| State Legislator Goes Back to School Citizens Across the State are Encouraged to Volunteer in Public Schools |
Boston – Senator Brian A. Joyce went back to school recently and encourages other to do the same. In his visits to several schools, Senator Joyce helped raise awareness of the importance of volunteers in public schools. "Massachusetts’ children need our help to succeed academically. Community involvement in schools meets the needs of youth by bringing the experience and training of additional adults to schoolchildren," said Joyce. "By going back to school, I hope to raise awareness among all my constituents, especially state employees, to encourage them to commit their personal resources to schools this school year." Citing Massachusetts’ SERVICE Program as a model employer-sponsored school volunteer program, Senator Joyce encouraged state employees in the area to enroll. The SERVICE Program, built on a provision of education reform, allows state employees to volunteer in public schools or as mentors, for up to 8 hours a month, during work hours, without loss of salary. By including this provision in the General Laws as part of the Education Reform Act, state legislators recognized the importance of volunteers, including parents, in schools. Capitalizing on this law, the Cellucci-Swift Administration has initiated the SERVICE Program and proclaimed October as "Public School Volunteer Month.""Our children are our state’s most valuable resource and we want to make sure they grow up safe, healthy, and with plenty of hope and opportunity," said Government Paul Cellucci. "Lieutenant Governor Swift and I encourage state employees to volunteer their time during SERVICE Month and make an important investment in the future of our children." |
"Volunteers bring new skills and different experiences into classrooms," said David Driscoll, Commissioner of Education. "A volunteer can provide the one-on-one attention a student needs to increase his commitment to education and ultimately improve student achievement." Taping the resources of state employees benefits schools as well as employees who can participate in the education of their children. Volunteering in public schools connects parents to children through common experience, and adds a new dimension to the commitment state employees made to civil service. Jim Hartnett, the state’s Personnel Administrator, stated that "encouraging state employees to volunteer in public schools makes sense for the schools and for the state. Studies have proven that active volunteer programs increase employee morale and productivity as well as build teamwork. We should be promoting volunteer opportunities for our employees; it is in everyone’s best interest." SERVICE Month is launching pilot partnerships between state agencies and schools in Boston, Springfield and Pittsfield in addition to encouraging state employees to volunteer across the state. "During SERVICE Month, we hope to build long-lasting partnerships between state offices and schools, and strong friendships between employees and students," said Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift. The SERVICE program is coordinated by the Governor’s Office, Massachusetts Promise, Massachusetts Association of Partners in Education, and The Mass Mentoring Partnership. ¨
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