Partnership with DCPS places desks in student homes

Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (Southern Star) and The Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools (Foundation) announce a partnership in support of students transitioning to online learning throughout the Daviess County Public School district.

“At Southern Star, we are continuously looking for ways to be involved in the community,” said Jimmy Staton, President & CEO. “With so many students learning in a virtual setting, we wanted to find a way to help provide as productive a learning environment as possible.”

According to Vicki Quisenberry, Executive Director for the Foundation, “We worked with Kristy Brackin and DCPS Family Resource and Youth Service coordinators to identify 20 students in need of a desk for at-home school work. We were able provide desks for students who attend Burns, Country Heights, Deer Park, East View, Highland, Sorgho and West Louisville elementary schools, College View and Daviess County middle schools and Apollo and Heritage Park high schools.”

According to Staton, “Many students in our community are struggling to find a dedicated virtual learning space inside their homes. Scott Walston, Director of Supply Chain Services, recently constructed 32 desks in his garage to assist local students with remote learning. Several of our Information Technology team members joined forces to paint each desk. The desks were delivered by the Facility Services Team to students within the Daviess County Public School System along with the Oasis Spouse Abuse Center and Fresh Start for Women.” 

Laura Whitehouse, Family Resource Coordinator at Burns Elementary School, said, “One of our students had strong academics before COVID. Like many of our students, he struggled with the new reality of virtual learning. After conversations with his mother, we determined he didn’t feel like he was in school when learning at home. The desk gave him a place to go to school at home. With his new desk, this student is thriving and has gone from below average grades back to excelling with A’s and B’s!”

“Southern Star is a tremendous community partner,” said Quisenberry. “This calendar year, they have provided internet access for online learning, sponsorship for robotics teams at Apollo High School and Owensboro Innovation Academy, desks for students and food/personal care products for families at several DCPS schools. We are blessed to have such caring people willing to make a difference for students in our community.”

Companies interested in partnering with the Foundation to remove barriers to education or provide educational enhancements for DCPS students may contact the Foundation for DCPS at (270) 231-5583 or email Vicki Quisenberry (vickiq@FoundationForDCPS.org).