NELL HOLCOMB, P&G STRIKE UP NEW ADOPT-A-SCHOOL AGREEMENT

Nell Holcomb school and Procter and Gamble have established a partnership to help motivate students and prepare them for the world of work.

This is Nell Holcomb's first Adopt-a-School arrangement. The agreement was finalized earlier this month, Superintendent David Fuemmeler said.

"Adopt-a-School is an opportunity to work with a business partner," the superintendent said. "It's a way for the business partner to get across some of their ideas and needs, and it gives us a chance to show that schools are doing some positive things."

The basis of Adopt-a-School partnerships is not monetary support. While the business may give money, Fuemmeler said the school is hoping they can share programs and activities.

"We are hoping to have speakers come in from the plant to share ideas from the working world," he said. "We could have tours for our staff, tutoring activities for our students."

The superintendent said incentive programs like certificates for student achievement, attendance or citizenship are another possibility.

Fuemmeler said many P&G employees have traveled throughout the world on the job. Those experiences could be helpful in history, social studies or geography classes.

In turn, school children can do things like create program favors or place cards for business meetings at the plant.

Fuemmeler said P&G is a natural partner for Nell Holcomb. "They are one of the largest employers in the area and a number of our parents are involved in working at P&G. We felt it was a logical choice."

Now that the adoption is formal, Fuemmeler said a committee of school and plant employees will begin scheduling activities.

"This really kind of expands the horizons for our students. They can explain to students first hand what will be expected of them," Fuemmeler said. "The more we can expose our students to that, the better off we will be."

Daniel Taylor, mechanical planner at Nell Holcomb, is serving as liaison between the plant and the school. Taylor is also a member of the Nell Holcomb Board of Education.

"The more we can educate kids about just what it's like on the corporate level, the better it is for us and them. Hopefully it gives them an idea of just how important the subjects they are studying really are and how they relate in the business world."

Taylor said P&G has developed a successful drug and alcohol prevention program and the school district is also developing a program.

"I think we can share some resources and information," he said.

Taylor said P&G has made a two-year commitment to work with Nell Holcomb.

Taylor said older students will be invited to tour the plant and visit with employees. "They can see what it's like in different areas of the plant and how you run a company the size of P&G," he said.

In the short term, the benefits are for students. But in the long term the investment will benefit industries.

"The payoff you see in the future," Taylor said. "We are going to have to do that to stay competitive."