Local schools are embracing a state-approved program that would encourage adults from area churches, synagogues, community groups and businesses to mentor children.
Gov. Jeb Bush's Faith-Based & Community Initiative, created in 2003, does not violate the separation of church and state, officials say.
Guidelines prohibit mentors from trying to convert students or discriminate against them based on religion, said Lynette Edwards, assistant superintendent for Manatee County schools.
"The focus is not on religion, but on character development," Edwards said.
"With any initiative, you will have people not in favor," Edwards added. "But there are guidelines."
The Manatee Community Leaders Assuring Student Success program was introduced with a workshop Wednesday attended by 150 at Woodland Baptist Church.
Educators from Manatee, Samoset, Orange Ridge, Ballard, Oneco, Tillman, Daughtrey, Wakeland and Rowlett elementaries joined about 30 representatives from local congregations, businesses and community groups for the first local workshop.
Once the program gets going, mentors could be used in other elementary, middle and high schools, Edwards said.
Roughly $2 million is available through state grants for faith-based groups in Florida that want to establish partnerships with schools, said workshop speaker Mark Nelson, coordinator of Bush's Faith-Based & Community Initiative.
"We are only the second state in the nation that has an official program promoting partnerships between faith-based organizations and schools, New Jersey being the other one," Nelson said.
The state is comfortable with church mentors, said Braulio Colon, the southwest regional director for the Florida Department of Education, who also spoke at the Woodland workshop.
"The churches know they serve as human resources before and after school," Colon said. "Our emphasis is on student achievement. There is a great need to reinforce after school what kids learn during school."
When churches take care of children, they often get the chance to serve their parents and bring them into the church, said Jennifer Passmore, educational director of Woodland Baptist, which has partnered with Bashaw Elementary.
"We know the rules," Passmore said. "We never discuss religion at their campuses. But often, when their parents have a need, they show up at church."
In the 18 months Scott Boyes has been principal of Samoset Elementary, he recognized that many of his students need intense one-on-one attention from caring adults beyond the school day.
"I would say 75 percent of our students come from a single-parent family," Boyes said. "My kids are very hungry for personal relationships."
"What a great opportunity this is," added Boyes. "We're a school where it is difficult to find those adult volunteers. To find someone willing to come into our school and give their time would be wonderful."
The program would have a positive impact on children and Temple Beth El may get involved, said Rabbi Aaron Koplin, who attended the event.
"The Rev. Ken Scrubbs of First Baptist Church of Leesburg runs a successful program with local elementary schools, Colon said.
Scrubbs' church received $20,000 in grant money from the state this year for mentoring children.
"We have doctors, lawyers, politicians, college students, all kinds of people who want to help," Scrubbs said. "We do fishing camps. There isn't a conflict."
When the child is mentored on school grounds, it is all about education, but if the child wants to learn more about the Bible and faith, the church welcomes them, Scrubbs said.
"It's not about religion when we're at the school." Scrubbs said. "It's about reading and math. But their spiritual development might come on Saturday when we have a Saturday Sunday school. There is never a threat of me preaching, but character and behavior, yes. These kids come from homes where the parents are not teaching about character and behavior. Typically, 50 to 70 percent of these kids are missing dads."
At his table at Woodland Baptist, Boyes met representatives from nearby Christ Episcopal, Church of the Cross, Elwood Park Baptist, First Haitian Baptist, Palma Sola Bay Baptist and Samoset First Baptist.
Palma Sola Bay will join the program and provide mentors for Samoset, said The Rev. Mark Alt, who sat with Boyes.
"People say, 'What's in it for the church?' " Alt said. "The answer is goodwill. It will transform the heart of the church. It will become more outward rather than inward looking."
• Students must be selected without regard to religious affiliation
• Facilities used by the public school for instructional purposes must be free of religious symbols
• No praying allowed with students and families during volunteer sessions
• Mentors should not preach about their faith to the children or their families while conducting educational activities
• Speech or other activity by students should not be discouraged simply because of its religious content or nature
• The rights of students and their family members to speak about religion or to say a prayer or to read a scripture should not be infringed, provided it is within reasonable limits of rules for orderliness, talking and congregating that are set for other speech and activities.
SOURCE: Manatee County School District