTuig, Executive Director of Special Education and Support Services with TJUHSD, tells Action News, "We really want to meet the child and the families where they are, really put the emphasis on what are their needs and how does the community support those needs."

The poverty rate in Tulare County is 17.8%, higher than the national rate of 12.4%.

Every school in the district is considered a community school.

Evelyn Ortiz is a community schools coordinator at Tulare Western.

The campus has a room where students and parents can meet with school leaders for coffee or discreetly find resources like clothing and shoes.

"We have hygiene products, whether that's deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, so we just really try to fill a need and making sure we have those items cause anyone can really land on a hard time," says Ortiz.

At the Community Schools Center, parents come together to come up with solutions to school safety. Piedad Contreras has taken several courses and says parents lose out when they don't get involved.

"A lot of people say Oh no, I don't have time, I'm not interested. It won't help me, but they haven't been here," says Contreras, "They haven't seen more than anything; you grow as a person.

For Issac, communication with his mom has definitely improved.

"She'll ask me more like what I've done in school and stuff, so it gives me more of a conversation starter with her," he says.

And they know where to turn to for help if they ever need it.

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