FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 22, 2007
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124

Crossroads program targets over 200 seventh and eighth graders
  
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Collaboration among seven community organizations has targeted more than 200 seventh and eighth graders who are considered to be academically at-risk. 
   
Of those students, almost half have been enrolled in the comprehensive support program called Crossroads. The program takes place outside of regular school hours and focuses on meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of program participants. This effort is being made possible through a $1 million grant from the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Innovation and School Improvement.
   
Mississippi University for Women is serving as the lead institution for Crossroads, which will be funded over five years, according to Dr. Suzanne Bean, project director and director of the Center for Creative Learning at MUW. The strength of this program lies in the collaborative effort of so many stakeholders. Each of these organizations has at the heart of its mission to support the youth of Lowndes County and Columbus.
   
Dr. Martha Liddell, Columbus Municipal School District director of elementary curriculum, assessment and innovative programs, said some of their students tend to struggle with reading, language, and mathematics. “Having this additional support will give them a better chance to succeed academically,” she said.
   
Dr. Lester Beason, Columbus Municipal School District superintendent, added, “Most communities wait until these children are in trouble. We are hoping to intervene and help them avoid those issues.”
   
Lee Middle School assistant principal Cindy Wamble said the program targets their students who have a basic or minimal score on the Mississippi Curriculum Test. All fourth and seventh grade students are required to pass the test to move on to the next grade level. “We want all of our students to improve academically. We feel this program will give them opportunities they normally would not have had.”
   
Ivey Ivy, who serves as project manager, said, “In order to make those improvements, we must focus on individual strengths, even if those strengths fall outside of traditional academic areas. That’s what makes this program unique.” 
   
In addition to the academic focus, Crossroads participants are also working on their leadership skills through IMPACT, a research-based curriculum developed by Kate Brown, associate director of the Center for Creative Learning. The teachers in the program have found that using the IMPACT curriculum opens the lines of communication in the classroom, which creates a more comfortable and supportive learning environment.
   
All of the Crossroads participants have become members of the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus/Lowndes County. The club supports the leadership component by teaching social skills and working on personal development.
   
Kenneth McFarland, Boys & Girls Club director, said the club emphasizes making good choices and building self-esteem. Pointing to budget constraints, he added that the Crossroads collaboration extends the resources for each entity involved. “We complement each others’ missions,” he said. 
   
The Columbus Arts Council will provide the cultural enrichment component, according to director Heather Rowland.   
   
“Some students who are at-risk don’t have the opportunity to experience culture. This will be a chance for them to be creative and express themselves,” she said. “In order for them to be the best they can be and to become better students, they have to develop those types of thinking and communication skills.” 
   
Of the students at Lee Middle School who are qualified for the program, a small number are involved in the Lowndes County Youth Court system. Those students will still receive services through Crossroads.
   
Donna Stone, Youth Court administrator, said they are excited about the collaboration, noting they are always looking for resources to help the children at the Detention Center.
   
She said the program is providing a highly qualified teacher for 10 hours a week for students who are detained.  “This is a tremendous benefit that will help them achieve significant success,” she said.
   
Lina Beall, Lowndes County administrator with Community Counseling Services, said their agency will work with participants at the Detention Center in a group setting at least two times a week. “They will work on behavioral issues and will be able to make better choices and identify the problems that got them there in the first place.”
   
Since the project started, another community partner has joined forces with Crossroads to provide academic tutors and mentors to the participants. The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science has volunteered to assist the Crossroads teachers during the after school program at Lee Middle School. Dr. Gil Katzenstein, instructor at MSMS, is leading this effort.  “I recognized an opportunity for our MSMS students to provide a service to the community, and they are excited about the project.”   
   
The Crossroads project started in early February with close to 150 participants. According to Ivy, the effort and commitment of the community partners has been very encouraging. “These kids are eager to be a part of something positive.  Everyone involved has high expectations for their success.”