05:30 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 2, 2005

From 11 Staff News Reports

On Aug. 15 hundreds of HISD students will head back to school, but the district says too many don't plan to return.

The district is asking for the public's help to go door-to-door looking for dropouts. HISD officials are seeking 1,000 volunteers this year.

Last year, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra and Andrea White led 500 HISD employees and volunteers in the first “Reach Out to Dropouts” Day.

The district says as a result of the initiative 291 dropouts returned to school, and 48 former dropouts graduated from high school.

According to Dr. Saavedra, "keeping a student in school and graduating that student takes the whole community working together. We must get face to face with these young men and women and find out what their problems are and what we need to do to get them back into school."

Teams of volunteers will assemble Aug. 27 at 8 a.m. HISD will also run a phone bank on Aug. 23 and 24 to make phone calls prior to the teams arrival.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up at HISD”s home page at houstonisd.org or can call 713-892-6393.

Training will be required for volunteers.