Over 200 families in Yuma County attend council meeting

School districts in Yuma County came together in the Kofa High School cafeteria for the first-ever county-wide Migrant Parent Advisory Council Meeting on Wednesday, August 29.

“It’s the first time we’ve done it as a county,” YUHSD Migrant Services Coordinator Juan Castillo said. “We are trying to build those relationships with our community and K-8 districts. It’s beneficial from it being their kids who feed to us at the high school level.”

Yuma Union High School District, Yuma Elementary School District One, Crane School District, Somerton School District and Pep Tech presented to more than 200 families at the event.

The presentation included information about preparing students for high school graduation requirements, available scholarships and more. Arizona Western College and Arizona State University’s College Assistance Migrant Programs (CAMP) were also on-hand to talk to families about the opportunities available after high school.

“It helps to plant a seed and gives families options,” Castillo said. “A lot of the scholarships out there increase migrant students’ chances of being selected, especially those who are first-generation college students. A lot of parents lack knowledge about postsecondary education. They don’t know what it takes or don’t have all of the information they need. One parent said afterwards, ‘Thank you, now I have a plan for my child.'”

YUHSD provides services for upwards of 2,000 migrant students per year. The next YUHSD meeting for migrant families will take place later in the fall semester.