The Salamanca City Central School District is among three districts that will benefit from Jamestown Community College’s recent receipt of a five-year, $2.25 million Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) Grant from the state Education Department.

The grant will provide services through which students can master core skills that prepare them for college and careers after high school graduation, according to JCC officials. LPP was developed to reduce the number of New York state middle and high school students who are at risk for dropping out of school.

Statewide, the 2015-16 Liberty Partnerships Program served 13,461 students in 443 partner schools throughout New York state. A total of 2,110 seniors participating in LPP graduated high school, resulting in a 92 percent program-wide graduation rate. In addition, 92 percent of those seniors planned to attend college.

JCC will serve 360 students in grades 5-12 in the Dunkirk, Jamestown and Salamanca school districts through LPP programs. Administrators, counselors, and teachers at each school submitted student recommendations based on criteria set by NYSED.

“JCC is excited to be collaborating with our education partners on this new initiative,” said Laurie Whitermore, program director. “We will provide LPP students with diverse learning opportunities to expand their educational journey, creating community youth leaders with a college ready mindset.”The LPP is collaborating with the Chautauqua Leadership Network, a community-based organization whose members will provide students with leadership mentoring and career exploration opportunities.

Navigators providing on-site assistance to the LPP students in the schools are John Kinder, Jamestown High School; Lindsey Rensel, Jamestown Middle Schools; Katelyn Stahlman, Dunkirk Middle/High Schools; and Alycie McLaughlin, Salamanca Intermediate/High Schools. The navigators provide an array of support services, including academic support, personalized learning plans, leadership and summer enrichment opportunities, after school clubs, study skill support, and career and college preparation activities.

Other personnel include outreach coordinator Laura Turnbull, a licensed social worker who provides case management support to LPP families and navigators, and student services assistant Rachel Irish.