Governor to seek artists & athletes to join initiative to adopt public schools

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón says she will extend the “I Want My School” initiative — through which agency heads and other public officials adopted a public school — to artists and athletes.

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said Wednesday that she will extend the “I Want My School” initiative — through which agency heads and other public officials adopted a public school — to artists and athletes.

“This is the first stage of this new project. This is a new project, a joyful start to school, a positive start to school,” the governor said at a press conference. “The next stage is that I will seek artists and community leaders who have studied in public schools to also adopt, so we can reach 800 schools, so that every school has its sponsor. We weren’t looking for an investment, we were looking for motivation; we were looking to tell the schools that they are not alone.”

“What is each agency head contributing? Not only helping with the start of school, the anti-bullying campaign, the campaign to ensure every student can reach their full potential, but some of them have gone further and helped with cleaning, gardening, and painting,” González Colón said. “They’ve made an impact beyond what had been provided at school. School principals and teachers may have brought them things that aren’t normally covered by the Department of Education […]. Some have used the resources available to each of these agencies. Others have brought artists or athletes.”

The governor noted that, in addition to participating in the start of school, the godfathers or godmothers of the 253 adopted public schools will be responsible for monitoring them throughout the year and assisting them if necessary.