FAIRMONT - Fairmont Area Schools and Fairmont Early Childhood Initiative have been awarded $10,000 from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, to find ways to connect with parents through their workplace.
The program is new to the district.
Dave Paschke, director of instruction and technology at Fairmont Area Schools, says the effort is still in development but will involve reaching out to parents while at work. Exactly what that will look like is uncertain, and will likely vary depending on the employer.
"It will be anywhere from something (parents) can pick up and take home, or maybe we could come in once a month a teach a parenting class," he said.
Parenting options include direct programming and workplace incentives, resource boards, web-based multimedia, and neutral site events.
Paschke said the district will begin recruiting companies in the late summer with help of the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce, with programming likely to begin around the same time as school.
The $10,000 received by Fairmont was part of a larger regional award of $118,940 by the foundation.
"We are pleased to support this early childhood collaboration effort in Martin County," said foundation president Tim Penny. "This new initiative is an opportunity for working parents to conveniently get the parenting resources they need."