Victor Elementary School District receives $14M grant to expand services for students

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The Victor Elementary School District was awarded a $14.25 million grant from the California Department of Education to implement a comprehensive Community Schools initiative.
This five-year grant aims to expand access to essential services and support systems for all students and families within the district's 18 schools.
While the grant designates 10 schools as primary sites for the initiative, all district schools will benefit from the enhanced services.
The initiative focuses on a holistic approach to education, ensuring every student has the necessary support to thrive academically and personally.
"At VESD, we believe in supporting the whole child," said Dr. Tanya Benitez, assistant superintendent of pupil services. "This grant enables us to connect families to vital resources, ensuring our students are ready and equipped to learn."
According to the district, the Community Schools model will transform selected school sites into hubs offering a range of services, including access to food, parenting classes, financial workshops, Read B4K, and more.
These services will be tailored to meet the unique needs of each school community, determined through comprehensive needs assessments.
"This funding allows us to extend our reach and provide more classes and resources to our families," said Family Resource Center Supervisor Jorge Escalante. "By establishing satellite hubs at various school sites, we can dynamically respond to the specific needs of our communities."
The initiative also aims to strengthen partnerships with local agencies, ensuring the sustainability of services beyond the grant period.
District officials said families can expect improved communication between home and school, increased opportunities for parental engagement, and enhanced support services to address barriers to student success.
"Our team collaborated extensively to develop a plan centered on family needs," said teacher Penny Edmiston. "This funding will deepen the connections between home, school, and community, benefiting all VESD families."
The grant application was a collaborative effort involving district staff, school site staff, Family Resource Center staff, and leadership from Jorge Escalante and Penny Edmiston, under the guidance of Dr. Benitez.
For more information on available services and programs, families are encouraged to visit the VESD Family Resource Center website at frc.vesd.net.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at [e-mail]. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victor Elementary School District receives grant to expand services