Don't Let The Bad Economy Get You Down!
Sep 23, 2009 12:40 pm US/Eastern
Principal Helps Parents Navigate Tough Economy
Nicole Maristany
SUNRISE, Fla. (CBS4) ―
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A principal and community partners helped the parents of Nob Hill Elementary students try to navigate through the tough economy.
CBS
After noticing the strain the failing economy put on the families of her students, Dr. Patricia Patterson, Principal of Nob Hill Elementary in Sunrise worked with the school's community partners to create a Parent University Night for families. Parents were encouraged to bring their children and learn about saving for college, buying a home, credit counseling and budgeting, all for free.
Dr. Patterson first started noticing the strain in 2008. And with more than 75 military families and special needs students, the downturn in the economy greatly affected Dr. Patterson's students.
"We looked around and said, what are the needs of the community? And there are so many people out of work, so many people losing jobs... just across the street from us there are a lot of foreclosures. We know what happens to children when they lose their support system and they don't feel comfortable. When everyone around them has money and they don't. It's a difficult place" said Dr. Patterson.
So the school reached out to their community partners, and worked with BankAtlantic on a Parent University Night where families can have all of their financial questions answered for free.
"We're not selling anything, we're just here to listen, we're here to help you, here to point you in the right direction" said Patterson.
"It's very important because it empowers the parents" added Edith Bynes of BankAtlantic.
From saving for their children's college educations, to budgeting for a first home, the school and community partners encourage the parents to come with lots of questions. Something that parent Mikael Delgado took advantage of explaining why he attended the event, "Learn how to save money, that way I can help my son and his future."
Helping her students and their families is something Dr. Patterson is very proud of, "anything that we can do as a school to open a door to information or for a place to go that's what we need to do. It's just as important as reading and math and social studies and science."
If you'd like information on where to turn for financial advice, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at 305-597-4404.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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