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Durant Excel By 5 Coalition received approval recently as a Candidate Early Childhood Community with Mississippi Excel By 5, a non-profit organization dedicated to quality early learning for children ages birth to five.  State Director Bob Clay and Site Coordinator Kayla Beck presented Mayor Tasha Davis and Geraldine Sturgis, Chairperson, with banners for display at community events.

On Wednesday, March 19, Bob and Kayla assisted at the third organizational meeting of the Durant Excel By 5 Steering Committee, with a presentation of an overview of steps in the certification process for Durant.  Durant joins 29 other Excel By 5 coalitions statewide.  The Durant Steering Committee consists of twelve members from the fields of pre-kindergarten education, childcare, health care, and representatives of other community interest groups.  In addition to Mayor Davis and Mrs. Sturgis other Steering Committee Members are Vice-Chair Louise Tate, Dora Christian, Laletrice Fletcher, Sharron Cauthen, Secretary, Betty Hathcock, Dewery Montgomery, Ida Studway, Sheta Riley, Dr. Daryl Roby, and Supervisor James Young. Supt. Tate will serve as Certification Manager.  The Steering Committee welcomed other community leaders to the presentation by the State Director.  In attendance were Velma Smith and Arnita Knight of Durant and Mayor John Estep of Goodman, a member of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce Board. Goals of Durant Excel By 5 include building a strong, grassroots constituency for children and families in Durant, addressing children’s needs with regard to education, health care, safety, and childcare, and assuring children in Durant will be healthier and better prepared to begin their formal education at age five.  Four Focus Groups will work toward certification with an action plan to include community surveys to assess needs of children and parents, parent seminars, educational development training, town hall meetings, health fairs and other special events to support quality in early learning and readiness for kindergarten.  This year the Durant Coalition will be seeking additional partners for participation in community activities and fundraising for projects planned as cooperative efforts by teachers, directors, health care professionals, caregivers and parents, all working to prepare children for kindergarten.  Projects suggested by the state office include publications such as a resource guide for new parents and booklets for parents preparing children for kindergarten. The next Durant Excel By 5 Coalition meeting is scheduled for April 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Durant City Hall.