The California School Board Association (CSBA) has announced that Culver City Unified School District has been awarded the 2016 Golden Bell Award in the Community Schools through Partnerships and Collaboration category for its exemplary and innovative program “Whole Child, Whole Community” Initiative.

CCUSD Board Member Kelly Kent spearheaded application for the award, which recognizes the vision and leadership of President Steve Levin and board members Kathy Paspalis, Sue Robins, Anne Allaire and Kent for creating outstanding programs, partnerships, and governance practices to better the lives and outcomes of the students they serve. The District competed against school boards in school districts and county offices of education throughout California for the award, which reflects “the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs.”

Superintendent Josh Arnold said the statewide educational honor underscores the District’s commitment to making sure all students have the support and resources to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

“A student who is hungry won’t be successful in the classroom. A student who is being bullied won’t be successful in the classroom. At CCUSD, we recognize that it takes more than great teachers and a rigorous curriculum to make students successful, and we are focused on addressing everything that goes into making our students prepared to succeed,” he said.

The Whole Child, Whole Community effort includes a wide array of programs aimed at addressing the needs of students outside the classroom and assuring that they arrive at school ready to learn. Among those programs are the creation and implementation of the District’s Culver City Compact, in which the city, local businesses, higher education institutions and others agree to work collaboratively to give every student the tools necessary to attend college; and the Backpacks for Kids program, a PTA program in which volunteers provide backpacks filled with food for at-risk students to take home over the weekend.

In addition to receiving a CSBA Golden Bell Award, CCUSD will also receive a $1,000 sponsorship award for the exemplary Community Schools through Partnerships and Collaboration program, sponsored by the Industry Leader Business Affiliates. This award will be presented to at the annual CSBA Golden Bell Awards Luncheon on Saturday, December 3 in San Francisco.

“Your staff and board members are to be commended for providing a program that promotes the importance of preparing students to succeed and for providing them with more opportunities for a brighter future,” said Lisa Hutson, Coordinator of the Golden Bell Awards.