With the addition of 16 new site coordinators this year, CIS is serving more students than ever before - nearly 3,800 are enrolled currently. We are partnering with CMS to support the 9th Grade Academy, where we have 11 site coordinators at ten high schools. In addition, we have four new bilingual coordinators who are based at four elementary schools with very high percentages of ESL students, and one coordinator who is working with other Latino families in the community through the Latin American Coalition.

While we are pleased that we’ve been able to serve a much greater number of students this year, unfortunately, there are many students and school sites remaining who need CIS support. You may have seen recent articles in the media about the increasing number of dropouts reported by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. CMS had 2,512 official dropouts last year, a dramatic increase from the previous year’s 1,724. Because of the chronic dropout problem facing our community, the services of Communities In Schools have never been as necessary as they are today.

In light of CIS’s recent growth and the anticipation of increased demand for our services, we have been working with planning consultants to develop a strategic plan for the future. Our Board of Directors will be reviewing the proposed recommendations this spring, and we will keep you informed of any major changes, initiatives and strategies that may result from the Strategic Plan.

The dropout dilemma is causing many in our community to ask the tough questions and turn to those who are part of the solution.  We are poised to accept the challenge and do all we can to reduce the number of dropouts and raise the graduation rates in the years to come.

Bill Anderson, Ed. D.

CIS Executive Director