Peoria Public Schools announced on Friday that the district has been awarded a $2.5 million Full Service Community Schools grant for Harrison Community Learning Center and Roosevelt Magnet School.
Both schools are located in the 61605 zip code, said PPS Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, which is Illinois’ number one most economically distressed zip code.
“The average income of 61605 is $21,000 annually, compared to over $51,000 for the rest of the city,” Kherat said. “Also, 56 percent of the households in 61605 are lead by single mothers. Eighteen percent of those households are lead by grandparents.”
The goal for PPS is to help the whole child, according to Harrison Community Learning Center Principal Fabian Daniels.
“We are going to be addressing the whole child by addressing what the family needs,” Daniels said.
The grant will help fund additional tutoring at the schools, and also after school academic activities, social-emotional counseling, physical fitness, mentoring students, exploring Peoria activities, and summertime activities to keep the students busy.
“We are going to be able to win the war against losing our students to the streets,” Daniels said. “Now we’ll have opportunities that’s at the school, where the students can be involved and really be kids.”
Roosevelt Magnet School Principal Cindy Clark said that the grant is life-changing.
“[School] should be a safe place for them. And, it should be safe and trusting,” Clark said.
