Initiatives
Plumosa School of the Arts Foundation, Inc (Launched in 2010)
The Education Board brought together Plumosa's administration, faculty, parents and Delray, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton city government officials, cultural leaders, and arts patrons to create a Plumosa School of the Arts Foundation, Inc. The Foundation will provide giving and naming opportunities to support arts programs at South County's only elementary school of the arts in its new home on Seacrest Boulevard.
Carver Community Middle School Morning Program (Launched in 2008)
The Carver Community (CCMS) Morning Program is an outreach project that provides integrated academic, fitness, cultural, and values development for 200+ at risk and low-income students in the morning hours before school begins. The program increases exposure to academics, improves physical fitness, creates opportunities for cultural growth, and reinforces the countywide Character Counts! Program
Digital Divide Seed Program (Launched in 2008)
The Digital Divide Seed Program provided computers, computer training, and free Internet service to qualified families living in the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The Education Board is seeking additional funding through grants to sustain and expand the program.
Delray Beach: City of Character (Launched in 2007)
In Fall 2007, former Mayor Rita Ellis proclaimed Delray Beach a “City of Character,”-i.e. a community that champions basic universal principals of good character, identifies practical applications, and creates a climate of respect and dignity for its citizens. The program is modeled after the District’s Character Counts Program. The Education Board supports this initiative by hosting community awareness activities and piloting a Character Development and Youth Leadership Program at Orchard View Elementary school.
Eagle Nest (Launched in 2006)
The partnership between the City of Delray Beach and Atlantic Community High School support their Construction Career Academy, a nationally acclaimed program. Eagle Nest completed and sold its first affordable student designed and constructed housing unit. Plans are underway for the construction of a second home, this one “green.”
Delray Beach Popup and World’s Largest Popup Books (Launched in 2006)
The Pop-Up Story of Delray Beach, designed by Roger Culbertson and illustrated by Al Margolis, is a souvenir book published in 2007 as a result of a collaborative partnership between the Delray Education Board and the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation. 100% of sales benefit the Education Foundation’s Endowment Fund created to provide support for public and private school programs. The book was recreated as the largest popup book and is featured in the 2011 Guinness Book of World Records. For more information, visit www.delraypopupbook.com
Beacon Center at Village Academy (Launched in 2005)
Delray Beach supports the Beacon Center program located on the Village Academy School campus. The Beacon program, facilitated by the Achievement Center For Children and Families (ACCCF), is an after school program that services approximately 450 elementary age children and 100 teens by offering wrap around services for them and their families.
Mayor’s Literacy Initiative (Launched in 2005)
Based on the statistic that children with low reading scores lose approximately 2.6 months of learning without summer academic enrichment, the Education Board created and launched the Mayor’s Reading Initiative: Delray Beach Get Caught Reading! in 2005.
Since then, the Board has forged partnerships with various literacy programs and created links with, among others, Delray’s summer camps where Level 1 and 2 readers are targeted. Grants, awarded by Jarden Consumer Solutions, have made this possible. In addition, the City of Delray Beach participates in the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition through “Families Reading Together” and “Read Together Palm Beach County.”
In 2007-08, the Education Board proclaimed November “Families Reading Together” month by hosting a PJ party at the Achievement Center for Children and Families. Through the Mayor’s Literacy Program, the Ed Board helped to organize “Love to Read Day” at the Boys and Girls Club and purchased books for the “Paired Share” program at Atlantic Community High School.
Principal For a Day (Launched in 2000)
This partnership program invites community, professional, cultural, and business leaders to serve as Acting Principals for a half-day in order to learn about their school, its attributes and needs, and foster a long-term partnership. Accompanied by the school principal, Acting Principals tour the school and participate in activities. Partnerships have provided cash contributions for various school programs, in-kind services, scholarships, donations of books and/or equipment, job shadowing, and much more.
