Several years ago,, the Wiregrass Foundation and Dothan City Schools began researching a concept known as “Community Schools” as a way to engage the community more within the public school system. The concept turns public schools into energized centers for services that are focused on the student, school, family and community. The program has been personalized for Dothan City Schools, and the conc
ept is known as Bright Key – a community collaboration unlocking every child’s potential. Bright Key is uniquely designed to be a stakeholder community school program. A stakeholder community school program gives teachers, parents and community partners a proven way to make their school better. Teachers, parents and community partners are called “stakeholders” because they have a “stake” in the future of the school’s programs. Stakeholders work with each school’s Bright Key Resource Coordinator to choose programs for their school. For example, one school may need an art program while a different school may need a foreign language program. It all depends on what the stakeholders believe will make their unique school improve in areas of attendance, behavior and academic achievement. Once programs are identified and voted on by stakeholders, they work with their Bright Key Resource Coordinator to find community partners to provide the programs and services to meet their identified needs. Each Bright Key school has its own set of programs voted on by stakeholders - unique schools, unique students, unique stakeholders, unique Bright Key programs. Bright Key is a genuine partnership between the stakeholders and Dothan City Schools. All services and programs are determined entirely by the stakeholders involved with the school. They determine what they want Bright Key to be in their school. Their involvement is the “key” to Bright Key. Without their interest, decision-making and volunteering, Bright Key will not work. But with it, Bright Key can help schools achieve success like never before! Ideas are only limited by the needs of the children and our willingness to meet those needs. Dothan City Schools historically has sought the best programs and services to meet the comprehensive needs of each individual student. Bright Key takes this one step further by engaging stakeholders and community support to achieve meaningful and lasting benefits for Dothan students.
