Building for future starts in classrooms

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Enid Public Schools’ collaboration with The Commons nursing facility is an example of the long-term investments being made across the city to improve the future. Irene Stone (at middle) plays with Ashlynn Wheeler (left) and Paris Prochaska. (Staff Photo by SHAWN YORKS)
Enid Public Schools’ collaboration with The Commons nursing facility is an example of the long-term investments being made across the city to improve the future. Cassidy Fitzgerald plays a word bingo game with Lou Fitzgerald (no relation). (Staff Photo by SHAWN YORKS)
Celesta Thomas (left) talks with Camryn Rasp (middle) and Bella Sue Shallenberger at The Commons. Enid Public Schools holds a 4-year-old program at the nursing facility, where students can interact with the residents. (Staff Photo by SHAWN YORKS)
Lowe’s of Enid started a garden at a local day care to enrich the lives of children and invest in the community. (Photo provided)
Enid Public Schools’ collaboration with The Commons nursing facility is an example of the long-term investments being made across the city to improve the future. The program, which features interaction is nearing an end of its debut year. (Photo provided)
Enid Public Schools’ collaboration with The Commons nursing facility is an example of the long-term investments being made across the city to improve the future. The program, which features interaction is nearing an end of its debut year. (Photo provided)

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April 17, 2010

Enid officials: Kids key in the success of the community

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle The Enid News and Eagle Sat Apr 17, 2010, 10:40 PM CDT

ENID — Developing Enid for the future means starting children’s educational endeavors early, according to results of an economic summit at Autry Technology Center.

The study, based on a Feb. 17 meeting, shows early childhood education pays dividends in economic development as those students enter the work force.

“Strong communities are made of strong families. The future work force are the children in these communities,” said Paula Waters, Community Development Support Association’s northwest Oklahoma Smart Start coordinator.

Studies through National League of Cities — which represents municipal governments across the nation — have shown failure of families leads to a wide variety of poor outcomes for children. The resulting costs are in diminished economic vitality, declining tax revenue, increased demands on local emergency services and enormous strains on education systems, Waters said.

A national organization composed of law enforcement professionals reported nationwide an estimated 3 out of 10 high school students fail to graduate high school on track with their peers.

Children learn early in their lives how to deal with others and develop other social emotional foundations, said Dianne Juhnke, director of early childhood services for CDSA.

“We all must be interested in what is going on with the children in our community.”

Showing their interest

Parents are the first and most important teachers of children. If they want their children to be successful, parents must provide ways to stimulate their children.

• Smart Start is a program that accomplishes that goal, and Enid is one of the first communities in the state to offer it, Juhnke said.

• Public Library of Enid and Garfield County has increased programs offered to families with young children, and the public schools’ 4-year-old program is an example of early childhood education. Oklahoma is one of the first states to adopt a 4-year-old program.

That’s a good start, but Waters and Juhnke said the state needs to do more.

“Investing in our children pays great dividends for the future,” Waters said.

• Lowe’s of Enid started a garden at a local day care to enrich the lives of children.

• A key part of what community is about is collaboration, and an example of that is the 4-year-old program at the Commons. The programs uses the seniors at The Commons as advocates.

“That is great intergenerational contact,” Waters said.

Juhnke said the community is making longterm investments in the lives of the children who will become the future workers.

“There are no simple solutions to complex problems,” Juhnke said.

The cost of not getting off to the right start includes lower graduation rates and higher crime rates.

“Those costs are seen when you don’t get the ground work right,” she said.

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Building for future starts in classrooms

Enid officials: Kids key in the success of the community

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