Business owners and community leaders heard about the many ways individuals and businesses can step forward to help support local schools, which in turn helps the local economy, at the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce's fifth annual "Engage in Education - I Can Do That!" event Tuesday at Rockdale Career Academy.

It's important to have a thriving school system because that's one of the first things businesses look for when they look at an area, said the Chamber's Education Committee Chair Scott Hartsell.

Businesses and individuals can contribute time, through volunteering, resources such as money or donated supplies or services, or can support the school system in other ways, he explained.

Partners-In-Education recognizes local businesses that contribute to one of the RCSP schools. Though the level of participation might vary school to school, this year, said Community Relations Director Cindy Ball, the partners will be asked to fill out an action plan for the year on how they plan to support or participate in the school.

Mentoring is another effective, life-changing but simple way individuals can support students.

The main requirements are to be a caring adult and to spend 30 minutes a week with the student, said RCPS Director of Community and Student Support April Fallon.

"Mentoring at its most basic level is about a relationship. We know that mentoring works," said Fallon. "Mentors support education because it keeps kids in school."

Entrepreneur Fitzgerald Reed spoke about his experiences mentoring a group of seventh grade boys at Memorial Middle.

First, he had to establish that he cared about them before he could expect them to listen to him. "They really do fall in love with you once they know that you care."

The Work Based Learning program sends high school students who are studying a certain career track to internships at businesses in the community related to that career track. The internship provides real world experience and exposure to workplace requirements.

Belky Jones of Conyers Pediatrics spoke highly of the Work Based Learning program healthcare and of Katy Jones, a senior at Heritage High and RCA who interned at Conyers Pediatrics last year.

Katy Jones, who is interning at Rockdale Medical Center this year, said her apprenticeship at Conyers Pediatrics went so well she had been offered a paid position over the summer. "My experience at the office has been incredible," she said. "I've learned how things work, made great friends." Her eventual goal is to become a midwife, she said.

New teacher Chris Ingle asked business leaders to come speak to his students in the Road Trip Nation class, a career exploration class based on a PBS documentary show that sends college kids to interview successful leaders. The class at RCA is the first Road Trip Nation class in the state and students will be able to talk to leaders in person, through Skype, and visits to businesses.

Former school board member Darlene Hotchkiss, who had served on the school board for 16 years, described some of the priorities and projects for the E-SPLOST IV, the penny sales tax for school capital and equipment needs that would be on the ballot Nov. 5.

"The first SPLOST we had made this system. We're one of the few systems in this state that is debt free. Your school system is debt free and I think that is something," she said. SPLOST funds can be used to pay down debt or pay for capital costs such as building repair or construction and equipment purchasing.

"This building that you are in today," she said, indicating the Rockdale Career Academy building, "a lot of that has to do with SPLOST." An expansion at RCA for healthcare classes is part of the list of proposed SPLOST projects, which includes a new school building for Pine Street Elementary, JH House Elementary, safety additions to school buildings, computer replacement and computer network infrastructure expansion.

"We could not afford to do lots of things that are above and beyond... without a SPLOST." And the students in Rockdale deserve to be able to go above and beyond, she said.

The SPLOST III, which recently finished collections in March, collected less than anticipated but the school system was still able to finish the planned projects.

"The system has proven, financially, they take care of your penny," she said.

New this year, the school system will be hosting the "See For Yourself" tour of Rockdale County Public Schools. A half day version of the tours taken by the Leadership Rockdale program, the tours will visit various RCPS schools to observe and "see for yourself" the teaching and learning that takes place in Rockdale's public schools. The first tour will be Friday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., starting and ending at Rockdale Career Academy. The event is free, and a lunch made by RCA Culinary Arts students will be provided. To RSVP call 770-860-4218 by Sept. 20.

For more information on mentoring, contact Tameka Singh at tsingh@rockdale.k12.ga.us. or 770-761-1449 or go to http://rockdale.k12.ga.us/about/ss/css/mentoring/Pages/default.aspx

For more information on Work Based Learning, contact Jeff Rogers at jrogers@rockdale.k12.ga.us

For more information on Road Trip Nation, contact Chris Ingle at cingle3@rockdale.k12.ga.us

For more information on the E-SPLOST IV, contact Darlene Hotchkiss at darlenehotchkiss@att.net

For more information about becoming a Partner in Education, contact the individual school or Cindy Ball, cball@rockdale.k12.ga.us . For a list of schools go to http://rockdale.k12.ga.us/schools/Pages/default.aspx