“Community Schools” initiative could help low-income Las Cruces students

The city of Las Cruces and Las Cruces Public Schools are partnering to help low-income students from Lynn Middle School.

“It is a symbol of our community coalescing around a set of values,” said David Greenberg, the district’s community schools coordinator.

Lynn Middle School is one of 5,000 “community schools” around the country, which serve at-risk students who typically come from a low socioeconomic status.

Because of that designation, Lynn offers additional resources for students, like on-site physical, mental and dental care. Students also have access to meals after-school and a number of extracurricular programs, according to the district.

“Because of different forces or dynamics in one’s life, sometimes both parents have to work,” said Mayor Ken Miyagishima. “Sometimes the children, they may need some assistance.”

The partnership will create a board that identifies how to meet the needs of the students, according to the city. The mayor predicted city council could provide between $50,000 and $70,000 worth of funding for the endeavor.

“We come together and say, ‘We need help in public schools today,'” said Greg Ewing, the superintendent. “We need to work together.”

Miyagishima told ABC-7 the board will likely meet at the start of the new school year to assess the needs of students and parents.

“If we’re going to take on the systemic issues that we’re facing in our society, like poverty and marginalization, it’s going to take us all working together,” Greenberg said.

Dozens of donors contribute resources to the program, such as the Boys and Girls Club, Casa de Peregrinos, Ben Archer Health Center, Ngage New Mexico and more.