Prepare Bloomington:

Business-School Partnerships

Recipient of the 2004 Civic Star Award-Minnesaota

Prepare Bloomington Mission

To enhance the quality of education in the Bloomington Public Schools and
the quality of the workforce for businesses by establishing and maintaining
high-caliber and creative partnerships between schools and businesses.

“In Partnership With Our Community”

The words come from the Mission statement of the Bloomington Public Schools. The phrase denotes the shared responsibility of education between BloomingtonPublic Schools and the Bloomington Community. From students, families,businesses, governments, organizations and clubs, we all need to work together to help students thrive and dreams come alive.

To actively connect learning with the community, the Bloomington Public School District and the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce launched Prepare Bloomington in 1994. Our Business-School Partnership program is designed to provide a direct link between the work world and the classroom.

How Business-School Partnerships Work in Bloomington

A partnership is created when a business and a school (or grade/class within
a school) mutually agree to work together on projects and activities that will
enhance the quality of education for students while improving skills critical to
success in the workplace.Partners work together to choose activities that meet mutual goals. Examplesof activities might include working together on a service project, participating ininternships, mentoring and job shadow activities, providing volunteer tutors, sharing training sessions or making presentations at a partner’s facility.


Business-School Partnership Objectives
• Promote cooperation, shared resources and the exchange of expertise and
services between businesses and schools.
• Provide students with the opportunity to see the workplace firsthand and
to relate their studies to experiences outside the school environment.
• Create awareness and understanding of the opportunities available to work
together toward common goals.
• Encourage high self-esteem in students
• Acknowledge and support teachers
• Strengthen the business community’s commitment to education.
• Strengthen economic development by providing a source of talented, highly
qualified employees.

Working Together Builds Understanding

   
Here’s what Ruthe Batulis, President, Bloomington Council, Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, has to say about the communitywide dividends generated by solid business-school partnerships:

“The most important investment that business can make is in the local school
district. The business education partnership is one that can shape the future
of a community as well as the region. It drives the economic development of
the community, and promotes healthy, stable communities and workforces.
Partnerships of this type are crucial to the economic well being of
communities.”

For more information about Prepare Bloomington: Business-School Partnerships, contact Partnership Coordinator:

Debbie Belfry
4571 West 102nd Street., Bloomington, MN 55437-2610
dbelfry@bloomington.k12.mn.us 952-806-8785

Partnership and Teamwork Build Success