On Thursday, August 12, 2010, to the cheers of park lovers and small dog enthusiasts, Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) community school program students helped unveil the result of a summer-long employment and service/learning project at Howe Park.
Students designed and built a small dog park, refurbished park benches and walking bridges, and remodeled landscaping as part of an employment training project. Federal stimulus money funded the summer work project involving more than 30 students in the SCOE LINKS program.
Deputy Superintendent Marty Cavanaugh told the crowd, "These students have invested hundreds of hours to make improvements that will benefit everyone in the community. The results we see today are a result of their work and dedication to the core principle of SCOE's LINKS program."
The collaborative, multiple-agency, service/learning project at Howe Park was funded with federal stimulus money and provided job skills training and summer employment for more than 30 at-risk teens in Sacramento County.
Partners involved in the project include: Sacramento County Office of Education, Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District, and Sacramento Employment and Training Agency.
Commented Roy Imai, Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District General Manager, "Our park patrons will forever be thankful for SCOE and its students."
The SCOE LINKS Academy program helps at-risk students get on the right track, find a new direction, build a better future, and take control of life. The program includes individual learning plans, extra support, role models, career development, and job skills training.
SCOE plays a vital role in providing technical assistance, curriculum and instructional support, staff development, fiscal services, and oversight to Sacramento County school districts. SCOE operates special education programs for students with severe disabilities, Court and Community Schools for high-risk and at-risk students, and career technical education courses.