North Drive Middle School’s Eagles have some lift under their wings after improving nearly four points on 2010 statewide tests. This year they get a boost from city government, which recently pledged to partner with the school through mentoring and incentive programs.

Bleachers rattled as Mayor Dan Kemp and Hopkinsville Police Chief Guy Howie entered the gym last Friday. Students, teachers and parents cheered loudly. The visiting officials announced the new partnership, and then, kicked it off by recognizing exceptional students and adults.

“You know why we’re doing this?” Kemp asked. “Because you’re important. There’s no better use of our time.”

Partners in Education began this year as a joint effort by Christian County Public Schools and the Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce. The program is premised on the common interest that the public and private sectors share in developing an able workforce. Businesses and organizations, therefore, are encouraged to pair up with at least one school and coordinate strategies to advance student achievement.

City officials asked North Drive to link up. NDMS makes a good candidate, Kemp said, because the vast majority of its students come from low-income families. One-on-one mentoring, career exploration programs and attractive awards could provide attention and support to those who need it most.

NDMS Principal Kelly Gates immediately saw the value of the partnership to her students.

“It sets the tone for achievement,” Gates said. “(They see) that people believe in them.”

Momentum for success at NDMS is already building. The school raised its scores in every category of the Kentucky Core Content Test, which assesses proficiency in reading, math, science, social studies and writing. Overall, NDMS boasted a 3.9 point increase over the previous year. Kemp cited NDMS’s improvements at the awards event.

Plans for the yearlong partnership are still percolating. Kemp will attend a faculty meeting next week to gather ideas. So far, cooperation seems headed toward a handful of programs.

Kemp is recruiting city employees to be matched up one-to-one with students. The mentorship would focus on achievement and career aspirations as well as provide a positive role model.

Chief Howie and NDMS School Resource Officer Julius Catlett will oversee formation of the Hopkinsville Explorers Club. Students who join get an inside look at police work, everything from dispatching to reporting.

Howie said he hopes they also get to see the human beings behind the badge.

“A lot of these students’ attitudes toward law enforcement comes from what they see on TV or, sometimes, from an arrest situation,” Howie said. “Now they can see how the officers are on their side.”

Another main thrust of the partnership will be incentives. The rally coincided with the end of the first nine weeks of school, when quarterly report cards go out. Core subject teachers from each grade were asked to pick two students who were excelling academically and behaving well. During the awards ceremony, the students were called down to the front to receive a certificate and 50 Eagles bucks redeemable at the school store.

Math teacher Alisa Parrish said she chose seventh-graders Mejania Wilson and Dakota Holder because “no matter whether they’re having a good or a bad day, they always put forth their best effort.”

Gates handed out a surprise recognition to an adult, Claudia Sowell, for donating so much of her time to fill in for a missing administrator.

“She covered a staff member’s entire maternity leave (six weeks),” Gates said.

Sowell showed how much a volunteer really can offer a school. She answered phones, monitored bus boarding, and escorted children to class among many other duties. Opportunities for volunteering abound, Gates said.

Kemp said he plans to come every nine weeks and continue to single out the hard work of students, volunteers and, not least of all, teachers. The more involved with schools he becomes, the more he is amazed at how difficult the teaching profession is.

The city-NDMS partnership is also meant to pave the way for many, many more partnerships.

“I hope the city can encourage other employers to participate in the Partners in Education program by setting a good example and publicizing our efforts,” Kemp said.

Cammie Evans, the chamber’s coordinator for workforce education, said that 16 businesses and organizations have signed similar partnership agreements since the school year began.

 The first step is filling out a survey on the chamber’s Web site. Evans, who said she is glad to field questions about the program, can be reached at (270) 885-9096.