Dayton's neighborhood school centers

When Dayton Public Schools committed to return to neighborhood K-8 schools, the community organized to refocus many youth programs in schools and neighborhoods. This article describes the planning and implementation of Dayton's Neighborhood School Centers. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the University of Dayton, especially the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. The Fitz Center plays a pivotal role in implementing this highly collaborative effort, including project leadership; community organizing; coaching of five site coordinators at neighborhood school sites; and faculty-mentored student interns to assist with programming for student success, family support, health and team sports, and extensive service-learning coordination. The Dayton Foundation, Dayton Public Schools, City of Dayton, Montgomery County, and sixteen foundation and corporate supporters are partners with the Fitz Center in a bold initiative to reconnect five Dayton public elementary schools to their neighborhoods, after more than thirty years of court-ordered busing, and create full-service, year-round opportunities for neighborhood families and youth at these new schools. More than forty programs have been started at each site, all emphasizing youth and community assets.