TAMPA, Fla. – Now that school districts have completed their first week of classes, principals say it may take some time to adjust, especially for students new to the area.
This is one reason why Hillsborough County School District officials are opening a family and community center.
The project has been years in the making, and school board members hope it will be a place where new families can feel connected.
“No matter where they come from – whether they’re from another state, another district, another country, we want to make sure we support them,” said Nadia Combs, a member of the District 1 School Board. “Because at the end of the day, it’s very important that parents and the district work closely together.”
Combs says nearly half of the district’s students are Hispanic and that she has been a big advocate for the center in hopes of also supporting families who may not speak English.
“These Hispanic communities are thriving and we want to make sure we teach them how to navigate the system,” Combs said. “When we stabilize families and students, we have a better and stronger community.”
This center will be beneficial for parents like Linette Suarez. She moved to Florida a year and a half ago and is still learning a lot while taking care of her children’s education.
“They have someone supporting them to help them with their educational career and show them where to apply,” Linette said.
The space offers school registration, medical examinations, report cards, student tutoring, exceptional student education support, and much more.
Linette says that the school system in Latin American countries is different and therefore this support is important.
“There are many Hispanic students in the school system and we as parents need to be involved in our children’s education to learn with them,” she said.
The center is scheduled to open in three weeks and will be open to families every day.
It is located at 5630 North Lois Avenue in Tampa.
