BORDERLAND

TPS leaders visit public housing projects in city

7/26/2014

Every year, hundreds of children who live in Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority homes enroll in Toledo Public Schools. This year is the first TPS is making a concerted effort to reach out into those homes.

District officials visited Elmdale and Mercer Courts in South Toledo on Friday as part of an effort to build partnerships with LMHA and engage more directly with families living in public housing. Students could also enroll at TPS at the event, or get information about Head Start.

Jim Gault, TPS chief academic officer, said that children who live in LMHA homes make up a significant part of the district’s enrollment. Many of those children’‍s families are mobile and change schools during the year, so being involved in housing complexes provides a way to engage with those students.

Eventually, TPS hopes to provide educational services within public housing complexes, potentially offering tutoring, traveling teachers, or possibly Saturday programming. Just because the school day ends at 3:30 p.m., Mr. Gault said, doesn’t mean TPS should stop worrying about kids. The district also could gear services toward parents, such as GED courses or vocational and technical training.