Dunkirk City Schools, with nearly 2,000 students enrolled, is the second-largest district in Chautauqua County. In recent years, the administration has made it a priority to engage more with the community and build stronger relationships with families, caregivers, and community members.
To further this effort, the district is forming an advisory team, with its first meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Jamestown Community College north county campus location. The meeting will include a light dinner and is open to everyone in the community.
According to Jennifer Westerholt, the district communications director, this advisory team is not seen as supplemental work but rather as critical work that needs to be integrated into everything the district is doing. The focus of the team is on building relationships and partnering with families, caregivers, and community members to support student growth and learning.
Westerholt said that this effort is not just about improving communication between the school and the community but also about creating a sense of ownership and pride among residents who are invested in the success of their local schools. She added that by working together as a team, they can better understand each other’s needs and challenges and find ways to collaborate on solutions that benefit everyone involved.