Orange Park High dedicates community partnership school

Orange Park High School held a ceremony dedicating its community partnership school on Monday, Oct. 10.

The resource was created by a partnership between the school district, Children’s Home Society, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, Palms Medical Group and St. Johns River State College. It will provide students with food, clothing, healthcare and other supports they may not have at home.

“Students can’t come to school and learn the Pythagorean Theorem if they don’t have enough food to eat or if they don’t have a decent home, supportive parents, if they don’t have clothing,” said Superintendent David Broskie.

The partnership school’s director: Lauren Pfanenstiel, said she nicknamed the facility in the back of Orange Park High’s campus The Backyard.

“The backyard in my home is our safe space to have hard conversations,” she said. “It’s our space to dream and vision and get on the same page.”

Pfanenstiel thanked community members for providing financial and sweat support for the project, including Orange Park High School Principal Ivin Gunder, Orange Park Mall General Manager Randy Bowman, Human Collective Assistant Executive Director Rachel Boyer, school resource officer Rob Troxel, Tiffany Martin of Navy Federal Credit Union and student Tyler Davies.

Pfanenstiel also thanked CBV Cares, a part of Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, for their early financial support. CBV Cares also presented the partnership with a $2,000 check during the ceremony.

The Clay Chamber of Commerce helped the partnership with a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the facility.