Marshfield Schools/Community Collaborations

This appears to be part of a larger trend of schools and other
agencies compensating for ever increasing socio/economic/family
related problems. Like everything else in public education it's a
complex issue.

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Posted October 2, 2007

Youth Net helps students with '180-degree turnaround'
By Liz Welter
Marshfield News-Herald

Youth Net, an after-school program housed at Sacred Heart School,
gives kids second chances.
"Some of our students have experienced a 180-degree turnaround in
their lives, and they start to apply themselves," said Marshfield High
School principal John Blankush.
Third-graders through high school students from the Marshfield School
District are referred by concerned teachers or parents. The Marshfield
municipal court also assigns some high-school-age offenders to Youth
Net, a program of the Marshfield Clinic Community Outreach Center.
When Cindy Zahn's daughter, Jillian, was in third grade, homework
became a struggle.
"There were tears every night. I'd heard about homework club where
kids can get help after school. I signed her up," Zahn said.
Homework club is a component of Youth Net, which provides tutors in
school subjects. Homework is finished before other activities.
Enjoying the Youth Net experience, Jillian, now 16, applied for an
after-school job in the program.
"Coming here is the best part about school," Jillian said. "I have a
lot of friends here."
Kyler Teatz was a reluctant Youth Net participant when his teacher
suggested it in fifth grade.
"Now Kyler just loves it and won't miss a day," said his mother,
Laurie Teatz. "When I get home at 6 p.m., we don't need to deal with
homework. It's completely done. He even goes in the summer. I like it
because I don't need to worry about who he's with when I'm at work."
When asked what he likes about Youth Net, Kyler beamed.
"I get homework done, and I'm here with my friends," he said.
The Youth Net program serves more than 300 Marshfield-area school
children annually, and the numbers are growing, said Randy Neve,
program director.
Youth Net, along with other after-school activities, has helped reduce
the number of juvenile-related offenses by about 70 percent, said
Municipal Judge John Adam Kruse.
"I think Youth Net is amazing. It's not just the program, it's the
type of people that work there that make it such a success," Kruse
said.