Fulton CSD Community Schools Kickoff Carnival Slated August 19

by Submitted article | August 13, 2014 11:43 am

The Fulton City School District , in partnership with its Community Schools Initiative Grant Partners, will host a Community School Kickoff Carnival on August 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Fulton Junior High School.

Pictured are members of Community Schools Initiative Grant Advisory Committee during a recent planning meeting. Seated, from left: Diane Oldenburg, Oswego County Health Department; Eric Bresee, OCO; Sabine Ingerson, ARISE, Inc.; FJHS students Dominique Johnson, Savannah Green, Kelsey Pickard; and Danielle Nolan, Cayuga Community College. Standing from left: Amy Kunzwiler, Granby School-Home liaison; Danielle Quinn, FJHS School-Home liaison; Janice Scott, Community Schools Grant Project Resource Coordinator; Jeanne Unger, Farnham Family Services; Cindy Walsh, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County; Brenda LaMay, Oswego Health; Gregg Heffner, DSS; Mary Margaret Pezzella-Pekow, Catholic Charities; Geri Geitner; Ariana Suhr, Fairgrieve Home-School liaison; Stephanie Peterson, DSS; Diane Johnson, parent representative; Ryan Lanigan, FJHS Principal; and Debbie Stuetz, FJHS Assistant Principal. This group will oversee the transition from a traditional school to a community school that focuses on academics as well as health and social services, youth development and community engagement.
Pictured are members of Community Schools Initiative Grant Advisory Committee during a recent planning meeting. Seated, from left: Diane Oldenburg, Oswego County Health Department; Eric Bresee, OCO; Sabine Ingerson, ARISE, Inc.; FJHS students Dominique Johnson, Savannah Green, Kelsey Pickard; and Danielle Nolan, Cayuga Community College. Standing from left: Amy Kunzwiler, Granby School-Home liaison; Danielle Quinn, FJHS School-Home liaison; Janice Scott, Community Schools Grant Project Resource Coordinator; Jeanne Unger, Farnham Family Services; Cindy Walsh, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County; Brenda LaMay, Oswego Health; Gregg Heffner, DSS; Mary Margaret Pezzella-Pekow, Catholic Charities; Geri Geitner; Ariana Suhr, Fairgrieve Home-School liaison; Stephanie Peterson, DSS; Diane Johnson, parent representative; Ryan Lanigan, FJHS Principal; and Debbie Stuetz, FJHS Assistant Principal. This group will oversee the transition from a traditional school to a community school that focuses on academics as well as health and social services, youth development and community engagement.

Governor Andrew Cuomo launched the Community Schools initiative as a way to transform schools in distressed communities into hubs for a wide range of support services for children and their families.

The district, Oswego County Opportunities, the Department of Social Services and several other community service agencies are coordinating efforts to transform the Fulton Junior High School into a community school where families feel a sense of belonging and have easy access to resources in the community that address a range of environmental factors that impede student achievement.

Geri Geitner, the district’s director of Student Support Programs, summed up the initiative as “one-stop shopping.

“Our goal is to create one spot where our families can feel supported and have access to the resources that they need,” she explained.

Another goal of the grant is to reduce the number of disciplinary referrals and improve the attendance and the academic achievement of at-risk students in grades five through eight.

In addition, the district will establish an extended day program for this same population of students.

The carnival event is open to the entire community and will give families in the community an opportunity to learn more about the resources, supports and services available through the district, OCO, DSS, the Child Advocacy Center, Catholic Charities and several other agencies.

The carnival theme will feature games and activities for the entire family.

Share this:

Like this:

Discover more from Oswego County Today

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/fulton-csd-community-schools-kickoff-carnival-slated-august-19/

Copyright ©2026 Oswego County Today unless otherwise noted.