Open doors program expands learning: Vermont: Franklin Central Supervisory Union.

Open Doors is a grant-funded program in Vermont that allows Franklin Central Supervisory Union's middle school students to be in school during out-of-school times, while being taught and mentored by community members and school staff. Started in the summer of 2003, the program was responsible for the district's being named the 2005 Civic Star Award recipient for the state.

The program aims to improve students' self-esteem, school attendance and learning and to help strengthen families and the community.

Open Doors offers after-school, weekend and vacation programs to all middle school students in fifth through eighth grades who attend Fairfield and St. Albans schools in Franklin County. Those struggling with academic areas, social challenges, behavioral problems or negative pressures are particularly encouraged to participate.

The variety of services and enrichment opportunities provided include homework clubs; classes in academic areas, art and pre-vocational subjects; noncompetitive sports programs, and activities that promote healthy life styles, family involvement and student leadership.

While the program was initiated in the schools, it represents the collaborative efforts of many community organizations. Participants have included St. Albans Teen Center; the Fairfield Community Center; Snyders Academy of Tae Kwon Do; Avalon Academy, which teaches horseback riding; Fine Line Equipment, a farm-machine business; Bellows Free Academy High School; Northwest Technical Center, and many community volunteers. Student advisers also help design programs and serve as leaders. They work with full-time and part-time site leaders at each school, the project director who works in the superintendent's office and a community-school advisory board.

The program has been used by the school district as an opportunity to develop new partnerships and to build stronger networks in the community, and it has kept students off the street and engaged in meaningful activities.

One hundred percent of the parents who returned a survey about the after-school program said their children had fun in the Open Doors program and benefited socially from it. After the program's second year, leaders said they were seeing a decrease in teen-age drug use and suicide and increased community involvement in the schools.

For more information, contact Superintendent Marilyn I. Grunewald at Franklin Central Supervisory Union, 28 Catherine St., St. Albans, Vt. 05478, or call [phone]. By e-mail, write to [e-mail].