Larger school districts have departments that are dedicated to this function and distribute responsibilities for community relations among several people. Smaller districts rely upon staffs of fewer people with each staff member performing a variety of community relations functions and in very small districts the community involvement function is performed by the superintendent and school principals. The coordinator of Community Resources in BISD is responsible for coordinating and supervising the community and parental involvement activities. The VIPS program provides opportunities for parents and community members to volunteer by preparing materials for teachers and assisting teachers in the classroom, working in the office and the library and participating in the Parent Teacher Association at each school. Hand in Hand is a community effort between the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce and BISD and provides mentors for at-risk students.
Mentors serve as guides, friends, listeners, role models, tutors, sounding boards, etc.
Mentors visit students on campus for thirty minutes weekly. Examples of community involvement in the schools are shown in Exhibit 1-15 . Community Resource Coordinator, Bastrop Independent School District, May 2000. The PTA at Emile Elementary School is a particularly strong and active supporter of the school, its student and staff. The PTA is currently constructing a quarter mile walking track and a greenhouse.