Rabbis walk to promote school attendance

On the way to school (back, left to right): Stephanie Hague, Family Service of RI; School Superintendent Chris Maher; Rabbi Barry Dolinger, Congregation Beth Sholom; Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Temple Emanu-El; Rabbi Sarah Mack, Temple Beth-El; Rabbi Wayne Franklin, Temple Emanu-El; Front row: two students from Fogarty Elementary School; Joyce Leven, Family Service of RI. /Photo | Stephen Hug

Several area rabbis joined Providence School Superintendent Chris Maher on a Family Service of Rhode Island Walking School Bus route Nov. 10.

The rabbis and superintendent participated in a route for Fogarty Elementary on Oxford Street in the South Providence neighborhood. Family Service of Rhode Island launched the Walking School Bus program in 2012 at Fogarty because data showed that most of the school’s families with attendance issues lived a relatively short distance from school. Barriers to attendance included health, parental work schedules, and other issues.

Margaret Holland McDuff, Family Service of Rhode Island CEO, thanked the rabbis and Maher for their support. “Having the support of these community leaders will help us grow the Walking School Bus to serve more and more children,” she said.  “We are hoping to continue to build upon our volunteer base.”  There were 37 volunteers during the last school year.

“We deeply appreciate the commitment of these respected Providence rabbis in supporting the Walking School Bus program and our efforts to reduce chronic student absenteeism,” said Superintendent Maher. “Dedicated community partners like these, willing to generously give of their time, are essential to supporting Providence schools as we work to provide a great education for all of our students.”

Rabbi Sarah Mack, of Temple Beth-El, Providence, and president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, said, “The Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island is so pleased to support the Walking School Bus program as a reflection of our tradition’s commitment to social justice.  We look forward to sharing this opportunity with our communities and recognize that each step we take this morning is holy as we work to repair the world.”

She was joined by Rabbi Barry Dolinger, of Providence’s Congregation Beth Sholom, Rabbi Wayne Franklin and Rabbi Elan Babchuck, both of Temple Emanu-El in Providence.

The Walking School Bus program, created by Family Service of Rhode Island in 2012, currently provides supervised walking routes at Bailey, D’Abate, Fogarty, Kizarian, Lima and Young/Woods elementary schools in Providence. The program serves students not eligible to take the bus because they live within a mile of school.

– Stephen L. Hug, Family Service of Rhode Island