CHULA VISTA — At McMillin, one of their core principles is, "We support the communities in which we live and work". Those aren't just words on a plaque to the South County Real Estate Company, they are a mantra which every employee and real estate agent works and lives by.
A new partnership is providing Corky McMillin Elementary students free after-school academic support.
Launched in October, the McMillin Intervention Study Team offers varying levels of support Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. Students may stay for as little as 15 minutes or up to two hours.
Support includes homework help with roaming tutors, a computer lab with educational software, and small group and one-on-one support for students designated as struggling by their teachers and standardized test scores.
Part of the program is funded by Southwestern College, but most is paid through the school’s McMillin endowment fund that was established by the children of the late-construction company patriarch Corky McMillin.
Up to 100 students each day receive aid from nine Southwestern College student tutors who are paid minimum wage through a college grant. Tutors, most of whom are studying to become teachers or social workers, also received training from the school, McMillin Elementary Principal Jorge Mora said. No prior after-school tutoring program existed at the site.
Mora reached out to Southwestern after he was made aware of available endowment money. About $8,000 from the $46,000 endowment will fund five tutors this year. Southwestern College is spending about $6,600 this year to pay for four tutors.
“There is always a need to help kids beyond the regular school day. The challenge is to try and find the funds that will allow us to do that, the time, the personnel that it takes to do it justice,” Mora said.
The school — named for the San Diego-based Corky McMillin Cos. — is also set to receive 30 new Hewlett-Packard computers for the computer lab, a gift totaling $37,000 from Vonnie McMillin, mother of the three sibling benefactors.
“We believe in giving back in the communities in which we live and work. My mom still lives in that community and we all work down there. The community has been very good to us,” said Mark McMillin, president and chief executive officer of Corky McMillin Companies. “After-school care is usually just games and fun. They are taking these kids and they try to help them with their homework.”
Students say they appreciate the program.
“If I struggle with something, they help me,” said fifth-grader Sunwoo Kim.
Sixth-grader Agustin Richardson uses the computer lab daily to fulfill his Compass Learning software homework and take advantage of the tutors.
“Sometimes I don’t get the homework. I can ask questions and understand what to do,” Agustin said, adding that he has noticed improvement in his grades.
Parents have also noticed the benefits.
“Prior to M.I.S.T., homework was a struggle,” parent Lisa Johnson said. “It lightens the load at home. She gets it done right away and not done late at night. It helps families have more quality time at home.”
Her third-grade daughter Jessica agreed.
“It’s better to do it here, so when you get it done, you can play,” she said.
Saira Buelna, 20, says her work as a tutor is helping her get a feel for the teaching profession.
“A lot of these kids have trouble and need extra help. A lot of the parents can’t help the kids at home,” she said.
She also sees her role as somewhat of a mentor.
“I always wanted to be an elementary schoolteacher and teach them about values, about staying in middle school and high school,” Buelna said.
School officials said they expect to see an uptick in student performance on the state standardized tests this spring.
