Who's going to do the work? Although the members will
volunteer their time, a paid staff coordinator is essential to the effectiveness
of a coalition. The job can be full-time or part-time, but it will require
considerable flexibility in terms of scheduling and responsibilities.
The coordinator can be based within a local nonprofit organization (such
as a community development association, a youth services agency, or an educational
advocacy group), city government, or the school system itself. He or she
should be knowledgeable about middle school education and youth issues in
general, but there is no particular professional background that is best
suited to the work. Energy, resourcefulness, and an ability to work easily
with people from a variety of backgrounds are tremendously important.
In addition to the coordinator, the coalition will need to call on volunteers
and other workers to carry out such tasks as stuffing envelopes, making
phone calls, and organizing information materials for meetings. Coalition
members, school staff, or work study students may be recruited to help on
a regular basis or with special projects.
Space to work and meet. The coalition will need office
space and equipment, including furniture, a telephone and computer, and
routine supplies. Space may be available in a local middle school, or perhaps
in the offices of a local business, religious, or nonprofit organization.
The central school district or a college or university may also have office
facilities the coalition can use.
A school auditorium, library, or gym is a good place for the coalition's
regular meetings. Holding meetings in school facilities helps familiarize
coalition members with local schools and their surrounding neighborhoods,
while also making the work of the coalition more visible to students, parents,
and teachers. You may wish to establish a regular meeting place, or you
may choose to rotate meetings among different schools. Above all, think
strategically about where and when you meet and how you make the most of
your members' time.
Occasionally, the coalition will also need space for committee meetings
or special events. Ask your members if they can get access to conference
rooms or other facilities at their offices, then make use of as many of
them as you can. Make sure your local government officials know what's going
on, too, and are given opportunities to help. Any organization that makes
a contribution, however small, will be more likely to value the coalition's
work in the future.
Equipment et cetera. The resources available for equipment
and supplies are different in each community, but a plan should be developed
to ensure adequate access to phones, computers, copying, and supplies. In-kind
donations of routine materials such as paper and envelopes may be extremely
helpful, but soliciting these donations can sometimes take up too much of
the coordinator's time.
On the other hand, soliciting in-kind donations for special events can stretch
the coalition's budget and help firm up the support of the givers. For an
evening presentation on algebra instruction, for example, a publisher might
donate educational materials, and a local restaurant or grocery store might
donate refreshments.
If the coalition is based officially within the school system, find out
what regulations apply to donations. Some school districts, for instance,
cannot easily accept a gift of used office equipment because of concern
over high maintenance costs. Also, school systems may be subject to burdensome
purchasing procedures. Avoid these by asking donors to buy what you need
and donate the items to the coalition, rather than contributing funds.
Raising money and developing a budget. At least at the
beginning, you will probably need to support your coalition entirely from
local sources. Identifying and securing other funding may be an early priority
of your coordinator, but doing so may take some time.
The coordinator's salary can be paid by the school system, local government,
or a community organization. It may be most practical to divide the costs,
with the coordinator working as a part-time staff member of an organization
with a long-term commitment to middle school improvement. A budget for supplies,
mailing, telephone, and other costs can pool donations from other sources,
including local businesses.
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