Community schools are making their way into the Bay Area. It’s a fairly new concept being adopted across the state. Pasco County implemented its first one this school year. 

  • Pasco County implements 1st 'community school'
  • Community schools help meet the needs of students
  • UCF granted $1.5M to districts with community schools

School is a place for learning, but a big part of learning has to do with a child’s well being. 

“Meeting student’s needs — those basic needs are huge for them to be able to be good learners in the classroom," Gulfside Elementary Principal Jeanne Krapfl said.

Basic needs like clothes and shoes. “We probably give at least a pair a week out, at least," Community School Director Kara Parris said. And dental hygiene. “A lot of our students have never seen the dentist, have never been."

Now those needs can be met while in school at Gulfside Elementary. 

UCF granted $1.5 million to districts with community schools. Gulfside received $153,000 to get one started. 

“We're here to address needs across the board, so not just for the students but parents, families, siblings, community members," Parris said. 

Community schools do this by pooling resources into one place and growing and expanding those services. 

“We eventually want comprehensive medical care here, that's the plan, but that will be for everyone to use," Parris said. 

Parris says Gulfside's first year is going well, but it could take up to five years to see the benefits. 

“Things that are measured are how many suspensions if they've gone down, how attendance has increased, student achievement overall, how testing is, there's lots of ways to measure it but it does take a little time to show up," he explained. 

Gulfside plans to expand services to its feeder schools, Paul R. Smith Middle and Anclote High Schools, at the beginning of the year.  

There are currently 15 community schools in the state. There are three in the Bay Area — one in Pasco County and two in Hillsborough County.