For schools to be truly successful, parents need to be nearly as much a part of the process as the students.

That is the approach taken by the Dawson-Bryant School District during its first family night event that was designed to get parents and the community engaged in what the school is doing and some of the many challenges facing today’s children.

The district invited parents for a spaghetti dinner and informational sessions focusing on a variety of topics including the Ohio Achievement Assessment tests, the Ohio Graduation tests, bullying, scholarships, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), 21st century learning skills and motivational approaches.

This is time and money well spent because it could go a long way toward creating a strong bond between students, parents and educators.

Anyone who doesn’t see the value in programs like this is sorely in need of opening his or her eyes to look at the big picture.

If this program helps even one family succeed — helps even one child become a better student — it should be considered a success. The reality is that it likely touched or impacted far more than that.

Providing our children and their parents with the tools they need to succeed in school — and ultimately in life — is a priceless commodity that cannot be overlooked or underestimated.