As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 164,500 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 19,234 employees including 10,500 teachers in 218 schools.
10 Oct 2001
DALLAS—The lights will shine at 45 Dallas after-school programs tomorrow, October 11, as families and children participate in the national Lights On Afterschool! community night. Schools will highlight after-school programs that are keeping kids safe, helping working families and inspiring children to learn.
At 3:30 p.m. each school will rally around the United States flag showing its support for America and the need for safe and secure places for students during non-school hours. Rosemont Elementary, 719 North Montclair, will serve as one of a dozen sites across the United States that will host national and local public officials and spotlight how after-school programs are changing children's lives across America.
Scheduled before September 11, the celebration has taken on new meaning now that it is to be held on the one-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks. "Now more than ever, our nation needs to focus on the well-being of our children," said Afterschool Alliance Acting Executive Director Judy Y. Samelson. "Lights On Afterschool! will be unique, and we hope, a healing event—an opportunity for communities to celebrate all that after-school programs do for children, families and communities. After-school programs help make communities safer, students smarter and America stronger."
The Dallas Independent School District supports working families through a network of 178 after-school programs in elementary and middle schools. Forty-five schools provide extensive programming for students, families and the community through 21st Century Community Learning Center grants.
H. B. Bell, associate superintendent of alternative programs, pointed out that participation in after-school programs contributes to reduced risk behaviors for youngsters. "Students who spend time in after-school programs have better academic performance, behavior, social skills, school attendance, as well as greater expectations for the future," he noted.
The Lights On Afterschool! event will allow students, parents and community members to see Dallas Independent School District's after-school programs in action. Activities include academic tutoring, fine arts, sports, youth development and cultural programs. Lights On Afterschool! is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a national agency, and JC Penney.In light of the events of September 11, schools are using Lights On Afterschool! as an opportunity to show community strength, compassion, unity and concern for America's children with their community after-school open houses. Elementary schools include: Allen, Anderson, Bayles, Burnet, Caillet, Chavez, Cowart, Cuellar, Darrell, Dealey, DeGolyer, Dunbar, Earhart, Hall, Jones, Kahn, Knight, Kramer, Lanier, Lipscomb, Macon, Maple Lawn, Pease, Pleasant Grove, Rosemont, Saldivar, Stemmons, Stevens Park, Travis, Tolbert, Turner, Winnetka, Withers and Zaragoza. Participating secondary schools are Browne, Comstock, Florence, Franklin, Greiner and Hill, Kimball, Lincoln, North Dallas, Spruce and Sunset.
For more information, call the DISD Before- and After-School Program Office at 972-502-1240 or Rosemont Elementary School at 972-749-5000.<</p>