Communities In Schools presentation: Danville expands CIS support to 211 students, outlines tiers and new tutoring grant
December 12, 2023 | DANVILLE CITY PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia
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Representatives of Communities In Schools (CIS) briefed the Danville Public Schools board on the program’s model, caseload and planned expansion.
Nathaniel Curtis, program director for Communities In Schools of Virginia and Southside, described CIS as an "integrated student supports" model that operates in tiers: Tier 1 provides whole-school supports, Tier 2 focuses on case-managed cohorts, and Tier 3 delivers one-on-one services. Curtis said the local program currently has three coordinators at George Washington High School, one at Bonner and one at Westwood and that "in totality, we have 211 students that are receiving direct support with our student support coordinators." He added the program’s evaluation evidence supports improved attendance, behavior and course performance and that roughly 90 percent of students in the CIS pipeline graduate or are promoted (program-reported figure).
CIS staff described intake and consent procedures: students identified for targeted services sign a parent consent form and receive a needs assessment and individualized support plan. Curtis said the program’s MOU with the superintendent establishes a recommended 40-student caseload for intensive, case-managed work to avoid staff burnout while the broader school population can access Tier 1 supports such as after-school tutoring.
During a question-and-answer exchange, a board member asked whether the program limits enrollment; Curtis replied that CIS does not turn students away for need-based services but that case-managed caseloads are capped to preserve impact and reduce turnover. CIS staff also said they will convene an advisory board meeting on Jan. 16 and are planning a January 2025 rollout of an after-school tutoring component funded by a SCIM grant to serve about 100–120 students.
Board members expressed support and appreciation for the program and its community partnerships; multiple coordinators described site-level activities such as conflict-resolution skills, ministerial-alliance mentoring for male students, science-focused programming, and family-facing food pantry work.
The board did not take a vote on the presentation; staff said follow-up items and an advisory meeting are scheduled in January.
Nathaniel Curtis, program director for Communities In Schools of Virginia and Southside, described CIS as an "integrated student supports" model that operates in tiers: Tier 1 provides whole-school supports, Tier 2 focuses on case-managed cohorts, and Tier 3 delivers one-on-one services. Curtis said the local program currently has three coordinators at George Washington High School, one at Bonner and one at Westwood and that "in totality, we have 211 students that are receiving direct support with our student support coordinators." He added the program’s evaluation evidence supports improved attendance, behavior and course performance and that roughly 90 percent of students in the CIS pipeline graduate or are promoted (program-reported figure).
CIS staff described intake and consent procedures: students identified for targeted services sign a parent consent form and receive a needs assessment and individualized support plan. Curtis said the program’s MOU with the superintendent establishes a recommended 40-student caseload for intensive, case-managed work to avoid staff burnout while the broader school population can access Tier 1 supports such as after-school tutoring.
During a question-and-answer exchange, a board member asked whether the program limits enrollment; Curtis replied that CIS does not turn students away for need-based services but that case-managed caseloads are capped to preserve impact and reduce turnover. CIS staff also said they will convene an advisory board meeting on Jan. 16 and are planning a January 2025 rollout of an after-school tutoring component funded by a SCIM grant to serve about 100–120 students.
Board members expressed support and appreciation for the program and its community partnerships; multiple coordinators described site-level activities such as conflict-resolution skills, ministerial-alliance mentoring for male students, science-focused programming, and family-facing food pantry work.
The board did not take a vote on the presentation; staff said follow-up items and an advisory meeting are scheduled in January.
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